Author: Melbourning
Theatre Works has lifted the curtain on its 2026 season, revealing an ambitious, yearlong program of more than 50 productions that will fill every corner of its St Kilda precinct. While the organisation has also confirmed the planned July 2026 departure of Executive Director Dianne Toulson, her retirement sits in the background of an announcement driven by the scale, diversity and reach of next year’s artistic vision. The 2026 program continues the year round momentum established in 2025, with a mix of new Australian work, reimagined classics, musicals, festivals and experimental performance. Midsumma returns in force with nine productions across…
The Wharf Hotel is kicking off summer with something you won’t find anywhere else in the country. Wharf on Cloud 9 has landed on the Yarra, bringing Australia’s first hot air balloon dining pods to Siddeley Street. They don’t lift off the ground, but they deliver the feeling of escape, thanks to playful design, soft lighting, and cosy seating that turns a simple meal into a small adventure. The pods sit along the waterfront and overlook the river, giving brunches, birthdays, date nights, and lazy summer lunches a fresh twist. Each pod fits up to six people, and you can…
Cyclists in Melbourne’s west now have a quicker and safer trip into the city following the opening of a new 2.5 kilometre veloway linking Footscray to Moonee Ponds Creek. The elevated route, part of the West Gate Tunnel Project, removes six intersections and several busy port access points, giving cyclists a protected off road run straight toward the CBD. Minister for Transport Infrastructure Gabrielle Williams announced the opening during VeloDay celebrations, joined by Australian cycling legend Cadel Evans and students from Footscray City Primary School. The veloway will be known as the Dixon Veloway in honour of Victorian cyclist and…
Victoria will take a major step toward a new chapter with First Peoples when Treaty is officially marked at a large-scale public ceremony and concert on Friday 12 December at John Cain Arena. The event, presented by the Victorian Government and the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, will celebrate the formal commencement of Treaty, drawing thousands for an evening of music, dance and cultural performance. At the centre of the ceremony, the Treaty Authority will formally lodge the Treaty on its database. This act signals the beginning of a renewed relationship grounded in respect, truth and shared responsibility between First…
A new drawcard for families is about to land at Chadstone, with Imaginationation set to open on Monday 8 December and reshape how Melbourne does indoor play. The 1,200sqm venue sits within the shopping centre and brings a design-first approach to children’s entertainment, blending architecture, sensory learning and family-friendly hospitality in one purpose-built space. Bookings are now open for sessions inside the playcentre, which has been created for children aged 0 to 7. The layout leans into interactive zones, quiet sensory corners and hands-on learning experiences, all designed to encourage exploration rather than passive play. The focus on high-quality design…
Leftfield will bring their influential electronic sound back to Australia and New Zealand in 2026, marking their first visit in eight years and celebrating an impressive 35 years since the group first emerged from London’s club scene. Melbourne fans will get their moment when the group plays the Royal Botanic Gardens as part of Live in the Gardens on Sunday 8 March. The anniversary tour promises a career-spanning set featuring the tracks that cemented Leftfield’s place in dance music history, including Original, Release the Pressure, Phat Planet, Open Up, Song of Life and Afro Left. Formed in 1988, the group…
Mornington’s waterfront has a fresh new focal point, with the upgraded Mornington Fishermans Jetty now officially open after an $18 million rebuild. The rebuilt jetty includes new timber decking, solar lighting and seating made from materials salvaged from the original structure. Berthing capacity has also expanded, with space now available for up to 27 vessels. Access ladders along the lower landings are designed to make the jetty easier and safer to use for a wider range of visitors. Work is still underway at nearby Hampton Pier, which is being reconstructed with a steel piled design that will be topped with…
British electronic heavyweights Faithless will return to Australia in March 2026, marking their first visit in 15 years and giving Melbourne fans a rare chance to experience one of dance music’s most influential acts live again. The group will play PICA on Saturday 14 March 2026 as part of a run that also includes Sydney, Brisbane and a stop at Auckland’s Synthony Festival. Formed in 1995 by Rollo Armstrong and DJ Sister Bliss, Faithless helped define the sound of late 90s and early 2000s club culture. Their fusion of house, trip-hop and dub set them apart, but it was the…
Melbourne will lead Australia’s next reign of SIX The Musical when the global sensation returns in 2026, with a new season locked in for the Comedy Theatre from July. The city that has embraced everything from blockbuster musicals to sharp, genre-bending theatre will once again be first to welcome the six queens back to the stage. SIX has become a cultural force in Melbourne, drawing huge crowds during its earlier runs and building a passionate local Queendom that has kept demand high. The show’s mix of Tudor history, contemporary pop and razor-edged humour has long resonated with Melbourne audiences, who…
One of the city’s biggest cultural drawcards for 2026 has been locked in, with Melbourne Museum set to open ROME: Empire, Power, People on 1 April. 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. Designed by Museums Victoria with Contemporanea Progetti and curators from Museo Nazionale Romano and Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Firenze, the exhibition showcases original statues, frescoes, mosaics, jewellery and everyday items dating from the 1st to 3rd Century…
Queen Victoria Market is stepping into summer with a three month program of food, culture and curated experiences designed to draw Melburnians back into the city’s most iconic marketplace. Running from December through February, the Summer Series brings new spaces, seasonal produce and limited edition treats, with the centrepiece being The Pallet Collective, a freshly created retail precinct showcasing independent makers and designers. Opening Tuesday 9 December in D Shed, The Pallet Collective brings together a rotating lineup of artisans and small scale producers, expanding the Market’s retail mix with fashion, food, design and handmade pieces perfect for summer browsing.…