Massive list of what’s on in Melbourne and regional Victoria in July 2026 (150+ activities and events)

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

What’s on throughout July 2026

• Marvel Stadium is the place to be throughout July with sport fans invited to settle in for a blockbuster two months of International sport with NBA Finals and World Cup games beamed live onto the Marvel Super Screen in Stadium Square. 
• Running every Wednesday from 1 to 29 July, Queen Victoria Market’s Christmas in July series will swap traditional winter vibes for a full festive makeover, complete with giant walk-in snow globes, live ice sculpting, sparkling decorations and roaming Christmas-themed performers.
• World of the Book returns from Saturday 4 July to 17 May 2027 State Library Victoria’s largest ever tribute to women writers, alongside hundreds of extraordinary Australian and international works from the State Collection. Now in its 21st year, this beloved exhibition brings together more than 400 rare, remarkable and historically significant items from c. 2000 BCE to today, many on public display for the first time.
• The Melbourne Documentary Film Festival returns to cinemas from 7-19 July.
• The Childrens International Film Festival returns to the Lido Cinemas in Hawthorn until 10 July.
• Running from 10 July to 2 August at Palace Cinemas the Nordic Film Festival will showcase new films from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, including award winners, festival favourites and highly anticipated releases from some of the region’s most celebrated filmmakers.
• There’s a pop-up inflatable playground in Colac until 10 July.
• The Melbourne Magic Festival is coming back for 2026 with shows all over Melbourne until 11 July.
• The Noojee and Neerim Truffle Festival from 11 July to 2 Augustwill celebrate West Gippsland’s French black truffles and the region’s growing reputation for cool-climate produce.
• An enchanting sound and light show, Electric Wonderland at Bendigo’s Rosalind Park until 12 July delivers interactive exhibits, immersive light installations and magical projections using the latest in audio visual technology. 
• Discover a glowing winter wonderland of snow, lights, fire and ice at Winter Glow at Adventure Park in Geelong until 12 July.
• Chadstone is launching a brand new month long festival that will transform the shopping centre after dark with immersive art, dining experiences, music and community events. Running until Sunday 12 July, Light to Night will take over the entire precinct, encouraging visitors to linger well beyond shopping hours with a program designed around art, food and nightlife.
• Premiering at ACMI until 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.
• Step into a prehistoric world as more than 60 animatronic dinosaurs arrive across three local zoos for a special seasonal event. Dinos at the Zoo will run until Sunday 12 July at Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Open Range Zoo and Healesville Sanctuary, spanning both the Easter and winter school holiday periods.
• Winter Wonderland at Skyline Melbourne brings the magic of the season to life — with hourly snowfalls, giant Ferris wheel rides, and delicious treats until 12 July,
• Running from Thursday 16 to Sunday 26 July, the Leaps and Bounds Music Festival will spread across Fitzroy, Collingwood, Abbotsford and Richmond, transforming pubs, bars, DIY spaces and local venues into hubs for live music, pop-ups, broadcasts, record fairs and one-off collaborations.
• Eroni’s Circus is in Wodonga until 19 July.
• Until 19 July experience the 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament live on the Bunjil Place Outdoor Screen. Settle in under the open sky, watch world‑class football on the big screen and enjoy the atmosphere as fans gather to cheer, celebrate and share the action.
• Embrace the chill with the return of the popular Ballarat Winter Festival until 19 July.
• Ballarat’s Sovereign Hill comes alive with stunning light projections, music, wintry treats, and a magical winter glow at Winter Wonderlights  until 19 July
• The East Gippsland Winter Festival runs until 19 July.
• FROSTED – A Winter Spectacular is in Narre Warren until 19 July, transforming the colder months into a glowing, family-friendly escape.  The heated big top set up opposite Westfield Fountain Gate will become a fully immersive winter wonderland designed with younger kids in mind
• Iconic Brunswick Street café Mario’s is marking four decades in Melbourne with a major new exhibition bringing together 40 of Australia’s leading contemporary artists. Running until 20 July, 40 Artists – 40 Years will transform the walls of Marios into a multi generational survey of the artists who have shaped, challenged and passed through the venue since it first began hosting exhibitions in 1988.
• In Bloom tells the story of a garden coming alive after sunset — a hidden nocturnal world where native flora, pollinators and natural ecosystems glow with colour, movement and life. Inspired by the beauty and biodiversity of Geelong Botanic Gardens, guests’ journey through immersive environments influenced by blooming landscapes, native wildflowers, shifting seasons and creatures such as the iconic Blue Banded Bee. See it until 26 July.
• 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 until 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.
• 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 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.
• 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.
• The Linden New Art Postcard Show running until 1 August is a winter classic in St Kilda. Now in its 36th year, the exhibition brings together up to 1,000 postcard sized artworks by artists from across Australia.
• Lightscape – Melbourne’s favourite winter tradition is returning to Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne until 2 August. Expect brand-new large-scale installations by leading Australian and international artists, trail-side treats and a mesmerising world of colour, music and light beneath the night sky.
• Elmo’s CIrcus Dream is at Waurn Ponds until 2 August.
• 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.
• Bayside is coming to life this winter with the return of an expanded Neon Nights program of events. Eight activity centres across Bayside will shine bright at night with LED light installations on Saturday nights until 15 August.
• Melbourne’s iconic Winter Night Market is making its return to Queen Victoria Market this winter, bringing fire pits, street food, live music and late-night shopping back to the city every Wednesday night until 26 August.
• Melbourne is getting a deep dive into vinyl, sound and music culture, with RISING and ACMI unveiling The Vinyl Factory: Reverb, at ACMI. Running throughout this year’s RISING event and extended until 31 August, the large scale exhibition explores how vinyl and music have shaped art, fashion, film and social movements.
• Melbourne’s winter nights are set to sparkle as National Gallery of Victoria unveils the return of NGV Friday Nights alongside the highly anticipated 2026 Melbourne Winter Masterpieces: CARTIER exhibition. Running every Friday until 2 October at NGV International, the after-hours series will combine late-night exhibition access with live music, film screenings, French-inspired food and immersive performances inspired by the world of Cartier.
• A dazzling world-exclusive Cartier exhibition will run at the National Gallery of Victoria until 4 October featuring more than 300 jewels, tiaras, necklaces, brooches, timepieces and design drawings, making the exhibition the largest presentation of the legendary jewellery house ever staged in Australia.
• In a landmark moment for its 130th year, Geelong Gallery, in partnership with Art Exhibitions Australia and ACPA Advising Curating Producing Art, is proud to present Discovering the Impressionists: Paul Durand-Ruel, Art Dealer Among the Artists, the most ambitious international exhibition in the Gallery’s history, running until 11 October.
• Melbourne Museum will open ROME: Empire, Power, People until Sunday 25 October 2026.The Melbourne-exclusive exhibition will bring more than 150 objects from two of Italy’s leading museums to Australia for the first time, offering an in-depth look at the rise and rule of one of history’s most influential civilisations.
• A thought-provoking new exhibition EMERGENCE[Y] at Science Gallery Melbournebrings together artists, researchers, and designers to examine how humanity might adapt to a rapidly changing planet until 5 December 2026.
• 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.
• Home is Football: Belonging in Australian Soccer at the Immigration Museum until 27 January 2027 explores how the world game has shaped identity, migration and community across Australia. Featuring stories from Ange Postecoglou, Lydia Williams and grassroots players, the exhibition celebrates football’s power to connect people both on and off the pitch.

What’s on in and around Melbourne 1-5 July 2026

• Family Fiesta is back at MPAC at Monash University in Clayton from 1-4 July, inviting children aged 0–12 and their families to step into the forest and discover a world of wonder.
• Ngwala Willumbong Aboriginal Corporation is celebrating 50 Years of Deadly with a NAIDOC Week event at St Kilda Town Hall on 2 July.
• Collins Square is hosting its winter market on 2 July.
• Melbourne Winter Fest at Morris Moor in Moorabbin on 2-5 July Melbourne’s ultimate indoor winter school holiday event!
• The Burrinja Cultural Centre in Upwey has a circus festival until 3 July.
• The Mould cheese festival will be at MCEC on 3-5 July.
• Firelight – Melbourne’s epic winter festival – will return to Docklands with fiery installations, live music, pop-up foodie feasts and more from 3-5 July.
• The Island Whale Festival is taking place at various venues across Phillip Island on 3-4 July.
• Celebrate the launch of the Outside Gallery at Galada Community Centre with a vibrant evening of creativity and connection at Aurora After Dark in Epping on 3 July.
• There’s a toy swap and toy hospital event in Box Hil on 3 July.
• Fashion Thrift Society – Australia and the UK’s biggest vintage, pre-loved and small business fashion market – is back at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre on 4 July.
• The Melbourne Sake Festival is on at the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton on 4-5 July.
• PBC Expo – Australia’s largest baby expo – is headed to MCEC on 4-5 July.
•  Celebrate 50 years of 3CR Community Radio at the Collingwood Town Hall on 4 July
• Novotel Glen Waverley proudly presents the Bombay Food Festival 2026 on 4 July
• The Aussie Winter Carnival is on at Werribee Racecourse on 4-5 July
• The 6th annual Hot Sauce and Chilli Festival is on at Welcome to Brunswick on 4 July
• Crafty Creatures at the Park on July 4 and 11 at Wilson Botanic Park in Berwick promises to be  a relaxed evening surrounded by glowing animal installations, live reptiles and the sounds of the Australian bush.
• The Hologram Zoo in Ringwood is holding its first birthday celebrations on 4-5 July.
• Diamond Valley Railway’s Winter Light Spectacular on 4 July will journey through the bushland of Eltham Lower Park, lit by the light shows, passing signals and locomotive headlights – a unique and spectacular sight which only occurs in winter.
• AAMI Park and Federation Square will again host public watch parties for the Socceroos next game against Egypt in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is scheduled to kick off at 4am on Saturday 4 July. The first 10,000 fans through the gates at AAMI Park will score a free hot breakfast.
• The Melbourne Tartan Day Parade is on 5 July.
• There’s a record fair at Bay Hotel in Mornington on 5 July
• Valley Sounds music festival returns until 5 July 2026 at venues across Moonee Valley.
• The 2026 HSBC Spanish & Latin American Film Festival returns until 5 July, unveiling a rich mix of contemporary stories from across Spain and Latin America.
• The Glen Eira Storytelling Festival returns until Sunday 5 July.
• Celebrate NAIDOC Week 2026 at the Melbourne Museum’s Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre with a Family Day on Sunday 5 July.

What’s on in and around Melbourne 6-12 July 2026

•  Be surrounded by a display of 50 dancing butterflies, symbolising resilience, transformation and the enduring strength of First Nations culture, marking 50 years of the NAIDOC movement at Collins Square from 6-10 July.
• Melbourne Storm fans in the City of Casey can catch the team going through their paces with a local training day being held at Casey Fields on Tuesday 7 July.
• The Zoos Victoria Careers Expo is on at the Melbourne Zoo on 9 July.
• Laundry Sessions will transform the Abbotsford Convent into a multi-sensory after dark playground across two nights on 9 and 10 July.
• If your child has outgrown good‑quality clothing, join the City of Monash’s Great Clothing Exchange at Clayton Library on 10 July to swap it for something new‑to‑you.
• Christine Anu headlines an incredible line-up of First Peoples talent, as part of the annual NAIDOC in the City festival and free concert at Fed Square on 10 July.
• Taking place on Friday 10 July from 12pm to 5.30pm, the annual KHT NAIDOC Week First Peoples Art and Design Market will bring together more than 20 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, designers and makers.
• The Finders Keepers winter design market is on at the Royal Exhibition Building. on 10-12 July.
• Taste 120+ whiskies in one epic day at The Whisky Show in Albert Park on 11 July.
• The Christmas in July market at Werribee Racecourse is on 11 July
• There’s a record fair at Moon Dog World in Preston on 11 July
• Melbourne’s annual Bastille Day French Festival is set to return to Queen Victoria Market on 11-12 July for a weekend packed with French food, music, culture and community celebrations.
• Wallis Mall in Niddrie is being transformed into a Winter Wonderland on 11 July.
• Wander through captivating illuminated artworks that invite you to explore and interact at Eltham After Dark: Art Illuminated on 11 July.
• The Elmwood Pre-loved Children’s Market is on in Burwood on 11 July.
• The NGV’s NAIDOC Week Celebration is on 11 July.
• The Narre Warren Holistic and Psychic Expo is on 12 July.
• There’s an art and craft destash market in Fitzroy North on 12 July.
  

What’s on in and around Melbourne 13-19 July 2026

• The Melbourne Decor and Design Show is on at MCEC on 15-17 July
• From 15 to 19 July, Aēsop’s Flinders Lane store will pause normal retail trading for the fifth annual Aēsop Queer Library, inviting visitors to browse a specially curated collection of books by LGBTQIA+ authors and take one home free of charge
• The City of Melton Lower Power Bills Expo is on 16 July
• The St Kilda Comedy Festival is on 16-19 July
• The Olives to Oil Festival Westside is on in Burnside on 16 July  and will have demonstrations of olive oil pressing, tastings and sales.
• Q-Lit – Melbourne’s LGBTQIA+ literary festival – is on from 16-19 July.
• The Melbourne Career Expo on at MCEC on 17-19 July promises to be the most comprehensive and exciting careers event in Australia.
• The Little Food Market returns from 17-19 July, transforming the iconic Royal Exhibition Building into Melbourne’s ultimate winter escape. 
• The inaugural National Outdoor Living & Caravan Expo is taking place at Caulfield Racecourse from July 17–19, 2026. The three-day event will feature over 150 caravan, camping, and accessory brands, daily expert demonstrations, food trucks, and free kids’ activities
• The Melbourne Comic and Toy Fair is on at Caribbean Park in Scoresby on 18-19 July
• The Pakistani Mango and Multicultural Food Festival is on in Springvale on 18 July
• The 2026 Pakenham Antiques and Collectibles Fair is on 18 July
• There’s a record fair at Bojak Brewing in Dandenong on 18 July
• The Melbourne Taiwanese Beef Noodle Festival is on at the Brunswick Town Hall on 18 July.
• Join in a cultural showcase exploring the rich traditions of bamboo dance across Southeast Asia at the Bamboo Dance Festival in St Albans on 18 July.
• Join over 27,000 runners for Run Melbourne – a half marathon racing through the heart of the city on fully closed roads, past iconic landmarks, and into the roar of cheering crowds on 19 July.
• The South Morang Holistic and Psychic Expo is on 19 July.
• The Round She Goes Market is a curated women’s secondhand and vintage market. It returns to the Coburg Town Hall on 19 July
• The Frankston Psychic and Wellbeing Expo is on 19 July.
• Rug up and head to Dandenong Market this winter as Winter Feast returns for a spectacular day of skating, seasonal flavours and feel‑good vibes on Sunday 19 July.

What’s on in and around Melbourne 20-26 July 2026

• Melbourne Rare Book Week is on from 23 July to 1 August.
• From 23 July to 31 August 2026, the Catchment to Coast exhibition will be on display at Cardinia Cultural Centre, exploring the flow on effect of water across the shire.
• There’s a Christmas in July night market at Akoonah Park in Berwick on 24 July
• The Open House Melbourne Weekend will run from 24-26 July. The festival, themed “Generous City,” features over 180 free architect-led tours, talks, and open-access experiences
• The 5th annual Leaps and Bounds Record Fair is on at the Collingwood Town Hall on 25 July.
•  Olivine Place in Donnybrook will be lit up with large-scale light projections, transforming Olivine into a glowing wonderland on 25 July.
• The Christmas in July Market is on at Fed Square on 25 July
• The Coburg Makers Market is on 25-26 July.
• Celebrate Christmas in July at Brentford Square Shopping Centre on 25 July.
• Denmark House once again opens its doors for its much-loved Christmas Winter Bazaar on 25 July, a festive day filled with Danish hygge, seasonal treats, and a warm community atmosphere in the heart of Melbourne
• The Croydon Holistic and Psychic Expo is on 26 July
• The My Big Fat Greek Festival in St Albans is on 26 July
• Join in a free, family-friendly event to contribute to the environment by planting 3,500 indigenous trees, shrubs, and ground covers at Lewis Park, Wantirna South on 26 July.
• The Swinburne University Open Day is on 26 July.
• The City of Casey is aiming to plant 5000 new trees and plants in Cranbourne West on Sunday 26 July as part of National Tree Planting Day, and the Casey community is invited to join in the fun.
• Join the City of Maribyrnong in planting 6,000 native ground covers and shrubs on Sunday 26 July for National Tree Day at Braybrook Park.
• Browse an incredible selection from 30+ vendors, showcasing their finest wool coats, fur jackets, unique treasures, and collectible vintage pieces at East Brunswick Village’s Winter Vintage Market on 26 July.
• Join Frankston City Council at Overport Park for a fun morning of planting, community connection and fresh air on 26 July.
• The St Andrews Show And Shine is on 26 July.
  

What’s on in and around Melbourne 27-31 July 2026

• The SmallBiz Expo is on at MCEC on 29-30 July.
• The Melbourne Rare Book Fair is on from 30 July to 1 August.
• Explore over 60 of Australia’s leading dealers and thousands of items for sale at The Melbourne Fair when it returns to Caulfield Racecourse from 30 July to 2 August. From antique rings and vintage designer fashion to beautiful furniture, fine art, jewellery, decorative arts, books and antiquities, there’s something for everyone.
• The Melbourne Star Wheel is about to spin again from Thursday 30 July. Head to District Docklands from 6.30pm, find your spot, and watch the switch-on unfold at 6.45pm with a fireworks display and the Star’s first full-lighting animation sequence — its debut performance in years.
• From Friday 31 July to Sunday 2 August at Cinema Nova, Monster Fest Weekender: Highway to Hell delivers a white-knuckle ride through some of the wildest, weirdest and most dangerous road movies ever made.
  

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

• The Portland Holistic and Psychic Expo is on 4 July
• Balloons Over Mildura from 4-12 July is a spectacular nine-day hot air balloon festival filling Mildura’s iconic big skies with colour and excitement.
• On 4 July, the Piccadilly Winter Night Market brings food, design and live tunes to Little Creatures Brewery in Geelong.
• KidFEST Warrnambool on 4-6 July is an interactive event for kids 2-12, packed with creative activities, music, storytelling, art and hands-on fun. 
• Alpacafest is on in Noorat on 4 July.
• Ballarat’s historic Civic Hall will be transformed into a sprawling world of inflatable art as Hidden 2026 returns with an immersive festival experience unlike anything else on the regional arts calendar. Running from 10 to 12 July, the three-day event invites visitors to step inside a dreamlike landscape of air-filled installations, where touching, wandering and interacting are all part of the experience. 
• There’s a Model Railway Exhibition in Stawell on 11-12 July
• Geelong’s new convention centre will host a free Community Open Day on Saturday 11 July, offering a chance to explore the new waterfront destination before the first major events get underway.
• Join in a special evening of joy, culture, and community to celebrate the Dalai Lama’s birthday at Enlighten at the Great Stupa of Universal of Compassion near Bendigo on 11 July.
• The Mildura Writers Festival is on 16-19 July
• The Australian Sheep and Wool Show returns to the Bendigo Showgrounds from 17-19 July
• The Lardner Park Winter Craft and Food Market will be running on 19 July in Drouin
• The Echuca Moama Winter Blues Festival is on 23-25 July
• Winton Festival of Speed celebrates the golden eras of Australian motorsport, bringing together a remarkable collection of historically significant race cars at Winton Motor Raceway near Benalla on 23-26 July.
• The cult-favourite bakery Brooki’s Cookies will take over Westfield Geelong from Thursday 23 July to Sunday 26 July, giving locals their first opportunity to purchase Brooki’s sought-after baked treats without travelling interstate.
• Snowfest Gippsland on 24 July will see the centre of Warragul transformed into a winter playground with snow-filled activities for kids of all ages.
• The Bright Winter Festival is on 24 July – 1 August.
• Nocturne: Healesville After Dark sees the town come to life after dark with extended hours, cosy in-store activations, tastings and winter specials on 24 July.
• The Bendigo Indoor Antiques and Collectibles Fair is on 25-26 July
• The Bendigo Witches Market is on 25 July.
• The Ageing Well Expo is on in Healesville on 25 July.
• Join the Yarra Ranges Council at Everard Reserve in Healesville on 26 July as part of National Tree Day as they plant grasses, groundcovers, shrubs and trees.
• Silvers Circus will be in Shepparton from 30 July to 9 August.
• Goldfields Gothic is a weekend of events in Maldon on 31 July to 2 August themed around celebrating the dark side of the goldfields. Inspired by intriguing stories of the past.