Massive list of what’s on in Melbourne and regional Victoria in March 2026 (180+ activities and events)

This list is updated regularly, so be sure to check back.

What’s on throughout March 2026

• The Alliance French Film Festival runs from 4 March to 8 April.
• Premiering at ACMI from 4 March to 12 July 2026, Play School: Come and Play! invites pre-schoolers and their grown-ups behind the scenes of the iconic show, revealing how an episode of Play School is made today.
• Eroni’s Circus is at Cranbourne West from 6-29 March.
• A classic story is coming to life along the Murray River, with Wonderland on the Murray now running across Echuca Moama as a large-scale Alice in Wonderland sand sculpture trail. Open until 9 March 2026, the free event transforms public spaces throughout the twin towns into a family-friendly adventure, featuring handcrafted sand installations created by Sandstorm Events.
• Melbourne’s original and longest-running night market is back, as the Queen Victoria Market prepares to celebrate 25 years of summer evenings filled with sizzling street food, live music and twilight shopping. The Summer Night Market runs weekly until 11 March 2026.
• Silver’s Circus is in Warrnambool from 13-29 March.
• Skybox is a powerful, new and immersive video installation created by artist Rel Pham especially for ArtSpace at Realm in Ringwood until 15 March examining what it means to observe and exist in a deluge of data.
• The Europa! Europa! Film Festival runs until 19 March.
• A landmark international fashion exhibition is heading to Melbourne’s south east, with The Offbeat Sari set to make its Australian debut at Bunjil Place Gallery from Saturday 21 March 2026 until early August. Developed by London’s Design Museum and conceived and curated by Priya Khanchandani, the exhibition brings together 54 groundbreaking saris loaned from leading designers and studios across India.
• The KaBloom Festival is a 30 day flower festival in the Dandenong Ranges featuring millions of flowers across five acres of plantings from 21 March to 19 April.
• Opening 21 March, Colour at Scienceworks in Spotswood is a vibrant, hands-on exhibition exploring the surprising science behind how we see the world, running until 26 January 2027.
• The Bald Archy is an Australian art prize, which parodies the prestigious portraiture award, the Archibald Prize. This year it’s on in Mansfield from 21 March to 19 April.
• A new exhibition at WAMA in the Grampians is inviting visitors to look down, slow down and rethink what’s happening beneath their feet. Entanglements with Fungi: Life, Death and Renewal opens at the National Centre for Environmental Art on 21 March and runs until 1 June, drawing together multidisciplinary artists to explore the strange and vital world of the fungal kingdom.
• Melbourne’s much-loved Moonlight Cinema will mark its 30th birthday this summer with a program shaped entirely by audiences at the Royal Botanic Gardens until Sunday 5 April 2026.
• The National Gallery of Victoria’ its’s summer blockbuster event – Westwood | Kawakubo – is a world-exclusive exhibition celebrating two of fashion’s most revolutionary designers. Running until 19 April 2026, the exhibition spotlights the boundary-pushing work of Vivienne Westwood and Rei Kawakubo across five decades of radical design.
• The Blue Lotus Water Garden at Yarra Junction is one of Australia’s most spectacular seasonal gardens open to the public until 19 April 2026. The tropically themed water garden covers 14 acres featuring millions of beautiful lotus, waterlily and other flowers, stunning lakes, amazing vistas and wonderful facilities
• Melbourne will host the first Asia-Pacific edition of the award-winning Formula 1 Exhibition, offering fans an immersive journey through the sport’s past, present and future. Running until 19 April 2026 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the exhibition arrives just ahead of the F1 season opener at Albert Park.
• London’s Victoria and Albert Museum’s acclaimed exhibition DIVA makes its Australian debut at the new Australian Museum of Performing Arts until 26 April 2026. It is spectacular showcase of more than 250 objects, including 60 show stopping costumes, jewellery, photography, art and music and explores explores the evolution of the term “diva” — from 19th-century opera stars to today’s global pop icons.
• The ever-popular Skyline Ferris Wheel makes its return in St Kilda until 26 April. Take in the breath-taking views of the St Kilda foreshore and pier with unparalleled views!
• Visit Hanging Rock Winery to experience the Art in the Vines Sculpture Exhibition until 30 April 2026 and wander a trail of discovery, glass-in-hand, through this extraordinary exhibition of contemporary outdoor sculpture.
• Running until May 2026 at the Shrine of Remembrance, the Her Story exhibition shines a light on the experiences of female Victorian veterans. Created by photographer Carla Edwards, the exhibition combines portraits and interviews that explore the lives of women who served across generations. 
• The National Gallery of Victoria will be transformed into a kaleidoscope of colour, creativity and movement with Let’s Party! Fashion for Kids: Designed by Danielle Brustman, a free interactive exhibition opening at NGV International from until 3 May 2026.
• The world-renowned Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, now in its sixty-first year and on loan from the Natural History Museum in London, is at the National Wool Museum in Geelong until 17 May, featuring some of the most exceptional nature photography taken today from across the globe.
• Melbourne’s love affair with gaming is set to reach new heights at ACMI with Game Worlds – a massive interactive exhibition that plunges visitors into 30 iconic videogame universes, with 20 fully playable experiences. Running until 3 July 2026, this deep dive into gaming culture promises to be a must-see for casual players and hardcore fans alike.
• Marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, Eucalypts of Hodogaya at the Shrine explores the remarkable collaboration that created the Commonwealth War Cemetery in Yokohama where more than 1,500 Commonwealth soldiers, including Australians, are buried in a garden blending Western and Japanese traditions. It runs until August 2026.
• Shane Warne’s legacy will take centre stage at a major exhibition presented by the Melbourne Cricket Club of the late cricket icon’s most prized personal items at the Australian Sports Museum until 9 August 2026. WARNE: Treasures of a Legend will feature 48 pieces from his career, offering rare access to objects that shaped one of Australia’s most celebrated sporting stories.

What’s on in and around Melbourne 1-8 March 2026

• The Flinders Fringe Festival is back until 1 March.
• The St Kilda Blues Festival returns until 1 March.
• The 2026 Victorian State Dahlia Show is on at the Mount Waverley Community Centre until 1 March. 
• Immerse yourself in Indian culture, music, dance, food and drinks at the Holi Festival of Colours until 1 March.
• The Antipodes Festival brings together people from all walks of life to come together and celebrate Greek culture and heritage for two days on Lonsdale Street until 1 March.
• Celebrating 50 years of Vietnamese refugee resettlement in Australia, the 2026 Vietnamese Tet Festival at Footscray Park until 1 March is more than just a celebration – it’s a heartfelt tribute to resilience, survival, and the shared gratitude for the chance to rebuild lives in a new home.
• Mordi Fest will deliver the best of the region’s food, wine and entertainment and bring Mordialloc’s foreshore to life until 1 March.
• Brunswick’s streets, stages and parklands are set to hum again as theBrunswick Music Festival returns for its 38th year, taking over the suburb from 1 to 8 March 2026 with a stacked program that puts community and creativity front and centre.
• Get ready for a vibrant Festival of Colours at a Holi event in Banjo Patterson Park in Lynbrook on 1 March.
• The Wyndham Multicultural Lunar Festival is a vibrant celebration of arts, culture and community in Point Cook on 1 March.
• On Monday 2 March, Melbourne’s hospo crowd is clocking off early and lacing up. The Hospitality Cup is back, taking over the Home of the Matildas in Bundoora for a full day five a side football tournament that swaps kitchen whites and aprons for jerseys and boots.
• The2026 Moomba Festival is on from 5 to 9 March.
• Albert Park once again becomes the epicentre of the racing world from Thursday, 5 March to Sunday, 8 March 2026 when the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix returns.
• If you don’t have a ticket to the Grand Prix, or even if you do, Jack Daniel’s is turning Melbourne into one big off track party from 5 to 8 March 2026. Across four days, the whiskey giant will take over Middle Park Hotel, The Espy and Crown Melbourne, creating a string of race week fan hubs open to everyone.
• The Science Fiction Film Festival returns to Cinema Nova in Carlton on 6-8 March with a truly global line-up of the best sci-fi features, animations, documentaries, and shorts!
• A free three-day F1 Fan Festival at Fed Square from 6-8 March will bring the buzz of the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix out of Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit and into the heart of the city.
• The Big Vinyl Dig is on at the Ukrainian Hall in Essendon on 7 March
• The 98th Red Hill Show is on 7 March.
• The 2026 Lantern Riveredge Festival Cultural Market in Docklands on 7-8 March celebrates the Lantern Festival while warmly inviting Chinese-Australians, international students, and local communities to experience the richness of Chinese heritage.
• Join Steamrail Victoria and experience 140 Years of Melbourne’s history at the Newport Workshops Open Days on 7-9 March.
• The Sisterhood Eid Mela is on in Werribee on 7 March.
• The Vantra Film Festival is Melbourne’s platform for innovative and independent short films. It’s on at FOMO Cinemas in Brunswick East on 8 March.
• Enjoy a marketplace of natural health products, intuitive readings, and healing sessions designed to support wellbeing and personal growth at Queen Victoria Market’s Heart Body Soul Festival on 8 March.
• The Melbourne Comic and Toy Fair is on in Thornbury on 8 March.
• The Phillip Island Psychic and Wellbeing Expo is on 8 March.
• Join the Shrine of Remembrance to commemorate women in service at a special Last Post Service marking International Women’s Day on 8 March.

What’s on in and around Melbourne 9-15 March 2026

• Celebrate stories and creativity at the Brimbank Writers and Readers Festival from 12-17 March.
• The annual Phillip Island Classic – Festival of Motorsport is on 13-15 March.
• The Mornington Outdoor Living and Caravan Expo is on 13-15 March.
• The Game Expo is on at MCEC on 14-16 March.
• Get ready to be covered in vibrant colours and dance to lively music at the Melbourne CBD Holi Festival  on 14-15 March.
• The Urban Cocktail Trail is rolling into Melbourne’s Fish Lane for an afternoon of crafted cocktails and vibrant bar-hopping adventures on Saturday 14 March.
• The 2nd Annual Pacific Ocean Short Film Festival returns to Melbourne for a night of incredible short films from across the Pacific Region. It’s on at the Pacific Market in Ardeer on 14 March.
• Womin Djeka Ngarnggee Balnarring Festival returns on Saturday 14 March. This vibrant First Nations celebration brings together music, dance, food and cultural experiences for the whole family to enjoy.
• The 2026 Herb and Chilli Festival is on in Wandin on 14-15 March.
• Sunfest celebrates its 50th year in Sunbury on 14-15 March.
• The 2026 Train and Hobby Show is on at Sandown Racecourse on 14-15 March.
• The Wine and Cheese Festival returns to the Timber Yard at Port Melbourne on 14 March
• The Multicultural Eid Bazaar 2026, is a two-day community celebration to be held from 14–15 March 2026 in Werribee, showcasing the joy, heritage, and community spirit of Eid-ul-Fitr, one of the most significant celebrations observed by Muslim communities worldwide.
• The Chad Raat Festival – the biggest Eid Bazar in Northern Melbourne – is happening in Wollert on 14 March.
• Melbourne’s most delightfully strange arts gathering is back, with the Festival of Surrealisms celebrating its 10th year with a weekend of wonderfully weird performances at Temperance Hall in South Melbourne. Running across two packed days on 14-15 March 2026, the festival brings together independent poets, theatre makers, comics, puppeteers, filmmakers and experimental artists for a rolling program that embraces the absurdities of life
• The Melbourne CBD Holi Festival of Colours is on in the Treasury Gardens in East Melbourne on 14-15 March.
• The Cardinia Real Estate Exhibition is on in Pakenham on 14 March.
• Head to Montmorency’s Petrie Park on 15 March  for Eco Festival – a  festival of environmental stewardship with workshops, panel discussions, creative spaces, wildlife displays and more.
• The Moonee Valley Festival returns to Queens Park in Moonee Ponds on Sunday 15 March 2026 with fun and entertainment for everyone to enjoy.
• The annual Active Merri-bek Fun Run and Walk is back on Sunday 15 March 2026.
• The Moorabbin Record Fair is on 15 March.
• The Epping Psychic and Wellbeing Expo is on 15 March.
• The City of Whittlesea’s Community Festival is on in South Morang on 15 March.
• The annual St Patricks Day Festival is on in St Kilda’s O’Donnell Gardens on 15 March
• The Mt Eliza Fun Run is on 15 March.
• The 2026 Celebrate Mooroolbark Festival is on 15 March.
• Ballan Autumn Festival on 15 March is an annual celebration of local culture, creativity and community, and is one of the oldest regional country fairs in the Moorabool Shire
• The Central Ringwood Community Centre is hosting a Sustainability Fair on 15 March.
• The Yarra Junction Music Festival is on 15 March.
• The Department – a one-day car festival – is on at Seaworks in Williamstown on 15 March.

What’s on in and around Melbourne 16-22 March 2026

• The Frankston Street Art Festival is on from 16-22 March.
• The Melbourne Celtic Festival is on at the Mission to Seafarers on 17 March.
• The 2026 Boorondara Volunteer Expo is on at the Hawthorn Arts Centre on 18 March.
• The Victorian Careers and Employment Expo is on at the Melbourne Showgrounds from 19-21 March.
• The City of Port Phillip’s annual International Women’s Day Celebration is on at St Kilda Town Hall on Thursday 19 March featuring spiring speakers, a panel discussion on women leading the change through culture, place and community, nibbles and networking.
• The Melbourne Women in Film Festival is back for its 10th year at ACMI in Federation Square from 19 to 23 March.
• Head to the 2026 Melbourne Ageing Well Expo at MCEC on 20 March and discover how to make informed decisions for your future. 
• The Melbourne Food and Wine Festival returns from 20-29 March.
• The 2026 Berwick Pro Rodeo is on 21 March.
• Melbourne’s much-loved rock ’n’ roll block party LuliePalooza is set to roar back into Victoria Park on Saturday 21 March 2026, bringing with it a reworked site and one of its biggest line-ups yet.
• Welcome to Thornbury’s 7th annual Garlic Bread Festival is on 21 March
• The Casey Kids Carnival is on at the Old Cheese Factory in Berwick on 21 March.
• The National Trust’s Vintage Clothing & Collectables Sale returns on 21—22 March 2026, bringing together fashion lovers, conscious shoppers, and collectors for a two-day celebration of sustainable style at Abbotsford Convent.
• The CERES Harvest Festival is on in Brunswick on 21 March.
• Bring your family and friends and enjoy a day by the lake full of live music, delicious food, market stalls, roving performers and free family entertainment at Lakeside Alive in Caroline Springs on 21 March.
• Step into Stonnington Rhythm & Culture on 21 March where global beats, colourful performances, and street-food aromas fill Prahran Square.
• The 2026 Monbulk Car Show is on 22 March.
• The Clayton Festival is back on 22 March  featuring live entertainment, creative activities, food trucks and roving performers.
• The Beale Family Day in St Helena on 22 March promises a day of fun and activities at Anthony Beale Reserve. Leashed dogs are welcome.
• The Yarraville Festival returns on 22 March.
• Melbourne’s most iconic vertical challenge is back, with locals invited to tackle 1240 stairs to the very top of the Rialto Towers for a powerful cause. On Sunday 22 March, the Rialto Run-Up will see participants race from the ground floor up 54 levels of the Collins Street landmark, finishing high above the city on the 55th floor. 
• The Eltham Town Food Festival is on 22 March.
• The City of Stonnington’s much-loved Pets in the Park event returns to Central Park in Malvern East on Sunday 22 March 2026.
• The Williamstown Italian Festival is on 22 March.
• The 2026 Bunyip Show is on 22 March.
• Celebrate Cultural Diversity Week and multiculturalism with Culture Connects Us All, a free event honouring the Vietnamese community at the Immigration Museum on 22 March.
• Join in  a joyful, colourful, and fun-filled day at Eid Fest 2026 in Tarneit on 22 March.
• The Berwick Health and Wellness Community Expo is on 22 March.

What’s on in and around Melbourne 23-31 March 2026

• The Holmesglen Job Fair is on in Chadstone on 24 March.
• The Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show will return in 2026 from Wednesday 25 to Sunday 29 March.
• The 2026 Melbourne International Comedy Festival is on from 25 March to 19 April.
• There’s a Cultural Diversity Week and Harmony Day Celebration at South Morang on 25 March providing an opportunity for people from different cultural backgrounds to come together and share their unique food, language, music, dance, art and traditional costumes.
• Celebrating 25 years, The Pottery Expo is Australia’s leading annual showcase of exceptional ceramics. The event is now taking place outdoors at Heide Museum of Modern Art Sculpture Park from 26-28 March which will come alive with outstanding work from across the country and special guest artists from around the world.
• Inked Expo at MCEC from 27-29 March  is a vibrant celebration of body art and tattoo
• After drawing almost 140,000 visitors in Brisbane and Perth, BODY WORLDS: The Anatomy of Happiness is heading to Melbourne for a limited season at The District Docklands from 27 March to 29 July. Created by Dr. Gunther von Hagens, the inventor of plastination, and curated by physician and designer Dr. Angelina Whalley, the exhibition explores the human body through the lens of emotion, health and wellbeing.
• Africa Film Fest Australia expands to Melbourne for the first time in 2026, showcasing some of the most acclaimed films from across the African continent and its diaspora. It’s on at Cinema Nova in Carlton from 27-29 March.
• Join Grazeland for the Victorian Multicultural Festival, from March 27 – 29, 2026. Three days of culture, music, food and community, presented by the Victorian Multicultural Commission.
• The Mornington Tiny Home Expo is on 27-29 March.
• Join in a fun-filled free community event in Heidelberg West on 27 March to celebrate the completion of the Olympic Park Project with live music, market stalls, kids’ activities, sport and a sausage sizzle.
• The Warrandyte Festival is on 27-28 March.
• The South East Melbourne Disability Expo is on 27-28 March at Cranbourne Racing Centre.
• The Urban Wellbeing and Psychic Festival  is on at Seaworks in Williamstown on 28 March
• More than 400 tonnes of sand will shape The Enchanted Realm at the 2026 Australian Sand Sculpting Championships at McComb Reserve in Frankston from Saturday 28 March to Sunday 26 April, andn will feature 18 large scale sculptures built and completed before opening day, meaning visitors can experience the full display from the moment gates open.
• The Queen Victoria Market is holding an Indonesian Festival on 28-29 March 
• The Diamond Creek Easter Egg Hunt and Family Picnic is on 28 March.
• The Footscray West Writers Fest is back from 28-30 March.
• Join Collingwood Children’s Farm and the Hellenic Museum at the Golden Fleece Family Day for a day of hands-on adventures inspired by the ancient Greek myth of Jason, the Argonauts, and their search for the Golden Fleece on 28 March.
• Pet Expo in Cheltenham on 28 March is Kingston City Council’s free and family-friendly community event for animal enthusiasts, pet owners and their four-legged friends.
• The Handmade Design Market is back at the Coburg Town Hall on 28-29 March.
• Wyndham City’s biggest Eid celebration – Wyndham City Eid Festival – is on Saturday 28 March in Tarneit.
• CollectFest – Australia’s Biggest Festival for all collectables – is on at MCEC on 28-29 March.
• Join in an Easter egg hunt at the Skyline wheel precinct in South Wharf on 28-29 March.
• The Macleod Village Easter Egg Hunt and Makers Market is on 28 March.
• There’s an Easter egg hunt on Croydon Main Street on 28 March.
• Moonee Ponds Central is holding an Easter egg hunt on 28 March.
• Reservoir Village is holding an Easter Festival on 28 March.
• The 2026 VHS Reptile and Amphibian Expo is on at Caulfield Racecourse on 28 March.
• The Community Health and Wellness Expo is on in Williamstown on 28 March.
• Explore more than 100 displays and products, uncover exclusive deals, and get expert advice to bring your home project or renovation to life at the Frankston Home Expo on 28 March.
• The Keysborough CFA Open Day is on 29 March.
• The 2026 Herald Sun/TransUrban Run For The Kids is on 29 March.
• The Melbourne Highland Games and Celtic Festival is on in Croydon on 29 March.
• Enjoy a fun day out with your family, friends and special pets at Pets in the Park on Sunday 29 March at Knox Park in Knoxfield.
• Preston Market’s much loved Greek Day Festival is back on Sunday 29 March 2026, and this year it’s adding a little friendly fire to the feast with a brand new souvlaki eating competition.
• The Xchange vintage, streetwear and small business market is on in Kensington on 29 March.
  

What’s on in regional Victoria 1-31 March 2026

• Australia’s largest Chrysler Show,  Chryslers on the Murray spotlighting the iconic Valiant Charger, is on in Wodonga until 1 March.
• Enter a realm of enchantment at Kryal Castle in Ballarat, as they transport you to a magical world of Unicorns at the annual Unicorn Festival until 1 March.
• The Big Record Rummage is on at the Drouin Town Hall on 1 March.
• The Drouin Fields Community Fun Day is on 1 March.
• The Wimmera Machinery Field Days are on 3-5 March.
• The 2026 Kyabram Rodeo is on 6 March
• The Big Vinyl Dig is on at the Geelong West Town Hall on 6 March.
• The Mansfield Pottery Festival is on 6-8 March.
• The Port Fairy Folk Festival returns from 6-9 March.
• The Tallangatta Show is on 6-8 March.
• The Wooden Boat Festival of Geelong is on 7-9 March 2026
• The Merrijig Rodeo is on 7 March
• Harcourt Applefest is on 7 March.
• The Swan Hill Food and Wine Festival is on 7 March.
• The Ballarat Begonia Festival returns over the Labour Day long weekend, Saturday 7 to Monday 9 March 2026.
• The Big Vinyl Dig is on at the Geelong Town Hall on 8 March
• The 2026 Yarra Glen Swap Meet is on 8  March
• Hooked on Lakes returns to the Lakes Entrance Foreshore Reserve on Sunday 8 March across the Labour Day long weekend, serving up a free, family friendly celebration of all things fishing and seafood.
• Silver’s Circus is in Portland until 8 March.
• The annual Heathcote Harvest Festival is on 8 March.
• Discover CraftAlive, the Ballarat craft show event featuring hands-on workshops, expert exhibitors and creative inspiration for all skill levels on 12-14 March.
• The Warragul Psychic Lifestyle Market is on 14 March.
• The Wodonga Show is on 14 March.
• The Maffra Rotary Mardi Gras is on 14 March.
• The Mount Macedon Autumn Flower and Produce Show is on 14-15 March.
• Enjoy two fun‑filled days of kids’ activities, live entertainment, animal celebrations, and special experiences across the zoo on 14-15 March as the Kyabram Fauna Park turns 50.
• The Cullulleraine Music Festival is on 20-22 March.
• The Yarra Glen Outdoor Living and Caravan Expo is on 20-22 March.
• The 2026 Dahlia and Arts Festival is on in Eaglehawk on 20-22 March.
• The annual Port Campbell Crayfest festival in Port Campbell on 20-22 March is a grassroots festival that celebrates the region’s seafood sector, food and beverages produces, artists, local businesses and community groups.
• The Inverloch Equinox Wellbeing Festival is on 21 March
• The 2026 Gippsland Wellness Expo is on in Morwell on 21 March
• The Ballan Rodeo is on 21 March.
• Celebrate cultural diversity at the Mansfield Harmony Festival on 21 March
• The Clunes Booktown Festival returns on 21-22 March for a celebration of all things book-related.
• The Kyabram Mack Muster on 21-22 March is a truck show for Mack Trucks, from the 1920s through to new models, for the benefit of owners and enthusiasts.
• The Echuca Country Music Festival is on 28 March
• The Gluten Free Lifestyle Show is on in Geelong on 28-29 March
• The Inverloch Running Festival is on 28-29 March.
• The Lost Trades Fair is on at Hanging Rock on 28-29 March.
• The Bendigo Sustainability Festival is taking place on 29 March.
• The Sale Music Festival is on Sunday 29 March.