The Alliance Française French Film Festival is set to return in 2026 following a record-breaking year that welcomed almost 199,000 attendees nationwide, cementing its status as Australia’s largest national film festival and the biggest celebration of French cinema outside France. Ahead of the 37th edition, the festival has unveiled its official trailer and offered an early “avant-goût” of seven standout films from the upcoming program. The festival will run from 3 March to 26 April 2026 across the country, with Melbourne screenings scheduled from 4 March to 8 April. The preview selection signals another strong year for contemporary French cinema.…
Author: Melbourning
Melbourne’s summer of tennis will get a lively soundtrack this January, with AO Hilltop hosting a free open-air music event to mark the opening of the Australian Open main draw. Canadian Club Racquet Club will take over its familiar perch at Birrarung Marr for a launch party featuring Sydney DJ and producer Young Franco, alongside Nite Theory and Alex Hayes. Set against views of the Melbourne skyline and the Yarra, the event doubles as a social warm-up before the first balls are struck at Melbourne Park. Young Franco has built a reputation for energetic, crowd-friendly sets that blend electronic, disco,…
Melbourne’s love affair with good food and drink will be on full display next autumn, with the Wine & Cheese Fest locked in for its 13th outing. The popular tasting event returns on Saturday 14 March 2026, taking over The Timber Yard in Port Melbourne for a full day dedicated to Australian wine, artisan cheese and gourmet producers. Designed for casual sippers and serious food lovers alike, the festival offers an easy, all-in-one way to sample a wide range of local flavours. Across the day, attendees can enjoy unlimited tastings from boutique wineries, independent cheese makers and specialty food producers,…
Melbourne’s school holiday calendar is set to burst into colour this January, with the NGV Kids Summer Festival bringing a packed program of free activities to the city for a full week of creativity and play. Running from 10 to 16 January 2026, the festival transforms NGV International and The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia into family-friendly hubs of art-making, performance and movement. Across the week, kids can dance under the Great Hall canopy, take part in drawing workshops, enjoy storytelling sessions and join live performances designed to spark imagination and get young visitors moving. At the centre of the…
This list is updated regularly, so be sure to check back. What’s on throughout January 2026 What’s on in and around Melbourne 1-11 January 2026 What’s on in and around Melbourne 12-18 January 2026 What’s on in and around Melbourne 19-25 January 2026 What’s on in and around Melbourne 26-31 January 2026 What’s on in regional Victoria 1-31 January 2026
One of Australia’s most anticipated art exhibitions is heading to regional Victoria, with Shepparton Art Museum confirmed as the only Victorian venue to host the Archibald Prize 2026. Fresh from its annual showing at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the exhibition will make its first regional tour stop at SAM, giving Victorian audiences their sole chance to see the celebrated portrait prize without leaving the state. The exhibition brings together portraits of well-known cultural figures alongside lesser-known Australians whose stories reflect the breadth of contemporary life. The Archibald Prize has long been a fixture of the national arts…
If you have ever wondered how far a balloon can go, Balloon Story is about to provide the answer on a truly epic scale. The global hit immersive experience made entirely from balloons will float into Melbourne in January 2026, bringing colour, creativity and a serious sense of fun to the city. Making its Australian debut in Melbourne and Sydney, Balloon Story transforms entire worlds using nothing but biodegradable balloons. Every creature, setting and scene is hand-built, inviting visitors to wander through a playful universe where art, storytelling and imagination collide. The Melbourne season will open at the Melbourne Convention…
Melbourne will usher in 2026 with a vast New Year’s Eve program spanning six square kilometres, as fireworks, laser shows and live entertainment transform the city into a giant outdoor celebration zone. The City of Melbourne’s 2025 New Year’s Eve event will feature a midnight rooftop fireworks and laser display across 27 buildings, visible throughout the CBD and beyond. Branded under the theme All That Sparkles, the program invites revellers to dress up, head out early and celebrate what is expected to be the city’s busiest night of the year. Four free, family-friendly Celebration Zones at Flagstaff Gardens, Treasury Gardens,…
As Melbourne slips into tennis season, a different kind of match is set to play out on stage at Theatre Works, with Angus Cameron’s Australian Open returning as part of the Midsumma Festival. Timed to coincide with the city’s annual tennis frenzy, the play centres on Felix’s 31st birthday dinner, where conversation quickly shifts from cake and candles to his boyfriend Lucas’ recent loss to Roger Federer. The evening takes a turn when Felix reveals that he and Lucas plan to maintain their open relationship even if they marry, setting off a chain reaction that transforms a polite family gathering…
January school holidays are set to get a creative upgrade, with Arts Centre Melbourne rolling out a hands-on workshop program designed to get kids and parents learning and making together. Running across the first half of January, the School Holiday Workshops span a wide mix of performing arts and creative skills, offering families a chance to try something new without needing prior experience. From magic and music to dance, theatre and digital storytelling, the program is aimed at keeping curious minds busy during the summer break. Younger participants can step into the world of illusion in The Magic Workshop, running…
A tiny workshop, a single performer and a story that refuses to stay on the page will take centre stage at Arts Centre Melbourne next April, when Trick of the Light Theatre brings its acclaimed production The Bookbinder to The Show Room. Running from 23 to 25 April 2026, the one-man show has built a global following thanks to its inventive storytelling and intimate scale. Set inside a bookbinder’s workshop, the performance begins with an old craftsman reading the story of a former apprentice. From there, the tale unfolds beyond the book itself, transforming the space through pop-up books, puppetry…
Ultra Australia has dropped Phase One of its 2026 lineup, confirming headline sets from The Chainsmokers and DJ Snake as the electronic music festival returns to Melbourne’s Flemington Racecourse on Saturday 11 April 2026. The two global dance acts will be joined by a mix of international and genre-spanning DJs and producers across both the Melbourne and Gold Coast events. Alongside the headliners, the first wave of artists includes Darren Styles, MaRLo and Oliver Heldens, bringing a blend of trance, house and festival-ready electronic music to the dancefloor. Melbourne’s edition will feature a few extra names not appearing on the…