The best things to do in Melbourne this weekend

Did you know that Ballarat is home to thousands of begonias, including more than 600 unique varieties? In fact, the impressive collection is the rarest in the Southern Hemisphere, and they're all housed in the city's historic botanical gardens. To celebrate this floral feat, the city has hosted the Ballarat Begonia Festival annually since 1953 – yup, it's been held for more than 70 years.  When is the Ballarat Begonia Festival taking place?  If you're keen to see the colourful (and highly 'grammable) flower fest in full bloom, make your way to the Ballarat Botanical Gardens on the Labour Day long weekend from March 7-9, 2026. The floral festivities run across three days, so you'll have ample opportunity to explore the vibrant floral displays that fill these historic gardens.  What kinds of begonias will be on display? At the heart of it all is the stunning Robert Clark Conservatory, home to Ballarat’s renowned begonia collection. Each year, the Botanical Gardens team grows more than 600 begonia varieties, from heirlooms to unique hybrids cultivated exclusively for the festival. The result? A bountiful display of begonias that draws everyone from green thumbs and nature enthusiasts to families and interstate visitors. What else is on at the Ballarat Begonia Festival?  The 2026 program goes beyond the blooms. Making its debut is The Musical Plants by Playable Streets, an installation that turns living plants into musical instruments you can actually play on. The Begonia...

Merri-bek dwellers are spoiled for choice when it comes to musical talent, and never more than during the annual Brunswick Music Festival, when international and local acts come together for a celebration of great music. 2026 marks the 38th year of the festival, and you can look forward to eight jam-packed days, featuring more than 40 gigs across the suburb and surrounds. Everything kicks off with the famous Sydney Road Street Party on Sunday, March 1. This free one-day festival takes over Brunswick’s main road  – which happens to be the longest continuous shopping strip in the southern hemisphere. Expect roving performers, amazing beats and pop-up acoustic sets, with rhythm happening everywhere you turn. The festival is also bringing in a whole lot of international headliners, with each one providing a special something. From French disco lord François K and Cretan sibling-duo Xylourides to Japanese hip-hop powerhouse DJ Krush, the globe is well represented.  You can also expect to get down with a heap of homegrown talent, dance to the uproarious bellow of Horns of Leroy's big brass brand, and hop through a series of epic, special sets at some of Brunswick's best live music locales, including Howler, the Retreat and Jazzlab.  This year, there'll also be an exciting return of the Merri-Bek 'Neighbourhood Noise' program. Creative spaces like Brunswick Library, Next Wave, Balam Balam Place and Blak Dot Gallery are all set to fling open their doors and become home to live...

It's your last chance to power up, unlock that final level and beat the big boss, because ACMI's Game Worlds is about to be clocked (aka it's finishing up soon). So don't let it be game over before you get a chance to enter this immersive, fully playable exhibition. Perfect for fans of The Sims, Neopets or World of Warcraft, this blockbuster celebration of video games will transport you into the worlds of more than 30 iconic titles, including Final Fantasy XIV Online, Minecraft, Doom and Stardew Valley. Also featured are classics like Maze War and Zork, fan faves with cult followings like The Elder Scrolls Online, and new releases like Guardian Maia. Spanning games from the 1970s right through to this year, you'll be able to check out rare concept art, original design materials, early hands-on protoypes and so much more. There are 44 fully playable experiences (think Celeste speedruns on two huge screens), and four new microgames by emerging and established Aussie game developers have been specially commissioned for the exhibition.   “Our exhibition honours the real-life experiences that are made possible by and through videogames, highlighting the players and developers – and stories that bring videogame worlds to life,” said co-curators Bethan Johnson and Jini Maxwell. Want to take a part of the exhibition home with you? There's limited-edition merch and exclusive books available for purchase at the ACMI shop. Game Worlds is now on at ACMI until March 29. For more...

Pack a picnic rug and head to Narre Warren where the south east’s creative hub Bunjil Place is throwing its biggest outdoor event of all time.  Open Space is a free, evening festival running across seven Saturdays from February 7, packed with live music, an open-air cinema, food trucks (or BYO dinner), and family-friendly fun that’ll keep you going and coming back for more. Opening night sets the bar high with a stellar line-up of musical acts including the soulful Canisha, smooth reggae from Paulo Almeida and his band and then an ace team-up of two Aussie powerhouses as Kutcha Edwards takes the stage with Cash Savage and the Last Drinks. Highlights don’t stop there: cozy up for a Valentine’s Day screening of the sci-fi horror classic Tarantula!; catch a performance from the Hung Hing Lion Dance in action; relive the ‘80s with synth-pop legends Pseudo Echo; swoon to country ballads from Golden Guitar winner Andrew Swift; or get funky with Cookin’ On 3 Burners, Stella Angelico, and the GRID Series Launch Party featuring Kiid KODA, ACP Martha and Jordz. The finale? A full-on spectacle with Kerfew Collective, Hari Sivanesan, Studio J Dance, and Wild Gloriosa. Plus catch an exclusive first look at the new gallery exhibition The Offbeat Sari. Open Space Bunjil Place will run every Saturday from 6pm to 9.30pm from February 7 to March 21. Find the full program here. 

From Cleopatra and Mark Antony's empire-toppling romance to Romeo and Juliet's family-defying affair, love has often been an act of rebellion. Rebel Heart: Love Letters and Other Declarations takes matters of the heart seriously in this sweeping, immersive new exhibition at the State Library, drawing on its extraordinary archives to trace how people have dared to love across centuries of Australian history. The exhibition runs for almost a year and brings together handwritten letters, private diaries, rare manuscripts and deeply personal objects to weave a tapestry of passion, heartbreak and devotion. You’ll encounter Victorian-era same-sex couples living together against the odds, a mid-century interracial marriage that challenged the White Australia policy, and the prison romance between bushrangers Captain Moonlight and James Nesbitt. Fragile keepsakes are also featured in the show, including a haunting 1853 mourning brooch woven from lovers’ hair, alongside letters that read like a late-night confessional. What makes Rebel Heart especially distinctive is how it bridges the past with the present. Historical stories are amplified by newly commissioned music from Australian artists Angie McMahon, Mindy Meng Wang, Mo’Ju and Amos Roach, each responding to real love stories held in the library’s collection.  The exhibition also explores how rebellion and romance play out today – from DMs and fandoms to fan fiction and even AI relationships. It’s set to be a smart,...

Expansive and dreamy, bright and whimsical, and with a strong 'no dickhead' policy, there's a whole lot to love about Golden Plains. Known as the younger sister to Victoria's much-loved Meredith Music Festival, Golden Plains is also held at the Supernatural Amphitheatre in Meredith, and 2026 marks its 18th year on the block.  As always, you can expect no commercial sponsors, free range camping, BYO and a heap of good times over two days and two nights, with this year's festival running from March 7-9, just in time for the Labour Day long weekend.  The full line-up for 2026 is absolutely stacked with in-demand international artists as well as local favourites. The headliners for this year are revered Canadian jazz gods BADBADNOTGOOD, the incredible Basement Jaxx, dreamy toned Marlon Williams, the ethereal sounds of Ty Seagall and the dancing frenzied magic of DEVAURA.  You can also expect to get down with Frankston local lads, The Gnomes, groove with Way Dynamic, and get blissed out with techno beats from Hybrid Man duo. You can see the full-line-up in all its glory here.  Although tickets are currently sold out, you can keep your eyes peeled for updates on  the website.  Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox. Keen to get to a gig? Head to one of the best live music venues in Melbourne. 

It's officially that time of year again when the Moonlight Cinema returns to Melbourne for the summer. There's just something special about snuggling into a bean bag and catching a film under the stars in the Royal Botanic Gardens – with an ice cream or a wine in hand, of course.  Australia's favourite outdoor cinema has dropped its summer screening schedule, with tons of  blockbusters, nostalgic favourites and comedies on the program. February and March highlights include new releases like Wuthering Heights, Hamnet, Marty Supreme and a special screening of Charli xcx’s mockumentary The Moment. Those looking to splurge can opt for Singapore Airlines' Gold Grass that comes with prime viewing, express entry and food and drinks delivered to your seat. Anothere cool option is the Connoisseur Lounge ticket that includes a bean bed plus a yum Connoisseur ice cream. And did you know the Moonlight Cinema is pooch friendly? For the first time ever you'll also be able to order a doggie bag meal from the food menu thanks to Lyka. Doggy date night, anyone? Screenings kick off at sundown, so bring your picnic rug, your snacks and your friends. Tickets are now available via the website. Want more fun in the sun? Here are the best things to do in Melbourne this December.

Hey Melbourne, the Mormons are back! After wowing audiences in Sydney with plenty of "did they really just say that?” humour, The Book of Mormon is heading to the Princess Theatre from February 6. This somewhat unconventional musical comedy cleaned up at the Tony Awards after it debuted on Broadway in 2011, going on to break box office records and garner near-unanimous critical acclaim when it opened on London’s West End. When tickets for the show’s Australian debut in Melbourne were released in 2015 – nearly a year in advance of opening night – the Princess Theatre recorded its highest pre-sale period of any production in its 159-year history, also going on to win the Helpmann Award for Best Musical. For the uninitiated, The Book of Mormon follows two inept Mormon missionaries from Salt Lake City on their journey to save mortal souls in a corner of Uganda ruled by a one-eyed warlord. It’s the brainchild of South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone – hence, you can expect a lot of explicit language – along with Avenue Q and Frozen co-creator Robert Lopez.  So what’s the secret of the show’s success? As Time Out London’s Theatre and Dance Editor Andrzej Lukowski wrote, Mormon was always going to be a hit, but what made it into the Mormania phenomenon is the fact that non-South Park fans love it too. The songs are excellent. Filthy, witty and outrageous, but also sumptuous and note-perfect, they nod to the golden age of the American musical.  As for how the show has...

There are few Aussie festivals that manage to fuse art, landscape and electronic music with quite the same alchemy as Pitch Music & Arts. Since its debut in 2017, the boutique four-day festival has become a defining pilgrimage for the local dance music community – a divinely dusty, techno-fuelled utopia beneath the sweeping peaks of Gariwerd (the Grampians). In 2026, Pitch returns for its ninth edition from March 6-10, and it’s bringing its most anticipated line-up yet. Across four hedonistic days and nights, the Grampian Plains will once again transform into a technicolour playground of sound, light and play – anchored by a world-class program of international heavyweights and homegrown innovators. Headlining this year’s line-up is Charlotte de Witte, the Belgian techno powerhouse whose razor-sharp sets have cemented her as one of the genre’s most formidable figures. Joining Charlotte among the top-tier acts are Eris Drew & Octo Octa; Amsterdam’s MARRØN, who’ll make his Pitch debut with a sound steeped in deep, hypnotic grooves; and Girls Don’t Sync, a UK trio whose percussive, high-energy sets are rewriting what club culture will sound like in 2026. Returning favourites include Job Jobse (fresh from a beloved 2025 closing set) and Yung Singh, whose genre-spanning selections have made him one of dance music’s most compelling new voices. Rounding out the international bill are Ewan McVicar, Palms Trax, Sama’ Abdulhadi, DJ Nobu, and DESIREE – a roll call of global...

Palace Foreshore in St Kilda is levelling up for 2026, unveiling a blockbuster new wave of artists that cements this summer series as one of Melbourne’s must-book live music experiences. With global icon Grace Jones, the long-awaited Australian return of Marina, and the unstoppable rise of King Stingray, the foreshore is officially turning the volume all the way up on its biggest, boldest season yet. Things kick off with Black Country, New Road on February 26, Droppin’ Science on February 27, Marina on February 28, King Stingray on March 1 and Grace Jones on March 2. Back for the first time in Melbourne since 2018, trailblazer Grace Jones promises a performance that’s all about glamour, theatrical power and pure electricity. Also making a triumphant return is Marina, stepping back onto Australian soil for the first time since 2011. Her show will be packed with disco-lit electro-pop and unapologetic anthems like 'Butterfly' and 'Cupid’s Girl'. With a swag of ARIAs under their belt, King Stingray will bring their infectious Yolŋu surf-rock energy to St Kilda. Expect a high-octane set that blends raucous rock, deep cultural roots and unbeatable live energy. The Streets revisit A Grand Don’t Come For Free in full on March 5, followed by Pendulum on March 6. Peach PRC wraps things up with a glittering pop spectacular on March 12. Add in summer sunsets, food trucks, pop-up bars and the electric atmosphere of the St Kilda Triangle, and Palace Foreshore is shaping up to be the...