The best free events happening in Melbourne

The Australian Open might cost money, but the Australian Open Festival at Birrarung Marr is free for all. You can head over to Birrarung Marr to enjoy live tennis matches on big screens while indulging in some food and drinks.

Midsumma Festival is an LGBTQIA+ cultural festival which offers a long list of events, both paid and free. Among the free events is the fun and fabulous Pride March. The festival has something for everyone with a mass, talks and discussions, and plenty of parties that can be attended for no cost.

Get ready to sway and dance to the tunes of amazing Aussie artists against the beautiful backdrop of St Kilda Beach. St Kilda Festival is a free annual event that has been bringing together the best of homegrown musical talent since 1980 and takes place on the second Sunday of February.

An annual tradition, this free concert series at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl usually starts a week into February and lines up three performances with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. You can pack a picnic and savour the summer evenings with some delightful free music.

This annual festival is a showcase of amazing talents from Australia and around the world. The events are very diverse, spanning the fields of dance, theatre, music, visual arts and multimedia. If you look hard enough, you can find a hoard of free events as well. Check the festival’s website to find them.

Melbourne's world-renowned local music scene is given the spotlight during Melbourne Music Week. Along with the paid ticketed events, there are several free performances lined up throughout the week and can be found on the festival’s website.

Melbourne is decked out in December to celebrate Christmas and the end of the year. You can go around to see some beautiful Christmas lights and decorations, enjoy some live entertainment at Federation Square, snap a photo with Santa or have a peek at the always-spectacular Myer Christmas windows.

Whether you have plans or not, you can catch the spectacular fireworks on New Year’s Eve from several free locations around Melbourne.