Ashleigh Hastings

There’s never been a quiet year for theatre in Australia. From the bright lights of Broadway and West End to our very own stages in Australia, we’re lucky to play host to some of the world’s biggest and best musicals. We’re also a hotbed for homegrown gems, with fresh and experimental shows lighting up stages across the country every month.  From the grand return of a British “mega-musical” starring cats to the Aussie premiere of a musical based on Pretty Woman, this year’s theatre line-up is shaping up to be one of the most exciting yet. Here are all the biggest musicals currently playing in Australia or headed Down Under in the next year or so. 🖼 The best Australian art galleries🔍 Australia's greatest museums 👀 The best art exhibitions to see in Australia right now

New York has Broadway, London has the West End, and here in Melbourne, it's all about the East End. We're an all-singing, all-dancing city which means we're spoiled for choice when it comes to the musicals taking centre stage in the historic East End Theatre District in the CBD. From glitzy theatrical numbers and singalong musicals to smaller-scale productions, Melbourne is an absolute haven when it comes to all things razzle-dazzle. See for yourself by checking out the new and upcoming musicals making their way here in 2025. Book the best spot with our guide to scoring the best seats in every Melbourne theatre. Keen on all kinds of theatre? Here are the best shows happening this month.

April 2025: Pirates of the Caribbean, The Lion King, Inception, Gladiator – if this reads like a roll call of all your favourite movies, you won't want to miss seeing Hans Zimmer in concert. The award-winning composer, best know for providing the soundtracks to the aforementioned films (and so many more), will hit up Rod Laver Arena for two epic performances at the end of the month. When stuck for things to do between live gigs, you can also always rely on our catch-all lists of Melbourne's best bars, restaurants, museums, parks and galleries, or consult our bucket list of 100 things to do in Melbourne before you die.  Craving a pint with your favourite local band? Here are the best live music pubs in Melbourne.

April 2025: We know we say it all the time, but we *really* mean it this month: there's truly something for everyone to enjoy across Melbourne's theatres in April. Keen for some raunchy German cabaret with sword swallowers and high-flying aerialists? Bernie Dieter's Club Kabarett is for you. After a blockbuster Andrew Lloyd Webber musical with all the bells and whistles? Look no further than Jesus Christ Superstar. How about a drama set in the '70s with themes of police brutality, domestic violence and unchecked misogyny? The Removalists ticks all those boxes. See? Melbourne can do it all. From the toe-tapping to the cathartic, consider this your ultimate guide to all the best Melbourne theatre shows happening this month. When stuck for things to do between shows, you can also always rely on our catch-all lists of Melbourne's best bars, restaurants, museums, parks and galleries, or consult our bucket list of 100 things to do in Melbourne before you die.  Want something else to do this month? Check out our gig guide.

April 2025: It's officially your last chance to experience the surreal beauty of Yayoi Kusama, with the record-breaking exhibition coming to an end on April 21. To celebrate the final few weeks, the NGV has extended opening hours – so there's no excuse not to grab tickets. Time is also running out to visit the Lume before it closes for good on June 1. The Van Gogh exhibition will run until the final date, with the kaleidoscopic digital spectacle a true feast for the senses. There's always something to see in this all-embracing city of ours, so don't let the month pass you by without getting your fix of the best art, culture and exhibitions in Melbourne this February. When in doubt, you can also always rely on our catch-all lists of Melbourne's best bars, restaurants, museums, parks and galleries, or consult our bucket list of 100 things to do in Melbourne before you die.  Keen to add some art to your home? These are the best places to buy art in Melbourne.

Did you know there’s a circus school tucked away just back from Prahran’s busy Chapel Street precinct? NICA Recreation runs a whole bunch of approachable programs for kids, teens and adventurous adults at the National Institute of Circus Arts. It’s a creative way to improve fitness, strength, coordination and flexibility. Here’s a breakdown of the ways you or your kid can get a taste of the world of circus at NICA.  Holiday programs Looking for a fun and dynamic way to keep the kids and teenagers entertained during the school holidays? NICA’s school holiday program could be just the thing. With morning, full day and afternoon specialty workshops available, they can learn over an action-packed two weeks. The next holiday program is coming up from April 7 to 17. Come and try circus days Sometimes the best way to test the circus waters is to dip your toe in. That’s why NICA holds 'come and try' sessions for kids, teens and adults before the start of each term of classes. These hour-long sessions cost $25 each and introduce a variety of circus specialties. The next scheduled session is on April 12. Circus classes For those ready to take the leap, NICA’s regular classes run in terms throughout the year. Take advantage of the best circus training facilities in Australia and choose a style that suits you. What can you try? Anything aerial from tissu, straps, hoop, trapeze and acrobatic pole, to ground based activities like tumbling, handstands, trampoline, strength and conditioning,

We’re calling it: 2025 is shaping up to be a blockbuster year for travel in Australia. In a country that buzzes from sunrise to sunset, you’re guaranteed to find new and exciting things happening no matter where you wake up (or wind down). As the Travel and News Editor for Time Out Australia, it’s my duty to scope out all the newest happenings across every state and territory. From epic tours and highly-anticipated restaurants to the hottest new hotels and hidden gem exhibitions, here’s our ultimate list of the 25 best new things to do in Australia in 2025. How many will you tick off? 🦘 The 30 best places to visit in Australia👀 10 major Aussie moments to look out for in 2025🇦🇺 The 20 top tourist attractions in Australia

You’d have to have been living under a rock not to notice that life’s been getting ridiculously expensive lately, but in the words of Jennifer Lopez, love don’t cost a thing. Or more accurately, taking your lover on a memorable date doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg. Whether you’re a struggling student, feeling the impacts of inflation or just plain not keen to spend $25 on one cocktail at a city bar, we’ve got you covered with our roundup of the best cheap dates you can go on in Melbourne… And if you’re really skint, some of these are even free!  So bring your date and some spare change and take your pick from our list.  Flying solo? Here are the best free things to do in Melbourne, and 25 things to do for less than $25. 

This city has countless hotels to choose from, but if you're after something a bit different, you should book a stay at one of the best boutique hotels in Melbourne. From Airstream caravans hoisted atop a rooftop car park to tiny 34-room hotels filled with kitsch lamps and furry rugs, these are the stays you'll want to write home about. We'll even reveal where all the celebs stay when they come to Melbourne...  And while you're not busy discovering all the delights of your accommodation, explore Melbourne's top activities, from a sunrise hot air balloon tour to its iconic zoo, or make the most if the city's culinary offerings by booking a table at the best places to eat in town – serving up Bankok-style boat noodles, panoramic views and everything in between.  RECOMMENDED: ✨ Check out the best fancy hotels in Melbourne💰 Melbourne's best cheap hotels for those on a budget🏠 Stay in one of the best Airbnbs in Melbourne This guide was written by Melbourne-based lifestyle editor Adena Maier. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. While we might not stay in every hotel featured below, we've based our list on top reviews and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

In Australia, January 26 has very different meanings for different people. For First Nations people, the day marks the beginning of colonisation and is sometimes called Invasion Day or Survival Day. For recent migrants, January 26 is the day of many citizenship ceremonies across the country. However you choose to spend it, we've picked out the main events taking place on the public holiday in 2025.In terms of time off work, it's worth noting that this year January 26 falls on a Sunday – meaning the public holiday will take place on Monday, January 27.Want to plan your year ahead? These are all the public holidays in NSW in 2025.Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox. Want to escape the city? These are the best camping sites near Sydney, these are the best places to camp by the beach in NSW, and these are the best day hikes close to the city.

As much as we love the hustle and bustle of city life, there are moments when you just need to hit pause and escape to the middle of nowhere. From the coast to the countryside and the outback, Australia offers up a wealth of picturesque towns where you are sure to find some peace and quiet.  At any of these adorable towns, you can trade crammed bus rides for refreshing nature walks, overcrowded beaches for secluded shores, and busy city parks for untouched pieces of paradise. Here are 12 charming towns that are anything but boring. 🌊 10 beach towns to visit in Australia (that aren't Byron Bay)🚘 The best day trips to take from every Aussie capital city😎 The 30 most incredible places to visit in Australia

The global Black Lives Matter movement in mid-2020 following the death of American man George Floyd sparked protests and demonstrations around the world and spurred on acknowledgement of the race-related injustices that continue to take place in this country against its original inhabitants, too. If you were one of the many people who posted a black square to show your support for the Black Lives Matter movement, it’s important to follow this up with action and education. Every single Australian must be reading, learning, doing research, speaking up and donating to causes that work to minimise everyday injustices and make serious moves to change institutionalised racism. We’ve gathered together a list of some of the charities and organisations supporting Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and PoC voices around Australia and the world. If you aren’t in a position to help financially, there are other ways you can show your support. Read on to learn how to provide financial support, get to know these organisations or get involved in their vital work.  Looking for other ways to lend a hand? Here's where to volunteer in Melbourne.

As a chill settles over the city each winter, Rising returns with a nocturnal vengeance. This year, the much-loved arts festival will take place across twelve nights from June 4-15, with a red-hot program featuring 65 events, 327 artists and nine world premieres. Musical highlights include an exclusive Australian performance by British indie-pop girlie Suki Waterhouse; a one-off show by Beth Gibbons of Portishead fame, who will bring her haunting solo album Lives Outgrown to Hamer Hall; and Brooklyn rap legends Black Star (aka Yasiin Bey and Talib Kweli) live on stage in Melbourne for the first time ever. Joining them on the line-up will also be Japanese Breakfast, Marlon Williams and Mount Kimbie. Flinders Street Station will double as a mini golf course when Swingers – The Art of Mini Golf takes over. This immersive (and fully playable) exhibition will include works by some of the world’s most dynamic and boundary-pushing female-identifying artists. The Capitol Theatre will also be transformed thanks to a massive kinetic light installation by Shohei Fujimoto. If it's a break from the hustle and bustle of life you're after, Korean artist Woopsyang's viral “do nothing” challenge comes to QV Square, inviting participants to sit in total stillness for 90 minutes.   On the theatre front, don't miss the cult classic Hedwig and The Angry Inch, starring Sean Miley Moore; Monolith, a new major dance work by Wiradjuri artist Joel Bray; and The Wrong Gods by S. Shakthidharan, the play

Calling all crate diggers far and wide, the annual celebration of the record store is back to celebrate independent music merchants around the globe with in-store performances, extended trading days, banging deals and special releases across stores in Melbourne.  Since its inception in 2008, Record Store Day has become a time to salute the people who keep a record store spinning – the staff, the customers and the artists – and to celebrate the store's culture within the wider community. This year, you can expect  special releases from the likes of Royel Otis, Danni Minogue, Gordi, Pond, Bluey and heaps more artists.  Stores all across Melbourne have signed on to participate on the day, including Rocksteady Records in the CBD, Skydiver Records in Collingwood (which will be hosting a rotating line-up of DJs) and Northside Records in Fitzroy (featuring live sets from Rita Satch and Intermood). While we love a deal as much as anyone else, it’s also worth remembering that Record Store Day’s real purpose is to help independent record stores (and the artists whose music they sell) get the love and dollars they deserve.    Find out more about what is happening this Record Store Day by visiting the website here.  Whether you're a veteran crate digger or a total newbie, check out the best record stores in Melbourne.

Combine your twin passions of art and literature this month at the Melbourne Art Book Fair. Hosted by the National Gallery of Victoria and running alongside Melbourne Design Week, the Melbourne Art Book Fair features more than 100 stalls selling art books from local and international publishers. It’s the perfect chance to pick up a gorgeous guide to your favourite creative, or discover an arty edition to spruce up your lonely coffee table. In addition to the art book bonanza, the Melbourne Art Book Fair will also include talks, workshops and events to celebrate art and design both local and international. This year's fair will feature a strong presence from Southeast Asian publishers including Cahyati Press (Indonesia), Spacebar Zine (Thailand), and Suburbia Projects (Malaysia), along with leading and emerging publishers from New Zealand. The Melbourne Art Book Fair is on from Thursday, May 15 until Saturday, May 17. Entry is free and tickets to selected workshops can be bought online at the NGV's website. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox. Check out what else is happening at Melbourne Design Week.

The ninth edition of Melbourne Design Week will bring 11 days of exhibitions, talks and workshops to the city in late autumn. More than 350 inventive events will be presented during the festival, cementing its status as Australia’s largest annual design event. Each year brings a new theme for Melbourne Design Week and this year’s is ‘Design The World You Want’. The theme is designed to encourage people to express, question, propose and test ideas about the world around us. Projects involved might offer solutions that heal, replenish and enable life, revealing design as an act of repair and transformation. Highlights include A New Normal, an exhibition featuring a collection of designs to make Melbourne a self-sufficient city by 2030; a retrospective of lighting designer Volker Haug; a spectacular showcase of 100 dazzling and avant-garde contemporary lights at North Melbourne's Meat Market Stables; and presentations by leading showrooms, studios and makers like Trent Jansen, Jessie French, Fiona Lynch, Cult and more. The Melbourne Art Book Fair will also be celebrating its 11th year, and will run its popular stallholder fair in the NGV’s Great Hall from May 15-17.  Melbourne Design Week is presented by Creative Victoria and delivered by the NGV. You can view the full festival program and book tickets here. Inspired by the book fair? Check out the best independent bookstores in Melbourne.

Are you ready to laugh so hard it hurts? One of the largest comedy festivals in the world, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) returns next month with a program that promises to be as entertaining as it is expansive.  Since being launched in 1987 by Barry Humphries and Peter Cook, the festival has since grown to become Australia's largest cultural ticketed event offering both family entertainment and show-stopping adult performances. After Montreal's Just for Laughs and the Edinburgh Fringe, the MICF is the third-largest comedy festival in the world and attracts the crème de la crème of comedians from across Australia and around the globe.  In 2025, you can expect a mammoth line-up of international performers such as Ruby Wax (UK/US), Amy Gledhill (UK), Jin Hao Li (Singapore/UK), Ahir Shah (UK), Melanie Bracewell (NZ), Anirban Dasgupta (India), Schalk Bezuidenhout (South Africa) and more.  As for local acts, you can see the likes of Bron Lewis, Claire Hooper, Geraldine Hickey, Gillian Cosgriff, He Huang, Jenny Tian, John Safran, Lous Wall, Nazeem Hussain, Zoë Coombs Marr and so many more. Much-loved annual events such as the 35th Annual Great Debate and Upfront return, alongside the Raw Comedy competition, Deadly Funny and Class Clowns. The Asian All-Stars Gala will return for a second edition, showcasing extroadinary talent from Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Singapore and more.  Running from March 26 to April 20 2025, the program is chock-full of stand-up comedy

Melbourne’s cutting edge digital art gallery, the Lume, is bringing back its beloved opening exhibition for a summer season, after breaking attendance records in 2021. Last time, the immersive experience attracted a whopping 1.8 million visitors between Australia and New Zealand, making it the region’s most visited ticketed cultural event.  Van Gogh made kaleidoscopic waves through the city when it served as the first-ever exhibition at the digital gallery, re-shaping the way Melburnians experience art. The experience reimagines the now-famous painter's works as projections that completely ensconce you in an 11-metre tall gallery, allowing you to feel like you're in van Gogh's bedroom or under that famous starry night. A mirrored infinity room filled with countless sunflowers also features, which is particularly Instagrammable.  For the return season, the Lume is adding a brand-new virtual reality experience called Finding Vincent. Slip on a headset and learn more about van Gogh’s life, alongside friends or companions.  Within the Lume, visitors can experience art all around them. Instead of looking at paintings on walls or sculptures on plinths, art is projected onto the walls to make you feel like you've stepped inside the paintings themselves. Scents and sounds are also pumped into the gallery to add to the experience.  If you get peckish you can also drop into Terrace Café 1888 where you can snack on delights inspired by both van Gogh's work in France and his Dutch herita

Update March 28: In great news for anyone who hasn't had the chance to catch 'Yayoi Kusama' yet (or those who want to go again), the NGV has just announced that opening hours will be extended. Coinciding with the school holidays, the exhibition will be open from 8am to 6pm on April 5-16, and from 8am to midnight on April 17-21 (aka the final weekend).  If you ask us, seeing the mind-bending and deeply personal works of Kusama late into the evening sounds like the best way to spend the Easter long weekend. To book your tickets (and we highly recommend you do), head to the website. Melburnians, it’s time to get dotty, because NGV International is playing host to the largest collection of Yayoi Kusama’s work ever seen in Australia. The exhibition (aptly named Yayoi Kusama) will take over the entire ground floor of the gallery, with works from the artist best known for her unique use of dots. Opening on December 15, this world-premiere exhibition will feature more than 180 works, including an NGV-specific piece transforming the iconic Waterwall and an installation of giant balloons in the Great Hall called 'Dots Obsession'. Many of the works coming to Melbourne for this impressive exhibition have never been seen locally before, including the Australian debut of 'Dancing Pumpkin', a towering five-metre-tall bronze sculpture that visitors can view by walking underneath. As if five metres wasn’t tall enough, Melbourne will also score the Aussie premiere of Kusama’s six-metre-tall t

The grand finale of this year’s Midsumma Festival is a bustling day-to-night street party in Melbourne’s buzzy Gertrude and Smith precinct.  The free all-ages block party will run from 12pm until 9pm on Sunday, February 9 across two music stages, as well as pop-up mini parties and laneway activations. A host of roaming performers will delight the young and young-at-heart and there’ll also be a visual feast of artwork to explore.  The entertainment program will include beloved local musos, drag queens, DJs, cabaret artists and even boot scooting. Plus, there'll be a stack of market stalls as well as local eateries dishing up food to fuel the party.   For more information and the full line-up, visit the Midsumma website. Want to keep the party going? Check out the best gay bars in Melbourne.

St Kilda Festival, the legendary free and all-ages music festival, returns in February with more live music, family entertainment and community activations. As one of the country’s most beloved summer festivals, St Kilda Festival showcases Australia's best established and emerging live music acts against the idyllic natural backdrop of the St Kilda foreshore. The festival has been lighting up the inner city waterfront since 1980, to widespread acclaim. In the past couple of years, the festival introduced a new format, spreading the good times and sweet tunes across two days.  The 2025 line-up has now been revealed, kicking off with the First Peoples First program on February 15. Day one will feature Troy Cassar-Daley, alongside his daughter the multi-award-winning Gumbaynggirr/Bundjalung artist, Jem Cassar-Daley. Also on the line-up are Jungaji, Charlie Needs Braces, Crooked TP and Jess Hitchcock. Day two is the Big Festival Sunday on February 16, where thousands flock to the foreshore for music, market stalls and more. The Main Stage line-up includes Young Franco, Peter Garrett and the Alter Egos, Cub Sport and Sarah Blasko. Over on the Optus Stage, you’ll find DJ Dorothy the Dinosaur (huge), ‘bogan funk’ heroes Playlunch and more. This year there’ll be two Catani Gardens stages, with the north side playing host to Julia Jacklin, Mudrat and more. On the south side, you’ll find Velvet Trip and Painters and Dockers, while the local stage will spotlight, you guessed it, local

  For the 18th time, the Melbourne Art Fair is returning as a major fixture on the calendars of arty folks around the country (and Australasia). The fair describes itself as a progressive event showcasing boundary-pushing contemporary art, with a focus on underrepresented artists and women-led curation.   More than 100 interdisciplinary artists will come together at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), across four busy days from February 20-23. This year the fair will span an incredible 9,000sqm space and feature works from 70 leading galleries and Indigenous owned art centres.  If you’ve never been to an art fair before, here’s what to expect. Galleries will present works from different artists, a series of talks will bring together thinkers from across the spectrum and the Victorian First Peoples Art and Design Fair Showcase Exhibition will shine a light on the cultural and creative diversity of 20 independent First Peoples artists and designers. Alongside more conventional artworks, you’ll also find video works and large-scale works and two major new commissions. A snapshot of this year’s participating galleries includes APY Art Centre Melbourne, Australian Tapestry Workshop, Coma, Daine Singer, Five Walls, Mars Gallery, Munupi Arts and Crafts Association, Moa Arts, Neon Parc, Tolarno Galleries and Void Melbourne – alongside many, many more.  The full program for Melbourne Art Fair’s mammoth 18th edition has just been announced and you can find all the ju

Some films just don’t hit the same when you’re watching at home on the small screen, minus the cinema atmosphere and surround sound – Oppenheimer, anyone? We reckon true cinematic masterpieces deserve the proper big screen treatment, which is why we were excited to learn that IMAX Melbourne is bringing back its new film festival for a second edition, after a popular 2024 debut season. The Best Biggest IMAX Film Festival is focused on films that look best of the big(gest) screen.  This year’s festival is happening now and runs until early March, with a program curated to please everyone from Nolan die-hards to the Sci-Fi obsessed. If you’re in the mood to tick off multiple flicks on one go, you can catch Dune and Dune 2 or Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water as double features.  Other program highlights include 2001: A Space Odyssey, Inception, Interstellar, The Matrix and THe Dark Knight Trilogy.  It’s not often Melburians get the chance to revisit cult films on such a humongous screen, so visit the IMAX Melbourne website for more information, session times and tickets. Prefer some fresh air? Here are the best outdoor cinemas in Melbourne.

Checking in for a luxury staycation should evoke a buzz of excitement, but as I approach the castle-like bluestone walls of Coburg’s Pentridge Prison, the fearsome facade immediately makes me feel as if I’m being watched. I shouldn’t be surprised – the building I’m entering features a panopticon and bears brutal associations in our collective consciousness. Converting a former maximum security jail into a genial getaway spot is quite the ambitious undertaking, yet it's one that the Interlude undertakes with gusto. At reception, I’m greeted with a crisp glass of sparkling wine and provided with comprehensive instructions for how to find my room, which initially feel excessive but turn out to be just specific enough. After a trip through Olivine, the on-site wine bar, through a surprisingly colourful lounge area and up to the first floor, all that’s left is a sharp U-turn and I’ve arrived at my unusual destination: five interconnected cells that have been renovated into my lavish lodgings. The room (one of the Interlude Sanctuary Suites) is long and narrow, with the raw bluestone walls left largely exposed and bars still firmly attached to the tiny windows. However, aside from the obvious elements, this hideout is more plush than punishing. Sure, the cell door would have taller guests ducking, but the inviting couch, warm wood finishes and soft bed tucked away in its own cozy nook more than make up for it. Did I mention the fact that there’s a bath capacious enough to warrant a

Every year, Darwin heralds in a perfect storm of sequins, disco balls and world-class talent for BASSINTHEGRASS – the Northern Territory’s biggest and longest-running music festival. Now entering its 22nd year, this one-day extravaganza is set to light up Darwin’s famous Mindil Beach on Saturday, May 17, 2025. With the festival selling out in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, you’ll want to grab your tickets for next year’s event ASAP. Here's everything you need to know about BASSINTHEGRASS 2025, including the line-up. When is BASSINTHEGRASS 2025? The one-day festival is happening on Saturday, May 17 in 2025, with live music kicking off at 2pm and continuing late into the night.  Where is BASSINTHEGRASS? BASSINTHEGRASS is held on the magical Mindil Beach on Larrakia Land in Darwin – likely the only spot in Australia where you can find a beachside festival in a tropical climate, just a few minutes' drive from the city centre. There are always plenty of free buses running to and from the event.  Darwin’s weather is wonderfully predictable, so you can expect somewhere around 32 degrees – perfect for debuting a stylish festival fit. Better yet, Darwin only has two seasons: wet and dry. BASSINTHEGRASS falls in the dry season, so there will be none of those annoying plastic ponchos in sight. Instead, there’ll be palm trees gently waving over you as you revel in the mosh pit. Photograph: Supplied | BASSINTHEGRASS Who’s performing at BASSINTHEGRASS? The BASSINTHEGRASS crew always put toge

Update February 21, 2025: Just when you thought there was truly no chance of snapping up a ticket to Katy Perry's sold-out Lifetimes Tour in Melbourne, the pop legend has announced a fourth and final show at Rod Laver Arena on June 7. Tickets go on sale this Tuesday, February 25, so if you can’t resist the chance to scream the lyrics to ‘Firework’ alongside thousands of others you're going to want to be quick.  From Sabrina Carpenter to Taylor Swift, 2024 is proving to be the year of the pop girlies. Lately, Katy Perry has joined in on the renaissance, by releasing a (ahem, controversial) new album called 143.  Despite some backlash from those unhappy that Perry is still working with infamous producer Dr Luke (who has faced allegations from fellow artist Kesha), there are nevertheless countless KatyCats out there purring at the chance to see her live. We’ve got all the info you need about Katy Perry’s Melbourne 2025 tour.  When is Katy Perry going on her 2025 Melbourne, Australia tour? Get ready to roar, because Katy Perry will bring the Lifetimes Tour to Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena for FOUR huge nights this winter. The Melbourne shows are set to take place on June 7, 12, 13 and 14 2025. When do Katy Perry Melbourne tickets go on sale? New tickets for Katy Perry's fourth and final show will go on sale from 12pm on Tuesday, February 25. So if you missed out last year, this is truly your last chance to snap up tickets. Will there be a Katy Perry presale? For an artist this big

If it seems like bombastic bad boy of British pop Robbie Williams has been popping up everywhere in the news lately, it’s because he has. The ‘Angels’ singer is deep in the promo tour for his Better Man biopic where he’s portrayed via a CGI chimp, which Time Out’s critic says leaves lauded flicks like Rocketman and Bohemian Rhapsody in the dust. After headlining New Year’s Eve at the Sydney Opera House, Williams is taking the whole popping up thing literally today, with a surprise gig at Melbourne’s Fed Square just announced.   Premier Jacinta Allan published a simple yet mysterious tweet announcing the gig, which read “Robbie Williams. Fed Square. Tomorrow. 5pm. For free.” The event will go for around an hour, including a short set of Williams’ hits and a Q&A session. In a move we didn’t have on our 2025 bingo card, Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece will also present Williams with the keys to the city. Why? Better Man was created primarily in Melbourne at locations including Rod Laver Arena, University of Melbourne and even the Melbourne Town Hall – meaning it had a pretty big positive impact on the local film industry and economy. The film was also directed and co-written by Michael Gracey, a Victorian filmmaker, and shot in Docklands Studios with backing from the state government.   Anyone can rock up to secure a spot to see the star IRL for free, and we’re expecting that competition for a good view will be fierce. Organisers say the best way to enter Fed Square is through Swansto

If you think you’ve done all of Brighton, think again. While we’re of the opinion that there’s positively heaps to do in this bougie beachside neighbourhood, residents and visitors alike will be pleased to learn that the local cinema is about to reopen after a significant upgrade. The cinema formerly known as Palace Dendy Brighton will open its doors once more on Wednesday, December 11. But now, you can call it Palace Church Street to signify its brand new Hollywood-style glow-up.  However, the changes go far deeper than just a name. So, what differences will locals notice? Expect an upgraded foyer space – ‘glamour’ and ‘palm-inspired’ are the words Palace Cinemas have used – and a stylish new bar serving up pre-film cocktails. On the more practical side of things, there’ll also be not one, but two new auditoriums to increase the capacity of the previously cosy complex. Now for the question that’s surely on your lips: will there be fancy chairs? Patience, cinephiles. We’re told that cinema four (the largest auditorium) will soon be upgraded with extra-comfy fully reclining chairs, like the popular style seen at Palace Pentridge. You can expect that to happen by Easter 2025.  Find out more over at the Palace Cinemas website. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED: Prefer to watch your movies beyond four walls? Here are the best outdoor cinemas in Melbourne Alternatively, here are the b

Update Monday, December 16: If you thought you'd missed out on tickets for Drake's 2025 Melbourne, Australia tour, today is your lucky day! Turns out our city is home to so many Drake fans that the artist has now added a fourth and final show to the Melbourne leg of the tour. The new show will take place at Rod Laver Arena on Thursday, February 13. Tickets go on sale at noon today (local time) over here with a limit of ten tickets per transaction. Good luck! Melburnians, what does it mean when that hotline bling? It means only one thing: Drake is coming to town. In huge news for fans of the artist, the Canadian singer has just confirmed that he's coming to Melbourne in 2025, as one of three Australian stops on his Anita Max Win Tour.  In true Champagne Papi style, Drake teased his return to Oz (after eight years, no less) through a series of mysterious Instagram stories. He then confirmed the visit on a live stream yesterday. Here's what we know about Drakes 2025 Australia tour.  When is the Drake Melbourne tour? The Grammy-winning artist has now revealed his tour dates, including two Melbourne shows. The Anita Max Win Tour will begin at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena on February 9 and 10, with a new show just announced for Wednesday, February 12 due to high demand. After the Melbourne shows, Drake will also head to Sydney and Brisbane. The third Melbourne show will go on presale at 2pm today (December 3) as part of the Mastercard and Vodafone presales. When do Drake Melbourne

We’ve been saving up all year and the moment has finally arrived. After a massive year, Aussie music producer and Melbourne local Dom Dolla is back in town to perform his largest ever shows in our city. After co-headlining Spilt Milk, scoring a Grammy nomination and playing massive sets all around the world, Dom Dolla is playing two huge shows at Flemington Racecourse this weekend. For big events like this, it’s good to have all your ducks in a row before you go. So, we’ve collated all the details you need to know below. When is Dom Dolla in Melbourne? Mr Dollar is playing at Flemington on Friday, December 13 and Saturday, December 14 for two nights only. How to get to the Dom Dolla Melbourne shows Due to the sheer size of the event, public transport is by far the best way to get to and from the Dom Dolla Melbourne shows. The closest station is Flemington Racecourse and it’s only a short approximately five-minute walk from the entry gates. If you’re being dropped off, there will be a designated zone on Epsom Road, between the Members Gate and the Epsom Road gate. After the show, head to Racecourse Road instead if you need to grab a rideshare. If you’re getting the train home, you’ll be pleased to learn there are extra services running back to the city. What are the Dom Dolla Melbourne set times? The set times for Dom Dolla Melbourne have finally been released. Be sure to check them carefully as they’re different for each night. Here they are… Friday show Doors 5pm Jnett 5-6.5

The next time you’re at Melbourne Central cramming in some last-minute holiday shopping, make sure you don’t forget to look up! The inner city shopping centre is known for being built around a shot tower, so there’s plenty to gaze up at all year round. But from now until January 13 2025, your eyes will also meet a galaxy of inflatable shapes that are as celestial as they are colourful. Photograph: Griffin Simm The large-scale installation (which spans more than 30 metres through the heart of the shopping centre) has been created by world-renowned artists and designers Craig and Karl in their classic pop art style. The duo, who have been dubbed the ‘kings of colour’, collaborate from separate bases in London and New York to create fun, playful art pieces.  The out of this world installation is a world exclusive and it’s free to enjoy, so grab your friends (or your little ones) and take a squiz.  Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox.  RECOMMENDED:  Arts Centre Melbourne is hosting a pop-up nightclub for nine nights only Melbourne has scored a sexy new museum that promises to show you a good time The NGV is bringing back its fan favourite French Impressionism exhibition as its next winter blockbuster

When you think of a fun night out at our beloved Arts Centre Melbourne, the fun in question probably takes the form of a world-class ballet or a serious play. But what if we told you the ACM is throwing a series of club nights curated by legends of the club scene? Club 8 – named for its location on level eight of the Theatres Building and the number’s connotations of luck, prosperity and success in Chinese numerology – will pop up at the Arts Centre between February 20 and March 8. These nine eclectic nights of music and performance art are all part of Asia TOPA, aka the Asia-Pacific Triennial of Performing Arts.  While it usually runs every third year, Melbourne hasn’t been blessed with an Asia TOPA festival in five years. Now, the celebration makes a much-anticipated return from February 20 to March 10, 2025. Split into three streams called performance, knowledge and nightlife, the festival aims to showcase the best of Asia-Pacific arts, culture and ideas through a mix of free and ticketed events. You’ll be able to find Club 8 right under the famous spire, in the recently renamed Leaper Family Pavilion. Each of the nine nights has a distinct theme and line-up, celebrating the diversity of Melbourne and Australia’s diasporic communities.  The roster of incredible artists ready to raise the Arts Centre roof includes Rainbow Chan, Kianna Oricci, Panelia, Réjizz, Soju Gang, Betty Apple and Betty Grumble.  Asia TOPA creative director Jeff Khan describes the Club 8 program as “ra

Melbourne, are you ready to get frisky? A provocative new museum is opening on Saturday, December 7 and it seems like it’s going to be hotter than hell. The Museum of Desire will be an adults-only, multi-sensory space designed to celebrate all things love, pleasure, and yes, sex.  When the venue opens there’ll be more than 25 spaces for 18-plus visitors to explore. It’s all in the name of flirty fun and switching up social norms around desire and sexuality. Expect a world where sex is art, and hopefully the art is sexy too… We don’t yet know exactly what the museum will look like, but we have been given hints about a kissing booth, a ball pit full of boobs, a “giant neon vulva artwork” and projections from the Huxleys.  Visitors who are feeling especially amorous will also be able to finger the ‘orgasm harp’ to a musical climax, or check out the ‘Confessions of a Photocopier’ installation for some office antics we wouldn’t recommend emulating in real life.  Tickets for the Museum of Desire are now available via the website. Prices start from $33, so get ready for a museum like you’ve never seen before. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox.  RECOMMENDED:  Yes! Two massive new light installations are coming to regional Victoria next year The NGV is bringing back its fan favourite French Impressionism exhibition as its next winter blockbuster Two Melbourne bars were just named in the World's

Australia has always embraced Glass Animals, even since the days when the charmingly eccentric four-piece was struggling to draw in big enough crowds to cover the cost of their rider. Frontman Dave Bayley tells Time Out Melbourne that just days after playing to a completely empty room in Liverpool early in the band’s history, they arrived in Australia and sold out their first venues.  “We just asked for bread and hummus, that was our whole rider,” he says. But the five pound spread was too much to ask for when they’d sold a grand total of zero tickets.  Fast forward around a decade and things couldn’t be more different for the band. A Grammy nomination, a viral hit of the highest order and a Triple J Hottest 100 win all came off the back of their third album Dreamland, depositing Glass Animals in the peculiar position of reaching a new peak in a pandemic.  “It was quite a weird experience,” says Bayley. Afterwards, he tried to make up for lost time by “doing everything”, only to remember he’s deeply introverted.  “The world wants you to be an extravert, but I’m not really that. I had a bit of an existential crisis.”  That inflection point looked like falling ill and ending up locked in a house for two weeks, trying to “work out the meaning of life”. And of course, the prospect of getting to work on album number four loomed over the band like a cosmic cloud.  The world wants you to be an extravert In the absence of distraction, the album “just spilled out” in a fortnight, in a

Update November 22: In devastating news for Sydney's Childish Gambino (aka Donald Glover) fans, the rapper-turned-actor has announced that his upcoming Australian tour is officially cancelled. This news may not come as a huge surprise for those closely following the artist, as he was also forced to cancel shows in North America and Europe last month. Donald Glover posted on X in October, sharing that he would need to postpone the shows to focus on recovering from surgery for “an ailment that had become apparent". Now, Aussie fans have received an email from Ticketek with a new message from Glover. “Unfortunately, my path to recovery is taking longer than expected”, reads the statement.  “The upcoming concerts in Australia and New Zealand are cancelled. One of the last things I'd ever want to do is disappoint my fans. I really appreciate the support you have shown and know that I will do what I can to give you an exceptional experience when the time is right. Thank you.” If you’ve got a ticket, you can expect to receive an automatic refund from Ticketek to the buyer’s original payment method – although it will take up to 30 days to process. If you purchased through an agency or with a gift voucher, you’ll need to contact the company by December 20 to secure a refund.  We’ve got our fingers crossed that Glover’s recovery continues smoothly from here on out, and that a future reschedule could be on the horizon.**** Fresh off the back of tour announcements from musical megastars

Update November 22: In devastating news for Childish Gambino (aka Donald Glover) fans, the rapper-turned-actor has announced that his upcoming Australian tour is officially cancelled. This news may not come as a huge surprise for those closely following the artist, as he was also forced to cancel shows in North America and Europe last month. Donald Glover posted on X in October, sharing that he would need to postpone the shows to focus on recovering from surgery for “an ailment that had become apparent". Now, Aussie fans have received an email from Ticketek with a new message from Glover. “Unfortunately, my path to recovery is taking longer than expected”, reads the statement.  “The upcoming concerts in Australia and New Zealand are cancelled. One of the last things I'd ever want to do is disappoint my fans. I really appreciate the support you have shown and know that I will do what I can to give you an exceptional experience when the time is right. Thank you.” If you’ve got a ticket, you can expect to receive an automatic refund from Ticketek to the buyer’s original payment method – although it will take up to 30 days to process. If you purchased through an agency or with a gift voucher, you’ll need to contact the company by December 20 to secure a refund.  We’ve got our fingers crossed that Glover’s recovery continues smoothly from here on out, and that a future reschedule could be on the horizon. Fresh off the back of tour announcements from megastars Olivia Rodrigo and B