As one of the most popular destinations for exhibitions, sporting events, art shows, musicals and more – head on over to Melbourne, Australia for a slew of your favourite fix of exciting and impressive events that will inspire, captivate and be the highlight of your visit.
Known for its world-class infrastructure and arts and culture scene, Melbourne does not disappoint being host to these spectacular events that add flair to the city and its regions. Be prepared to be mesmerised by these experiences, which makes Melbourne all the livelier.
& Juliet (26 February 2023 onwards)
This is Shakespeare’s classic tale of star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet, shaken, stirred and spectacularly remixed. The award-winning & Juliet has debuted in Melbourne for its Australian premiere in February 2023 at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre. What if the ending we all know so well, was just the beginning and Juliet chose her own fate?
Melbourne Food and Wine Festival (24 March – 2 April 2023)
Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2015
Melbourne is the undisputed culinary capital of Australia, with its food and wine scene defined by the pursuit of creativity, quality and imagination. The 2023 World’s Longest Lunch is headlined by Alla Wolf-Tasker, founder of Lake House in Daylesford, one of Australia’s pioneering luxury regional restaurants, while the new sibling event, World’s Longest Brunch, is all about Melbourne’s café and patisserie culture for 2023, led by Natalie Paull, owner and chef of Melbourne cult favourite Beatrix Bakes.
- World’s Longest Lunch 2023 (24 March 2023)
- World’s Longest Brunch 2023 (25 March 2023)
Formula 1® Australian Grand Prix (30 March – 2 April 2023)
Be part of the excitement and experience the heart-pumping adrenaline that can only be found at Formula 1®. Explore the world-famous Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit and take in electrifying live performances and entertainment.
Alexander McQueen (until 16 April 2023)
Organised by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), in partnership with the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), Alexander McQueen: Mind, Mythos, Muse is the first major Australian exhibition to explore the work of this boundary-pushing fashion designer.
Showcasing more than 60 looks drawn from LACMA’s holdings of important works by McQueen, the Melbourne presentation also features more than 50 looks by McQueen from the NGV Collection, as well as key loans from designer Katy England’s personal archive, making this Australian-exclusive presentation especially rich and comprehensive.
Offering an unprecedented insight into the mind of this seminal designer, McQueen’s work is presented alongside more than 80 historical artworks including painting, sculpture, photography, decorative arts and works on paper from the collections of LACMA and NGV, that reveal the myriad reference points that influenced his designs.
The juxtaposition of garments and artworks highlights McQueen’s creative process and capacity for storytelling, as well as offering audiences an opportunity to gain a deeper appreciation of his artistic legacy and the nature of inspiration.
Alexander McQueen features examples from some of the designer’s earliest and most acclaimed collections, including the poetic The Widows of Culloden (autumn-winter 2006–2007), which both take inspiration from McQueen’s ancestry and Scottish history. The exhibition also features commissioned headpieces by Los Angeles-based artist and designer Michael Schmidt, as well as garments originally owned by McQueen’s muses Isabella Blow and Annabelle Neilson.
RONE. Time (until 23 April 2023)
Melbourne artist Rone reveals his most ambitious building takeover to date with the unveiling of Time, an extraordinary and transportive immersive installation comprising eleven transformed rooms across the hidden upper level and ballroom of Flinders Street Station.
Set in the long-abandoned third-floor wing of the station, Time is a nostalgic love letter to mid-century Melbourne and a tribute to one of the city’s great icons. Created and developed across the past three years, this truly exceptional site-specific experience is Rone’s most ambitious project to date.
RISING Melbourne (2-18 June 2023)
Melbourne’s flagship festival of eclectic arts and culture scene. Discover cutting-edge music and theatre from local and international talents, with immersive experiences set in iconic Melbourne venues in June 2023, kicking off with Euphoria, a film installation by Julian Rosefeldt.
Pierre Bonnard: Designed by India Mahdavi (9 June – 8 October 2023)
The blockbuster Melbourne Winter Masterpieces® exhibition will feature more than 100 works by Pierre Bonnard, a leading 20th century French painter celebrated for his iridescent palette – presented within a contemporary scenography by award-winning architect and designer, India Mahdavi. The paintings of Pierre Bonnard (1867-1947) depict intimate domestic interiors, natural landscapes and urban scenes with subtlety, wit and a sensuous approach to colour and light.
To create the exhibition’s scenography, the NGV has commissioned the celebrated Paris-based architect and designer India Mahdavi. Described by The New Yorker as a ‘virtuoso of colour’ and ‘possessor of perfect chromatic pitch’, and winner of Designer of the Year at the 2023 Wallpaper* Design Awards, Mahdavi will envelop Pierre Bonnard’s works in an environment that complements Bonnard’s distinct use of colour and texture, and evokes the wistful domestic intimacy for which his paintings are renowned.
FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 (20 July – 20 August 2023)
The FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™ will take place from 20 July – 20 August 2023, with a total of 64 matches being held over 32 days in 10 iconic venues, including Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.
Moulin Rouge! The Musical (from August 2023)
The spectacular returns to Melbourne. After celebrating stellar reviews and a sold-out premiere season in Melbourne, Moulin Rouge! The Musical will now return to the iconic Regent Theatre from August 2023. Melbourne audiences could not get enough of this spectacular production.
With an exhilarating line-up of events all-year round, there is always something refreshing for visitors to Melbourne catered to suit all traveller types.
For more details, log on to www.visitmelbourne.com