Things to do in Melbourne this week

What do you get when you cross cheese with high tea? You get High Cheese – an indulgent cheese-centric experience returning to the Westin Melbourne for its third year. Taking over the hotel’s Allegro Restaurant from May 26 to October 17, this ever-popular event sees executive chef Apoorva Kunte joining forces with Richmond specialty cheese shop Supercheese, plus Punt Road Wines for a celebration of cheese and wine. High Cheese gives your traditional high tea a delicious spin with a three-tiered menu that shines the spotlight on cheese. Think sweet and savoury bites with expertly paired wines – all designed to showcase the versatility of great (or should we say, ‘grate’?) fromage. It’s a brie-lliant excuse to spend an afternoon grazing. Supercheese owner Jeremy Spradbery has selected cheeses for their quality, provenance and personality, drawing from niche local and international producers. Guests will move through a  progression of creations by chef Kunte, including a shared centrepiece and a final sweet offering, paired with a glass of Punt Road wine. “Supercheese has an incredible eye for producers with real character,” says Kunte. “For us, it’s about showcasing cheese in a way that feels elevated, unexpected and true to the ingredient.” To keep things fresh, the experience will evolve mid-season with a refreshed menu launching in August – which gives you a gouda reason to return. High Cheese at Allegro Restaurant is available every Tuesday to Saturday from 5pm onwards...

Even though temperatures are dropping, Melbourne’s culture calendar is just heating up. This winter, two of the city’s biggest cultural institutions, ACMI and Rising, are teaming up for a multi-sensory exhibition, celebrating music’s cultural impact and paying tribute to vinyl. From May 22 to August 31, The Vinyl Factory: Reverb will bring together some of the leading figures working in video and sound to deep dive into different eras of music, through large-scale moving image works, immersive sound installations and interactive vinyl experiences.  Spanning the early days of techno to contemporary digital art, you’ll see work from celebrated artists including Canadian media artist Stan Douglas; British-Nigerian filmmaker and visual artist Jenn Nkiru; American fashion visionary Virgil Abloh; US filmmaker and music video director Kahlil Joseph; London-based photographer and video artist Gabriel Moses; South African artist William Kentridge; Turner Prize-winning British artist Jeremy Deller; British poet and sound artist Julianknxx; Argentinian performance artist Cecilia Bengolea and German electronic music and sound art innovator Carsten Nicolai.  Highlights include hands-on access to Technics turntables with remixable loops; a fantasy rap battle; and access to The Vinyl Factory’s archive, which features 100 vinyl pressings with works by Marina Abramović and Thom York.  There’s also the chance to pick a record and take it into the Listening Room, which by day functions as a...

Prepare to enter the pearly gates of doughnut heaven, sweet Melburnians. Queen Victoria Market's free Donut Festival is making its delicious return on June 13 and 14. Back by popular demand, Melbourne's most dough-licious creators and bakers are returning in 2026, with new faces and plenty more sugary delights that will have all your cravings satisfied. The lip-smacking line-up includes Jamm'd Dessert Bar with their hot Danish dougnuts; chewy mochi bites from Mochimelb; deliciously sweet loukomades from St. Gerry's; nama-style bites from Kare Melbourne; and G-Free Donuts with tasty options for the gluten-free crowd. And for those of you who love to push the boundaries of what a doughnut can be, Pasta Face is delivering the goods with a hot honey chicken parma version; the Puff Puff Stand are offering West African-inspired puff puffs; and Mr Zeppole is serving up Italian zeppole with the choice of jam or anchovy fillings.  This free weekend-long fest is all about indulging in everybody's favourite deep-fried treat, whether you like yours simple and iced or loaded with decadent toppings. There will also be  roving performers, live entertainment, plenty of coffee and fun activations to keep the sugar high going. The Donut Festival is happening from 9am to 4pm, so all you need to do is head to the C and D sheds (Peel Street end) with your mates and a will to indulge.  For more info, head to the Queen Vic Market website. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out...

Bernie Dieter and her band of legendary misfits have returned to Melbourne once again, to deliver a serving of debaucherous fun and frivolity. Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett, starring the legendary queen of Weimar punk described as an "electrifying cross between Lady Gaga, Marlene Dietrich and Frank-N-Futer in sequins", has taken over North Melbourne's historic Meat Market until June 7. Audiences can expect riotous original songs, immense vocal talent and a jaw-dropping line-up of contortionists, sword swallowers, fire breathers and aerialists. For more info and to secure your tickets, head to the website. Read on for our five-star review of Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett from the 2022 Melbourne Fringe Festival. *** It’s easy to see why Dieter’s award-winning show has garnered such esteem since touching down in Australia earlier this year. Less than two minutes in and our M.C., Bernie has thrown off her tartan dress to reveal glittery tights and feather-tipped shoulder pads. Soon after, she’s straddling an audience member and enlisting the help of two others – lovingly named ‘Shaven Haven’ and ‘Silver Fox’ – to carry her back to the stage in the splits. The fourth wall is not so much brought down, as elegantly side-stepped by her sky-high stiletto heel. All the while, Bernie’s quick-wit and dirty mouth find comedic beats in the unlikeliest – or, as it were, the most unwilling – of audience members. "Tonight is about letting loose, letting go, and getting a little bit more...

Dreading winter? Here’s something to brighten your mood: Rising, Melbourne's annual festival of art, music, dance and performance, returns from May 27 to June 8 – and the final part of the program has just been announced. “Free art after dark, fresh live music, late-night dining and artist-led conversations, clubs and lounges create even more doorways into the festival’s expansive program of new art, stories, music and dance,” says Rising artistic director and CEO, Hannah Fox. ‘l’ Opening weekend sees Fed Square and Hamer Hall transformed by ‘Midéegaadi’, a spectacular projection and sound installation by Native American artist Cannupa Hanska Luger. Originally shown in New York’s Times Square, the projections will illuminate both sites as part of Calling Country: The Land Speaks Back, alongside works by Djirri Djirri Women's Dance Group. Relax in deck chairs with hot drinks and First Nations food while soaking up the atmosphere beneath the city lights. Fed Square will also host one of the festival’s most intriguing experiences: Sapporo Supper Club: Chīsai 小, the world’s smallest ramen-ya. Running Thursday to Saturday throughout the festival, this tiny dining space seats just two guests at a time for Hokkaido-style ramen and expertly poured Sapporo beer.  Hungry for more? Moon Bites returns with a late-night dining trail designed for pre- and post-show meals. Venues including Cathedral Coffee, Mr Mills, Melbourne Supper Club, Dom's Social Club and Bottega will serve...

Melbourne's favourite illuminated event is back again in 2026, with 15 new and returning dazzling light installations to meander through in wonderment. From June 12 to August 2, take a nighttime stroll through the Royal Botanic Gardens and experience luminous pathways, lit-up tree canopies, soothing soundscapes and more sparkly sights. This year, highlights of the 2.1-kilometre trail are set to be the Australian premier of Bifröst by French studio Pitaya, which boasts a 20-arch tunnel of flowing light that you can walk through; and Firefly Field by Dutch studio TOER, where 200 glowing points of light will dart like fairies above the grass. Returning faves include a reimagined 30-metre Winter Cathedral, plus the epic Fire Garden installation, which will include a circular spiral of 150 candles. Plus, there's plenty more to discover by more local and international artists alike.  Most importantly, you'll also be able to grab a bite to eat and warming drinks, like hot chocolate and mulled wine, at the Welcome Zone or dotted along the trail. If you ask us, Melbourne is at its best in winter and events like Lightscape (which now holds two consecutive Gold wins at the Victorian Tourism Awards), where you can rug up and join friends for a magical experience, are a big reason why. Adult tickets start at $36 and are available through Ticketek – be quick as they tend to go fast.  Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city,...

Who needs the French Alps when a charming alpine village has popped up at Fed Square this wintertime, complete with wooden chalets, fire pits and, most importantly, bubbling cauldrons of cheese and chocolate – need we say more?  From now until July 26, the Fondue Chalet pop-up invites you to gather your mates, get rounds of mulled wine to keep warm and indulge in an après-ski French village experience without ever having to leave the city.  Brought to you by the team behind the wildly popular Raclette Igloo pop-up, this foodie extravaganza is all about indulgence – there's no such thing as 'too much'.  Step inside your own cute chalet, designed for groups of six to eight, and dive into a traditional Savoie-style cheese fondue with imported French cheeses like Beaufort, Emmental, and Vacherin. Tear apart crusty bread, swirl it through the velvety, wine-infused pot, and enjoy the charcuterie boards and curated selection of French wines that come with it. Yum. And just when you think it couldn't get any better or that you can't eat another bite, dessert arrives – a decadent chocolate fondue, ready for dunking with seasonal fruits and sweet treats.  To keep the merriment going after dinner, take the party to the après-ski bar with drinks by Casa Spirits. Exclusively for fondue diners, the spot serves up French winter cocktails, mulled wine and warming digestifs. With fire pits, music and flowing drinks, Fondue Chalet is an escape that will transport you straight to the Alps –...

Removing a record from its sleeve, lowering the needle and waiting for that first crackle before the music begins – there’s nothing quite like listening to a vinyl record. In a world of instant streaming and digital music, old-style music formats offer something richer and wonderfully tactile. If you love the thrill of crate-digging at record stores, this one’s for you. The Independent Music Exchange is taking over Northcote Town Hall on June 6 and 7. This free, two-day event is a celebration of independent labels, physical formats and the passionate communities that keep them spinning. More than 50 imprints from across the country will transform the venue into a music lover’s dream – think vinyl, cassettes, rare test pressings, magazines, merch and plenty of artist-signed finds you won’t find anywhere else. Originally launched as part of The Eighty-Six Festival in 2023, the Independent Music Exchange has since evolved into a standalone event, led by independent label owners Michael Kucyk (Efficient Space), Maryos Syawish and Corey Kikos (Butter Sessions). At its core, it brings together labels and fans, artists and audiences, fostering collaboration across Australia’s independent music scene. Expect to see some of the country’s most exciting labels behind the stalls, including Poison City Records, Chapter Music, Hobbies Galore, Music in Exile, Room40 and Third Eye Stimuli Records – a vibrant snapshot of the diversity and creativity driving the local scene. New for 2026,...

There’s something special about sitting your kids down to watch the same show that you and and your parents did, decades ago. Believe it or not, Play School has been captivating little eyes since 1966 and ACMI is giving you the chance to come and explore the set brought to life, for free.  You can explore the Play School: Come and Play! exhibition at ACMI in Federation Square now until July 12. The perfect outing for two- to five-year-olds, little ones have the chance to check out the Rocket Clock, meet Big Ted, Jemima and Humpty Dumpty, sing songs and learn.  Kids can play presenter, camera operator or director – whatever tickles their fancy. The exhibition also includes Auslan translations throughout, with sensory-friendly, Auslan and audio-described sessions available. Plus, a chance to see what goes on behind the scenes and even hear from hosts like Leah Vandenberg and childhood experts in the Play School Talks series throughout April, June and September. Ready to come inside? Tickets to Play School: Come and Play! are free but make sure you book your spot here. Catch the exhibition at ACMI from 10am to 5pm until July 12.

Mark your calendars and grab your warmest winter woolies, Melburnians: Queen Victoria Market's beloved Winter Night Market is back. From June 3 to August 26 you can spend cosy Wednesday evenings enjoying live entertainment, huddling around open fires and feasting on goodies from a selection of global street food stalls, carts, trucks and festival bars. In 2026, expect to see beloved traders from previous years, as well as a number of new and exciting additions across the market's roaring 13-week season. Highlights include piping hot soup served in a bread roll by the Soup Factory (lobster chowder, anyone?), crispy fried pasta cups at Frasta Fried Pasta, Berlin-style doner kebabs loaded with meat from Oh My Doner and hot jam doughnuts courtesy of everyone's favourite American Doughnut Kitchen.  As always, you can expect plenty of roving performers and pop-up activities. This year also sees the introduction of Keys to Winter, a brand new series of piano performances throughout June. After sipping and snacking, be sure to explore the dozens of stalls selling locally sourced and handmade products including jewellery, art, skincare, books and homewares.  Find out more at the Queen Victoria Winter Night Market website. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox. Looking for more things to do? Check out our round-up of the best things happening in Melbourne this week.