What's on in Melbourne
Not every event in the city. Just the ones we think are worth leaving the house for, and why.
This weekend
United Energy Around the Bay 2026
Australia's biggest one-day bike ride, with distances from a family lap of Albert Park to the 220km classic loop.
Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Spring Plant Sale
The Growing Friends' spring sale of plants propagated from the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.
Free
Cat Lovers Festival
Victoria's biggest cat festival, with the Kitten Lady live, pat-a-cat, a breed showcase and adoption groups.
From $22
Melbourne Dog Lovers Festival
Victoria's biggest dog festival, with pat-a-pooch, a breed showcase, dog sports and an adoption zone.
From $22Also this week
- Thu15OctOcker by Na Djinang CircusA free roving First Nations-led circus show that lays a portable railway track through Fed Square as it goes.Thu 15 to Sun 18 OctFree
- MarketsBorneo Night MarketSun 18 Oct to Sun 8 NovSun18OctBorneo Night MarketA free weekend night market of food, music and dance from Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo.Sun 18 Oct to Sun 8 NovFree
- Until18OctDesign X Nature: Peckable ArchitectureA free installation of biodegradable bricks designed for birds to peck apart for nesting material.Free
- Sat17OctFijian Flying CircusA Fijian storytelling and contemporary circus show, with a long season at Flemington Racecourse.Sat 17 Oct to Sun 22 NovFrom $49
- Tue13OctWalsh Street Guided TourA guided tour of Robin Boyd's 1957 modernist family home, starting with a talk on his life and work.Tue 13 Oct to Sat 12 DecFrom $35
- Fri16OctHidden Melbourne: Ghosts, Murder and MysteryA night walking tour of old Melbourne's laneways, opium dens, body-snatchers and the Princess Theatre ghost.Fri 16 Oct to Sat 19 Dec$39
Coming up
- Fri23Oct2026 Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, Phillip IslandMotoGP returns to the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit for a three-day race weekend, billed by organisers as its 'Final Roar'.Fri 23 to Sun 25 OctFrom $190
- Fri23OctAustralian Burlesque Festival, MelbourneThree nights of burlesque at Spiegel Haus: Empress Erotique, The Big Tease Gala and the New Follies competition.Fri 23 to Sun 25 Oct$92
- Sat24OctPinoy OctoberfestA free weekend of Filipino food, live music and cultural parades at Queen Victoria Market.Sat 24 to Sun 25 OctFree
- Sat24OctFestival Indonesia at Fed SquareA free day of Indonesian food, dance, music and hands-on batik and pencak silat workshops.Free
- Sun25OctHallozeen Zine FairThe 12th annual spooky zine fair at Kensington Town Hall.Free
- Thu29OctBavarian Sunset MarketA free evening Bavarian-style market with German food, beer and live entertainment, raising funds for Tour de Cure.Free
- MusicWangaratta Festival of Jazz & BluesFri 30 Oct to Sun 1 NovFri30OctWangaratta Festival of Jazz & BluesThe 36th jazz and blues festival over the Cup long weekend, with The Bamboos ft. Kylie Auldist headlining Saturday.Fri 30 Oct to Sun 1 Nov
- Sat31OctMelbourne Diwali 2026 at Marvel Stadium SquareA free Diwali festival with performances, food stalls, a market and a lights display at Marvel Stadium Square.Free
- Sat31OctVictorian Festival of Diwali at Fed SquareA free day of Indian dance, music, workshops and a bazaar at Fed Square, finishing with fireworks over the Yarra.Free
- Sat31OctHalloween at the Old Melbourne GaolA Halloween night inside the old prison's cell blocks, corridors and gallows, with an onsite bar.From $25
- Sat31OctWitches MarketA Halloween-day market with over 40 stalls including tarot readers, a tattooist, crystals, candles and cauldrons.Free
- Sat31OctA Spooky Escape at the Old Melbourne GaolA family Halloween day where kids complete four challenges to escape the 'haunted' gaol.From $22
- Sat31OctHalloween at the Museum: The Haunted GalaAn after-hours Halloween gala at Melbourne Museum with DJs, roaming characters, tarot and a costume competition.From $75
- Sat31OctThrive: Multicultural Women's FestivalA free festival of music, dance, fashion, food and stories from women of diverse backgrounds.Free
- Mon2NovMelbourne International Dumpling FestivalA free one-day festival of dumplings from around the world at Queen Victoria Market on Melbourne Cup Eve.Free
- Fri13NovColours of Asia: Garden of WondersA free two-weekend Asian street food and lantern garden festival in Alexandra Gardens.Fri 13 to Sun 22 NovFree
- Sun15NovPolish Festival at Fed SquareThe 22nd Polish Festival fills Fed Square with pierogi, folk dancers, live music and Polish pottery and amber stalls.Free
- Sun15NovStock Up Vintage MarketA free vintage market of 1990s and Y2K clothing, streetwear, sneakers and collectibles, with vinyl DJs.Free
- Fri20NovKyneton Agricultural Show 2026A country show with a Friday carnival night and Saturday show day at Kyneton Showgrounds.Fri 20 to Sat 21 Nov
- Sat21NovCachivaches Latin MarketA free weekend market of Latin American food, music and art from more than 50 Latin-owned businesses.Sat 21 to Sun 22 NovFree
- Sat21NovPeninsula VineHop Festival 2026A food, music and craft drinks day across seven Mornington Peninsula venues with hop-on hop-off shuttles.
- MusicQueenscliff Music Festival 2026Fri 27 to Sun 29 NovFri27NovQueenscliff Music Festival 2026A three-day music festival in seaside Queenscliff on the Bellarine Peninsula.Fri 27 to Sun 29 Nov
- Sat28NovUgly Cutie Market: Merry UglyA festive art market with over 130 artists, designers and makers, plus a free photo booth and pin trading.Sat 28 to Sun 29 NovFrom $8
- Fri4DecPillars of Light FestivalAn inclusive Chanukah celebration with nightly Menorah lighting, music and performance at Fed Square.Fri 4 to Fri 11 DecFree
- MarketsThe Big Design Market, MelbourneFri 4 to Sun 6 DecFri4DecThe Big Design Market, MelbourneA three-day design market with 280+ independent designers at the Royal Exhibition Building.Fri 4 to Sun 6 Dec$8
- Sun6DecDeaf FestivalA community festival of Deaf culture with live entertainment, Deaf-owned market stalls and family activities.From $5
- Tue8DecChristmas Lights CruiseA one-hour evening Yarra cruise past the city's Christmas lights and the Crown fountain show.Tue 8 to Thu 24 DecFrom $39
- MusicMeredith Music Festival 2026Fri 11 to Sun 13 DecFri11DecMeredith Music Festival 2026The long-running three-day music festival at the Supernatural Amphitheatre near Meredith.Fri 11 to Sun 13 Dec
- Sun13DecNGV Triennial 2026The free fourth NGV Triennial, with more than 80 projects across all four levels of NGV International.Sun 13 Dec to Sun 11 AprFree
- MarketsCoburg Night Market 2026Thu 17 to Sat 19 DecThu17DecCoburg Night Market 2026Three summer nights of street food, local makers, live music, DJs and pop-up bars at Bridges Reserve.Thu 17 to Sat 19 Dec
- Until18OctDesign X Nature: Peckable ArchitectureA free installation of biodegradable bricks designed for birds to peck apart for nesting material.Free
- Tue13OctWalsh Street Guided TourA guided tour of Robin Boyd's 1957 modernist family home, starting with a talk on his life and work.Tue 13 Oct to Sat 12 DecFrom $35
- Thu15OctOcker by Na Djinang CircusA free roving First Nations-led circus show that lays a portable railway track through Fed Square as it goes.Thu 15 to Sun 18 OctFree
- Fri16OctHidden Melbourne: Ghosts, Murder and MysteryA night walking tour of old Melbourne's laneways, opium dens, body-snatchers and the Princess Theatre ghost.Fri 16 Oct to Sat 19 Dec$39
- Sat17OctFijian Flying CircusA Fijian storytelling and contemporary circus show, with a long season at Flemington Racecourse.Sat 17 Oct to Sun 22 NovFrom $49
- Sat17OctFriends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Spring Plant SaleThe Growing Friends' spring sale of plants propagated from the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.Sat 17 to Sun 18 OctFree
- Sat17OctCat Lovers FestivalVictoria's biggest cat festival, with the Kitten Lady live, pat-a-cat, a breed showcase and adoption groups.Sat 17 to Sun 18 OctFrom $22
- Sat17OctMelbourne Dog Lovers FestivalVictoria's biggest dog festival, with pat-a-pooch, a breed showcase, dog sports and an adoption zone.Sat 17 to Sun 18 OctFrom $22
- MarketsBorneo Night MarketSun 18 Oct to Sun 8 NovSun18OctBorneo Night MarketA free weekend night market of food, music and dance from Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo.Sun 18 Oct to Sun 8 NovFree
- Sun18OctUnited Energy Around the Bay 2026Australia's biggest one-day bike ride, with distances from a family lap of Albert Park to the 220km classic loop.
- Fri23Oct2026 Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, Phillip IslandMotoGP returns to the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit for a three-day race weekend, billed by organisers as its 'Final Roar'.Fri 23 to Sun 25 OctFrom $190
- Fri23OctAustralian Burlesque Festival, MelbourneThree nights of burlesque at Spiegel Haus: Empress Erotique, The Big Tease Gala and the New Follies competition.Fri 23 to Sun 25 Oct$92
- Sat24OctPinoy OctoberfestA free weekend of Filipino food, live music and cultural parades at Queen Victoria Market.Sat 24 to Sun 25 OctFree
- Sat24OctFestival Indonesia at Fed SquareA free day of Indonesian food, dance, music and hands-on batik and pencak silat workshops.Free
- Sun25OctHallozeen Zine FairThe 12th annual spooky zine fair at Kensington Town Hall.Free
- Thu29OctBavarian Sunset MarketA free evening Bavarian-style market with German food, beer and live entertainment, raising funds for Tour de Cure.Free
- MusicWangaratta Festival of Jazz & BluesFri 30 Oct to Sun 1 NovFri30OctWangaratta Festival of Jazz & BluesThe 36th jazz and blues festival over the Cup long weekend, with The Bamboos ft. Kylie Auldist headlining Saturday.Fri 30 Oct to Sun 1 Nov
- Sat31OctMelbourne Diwali 2026 at Marvel Stadium SquareA free Diwali festival with performances, food stalls, a market and a lights display at Marvel Stadium Square.Free
- Sat31OctVictorian Festival of Diwali at Fed SquareA free day of Indian dance, music, workshops and a bazaar at Fed Square, finishing with fireworks over the Yarra.Free
- Sat31OctHalloween at the Old Melbourne GaolA Halloween night inside the old prison's cell blocks, corridors and gallows, with an onsite bar.From $25
- Sat31OctWitches MarketA Halloween-day market with over 40 stalls including tarot readers, a tattooist, crystals, candles and cauldrons.Free
- Sat31OctA Spooky Escape at the Old Melbourne GaolA family Halloween day where kids complete four challenges to escape the 'haunted' gaol.From $22
- Sat31OctHalloween at the Museum: The Haunted GalaAn after-hours Halloween gala at Melbourne Museum with DJs, roaming characters, tarot and a costume competition.From $75
- Sat31OctThrive: Multicultural Women's FestivalA free festival of music, dance, fashion, food and stories from women of diverse backgrounds.Free
- Mon2NovMelbourne International Dumpling FestivalA free one-day festival of dumplings from around the world at Queen Victoria Market on Melbourne Cup Eve.Free
- Fri13NovColours of Asia: Garden of WondersA free two-weekend Asian street food and lantern garden festival in Alexandra Gardens.Fri 13 to Sun 22 NovFree
- Sun15NovPolish Festival at Fed SquareThe 22nd Polish Festival fills Fed Square with pierogi, folk dancers, live music and Polish pottery and amber stalls.Free
- Sun15NovStock Up Vintage MarketA free vintage market of 1990s and Y2K clothing, streetwear, sneakers and collectibles, with vinyl DJs.Free
- Fri20NovKyneton Agricultural Show 2026A country show with a Friday carnival night and Saturday show day at Kyneton Showgrounds.Fri 20 to Sat 21 Nov
- Sat21NovCachivaches Latin MarketA free weekend market of Latin American food, music and art from more than 50 Latin-owned businesses.Sat 21 to Sun 22 NovFree
- Sat21NovPeninsula VineHop Festival 2026A food, music and craft drinks day across seven Mornington Peninsula venues with hop-on hop-off shuttles.
- MusicQueenscliff Music Festival 2026Fri 27 to Sun 29 NovFri27NovQueenscliff Music Festival 2026A three-day music festival in seaside Queenscliff on the Bellarine Peninsula.Fri 27 to Sun 29 Nov
- Sat28NovUgly Cutie Market: Merry UglyA festive art market with over 130 artists, designers and makers, plus a free photo booth and pin trading.Sat 28 to Sun 29 NovFrom $8
- Fri4DecPillars of Light FestivalAn inclusive Chanukah celebration with nightly Menorah lighting, music and performance at Fed Square.Fri 4 to Fri 11 DecFree
- MarketsThe Big Design Market, MelbourneFri 4 to Sun 6 DecFri4DecThe Big Design Market, MelbourneA three-day design market with 280+ independent designers at the Royal Exhibition Building.Fri 4 to Sun 6 Dec$8
- Sun6DecDeaf FestivalA community festival of Deaf culture with live entertainment, Deaf-owned market stalls and family activities.From $5
- Tue8DecChristmas Lights CruiseA one-hour evening Yarra cruise past the city's Christmas lights and the Crown fountain show.Tue 8 to Thu 24 DecFrom $39
- MusicMeredith Music Festival 2026Fri 11 to Sun 13 DecFri11DecMeredith Music Festival 2026The long-running three-day music festival at the Supernatural Amphitheatre near Meredith.Fri 11 to Sun 13 Dec
- Sun13DecNGV Triennial 2026The free fourth NGV Triennial, with more than 80 projects across all four levels of NGV International.Sun 13 Dec to Sun 11 AprFree
- MarketsCoburg Night Market 2026Thu 17 to Sat 19 DecThu17DecCoburg Night Market 2026Three summer nights of street food, local makers, live music, DJs and pop-up bars at Bridges Reserve.Thu 17 to Sat 19 Dec
Every Sunday, free
The Sunday Letter from Melbourne
Everything we spotted this week, in one short email. Written by people, never sold on.