Melbourne's Top 24 Festivals in 2019

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Why is Melbourne the most liveable city in the world? It could be the culture, coffee, sport, art, food or fun that makes Melbourne great. Find out with these festivals celebrating the best of Melbourne, listed in date order.

Melbourne's massive Greek celebration returns for its 32nd year, bringing the best of Greek street food, music, art, craft and activities to Lonsdale St.

While musicians perform on 3 stages, visitors can dance the Zorba or sing their favourite Greek song in the Magic Mic competition .

View the program at Lonsdale Street Festival .
Fashionitas frock up! In Australia's largest fashion event, runway shows feature the latest dynamic fashions by local and international designers, alongside beauty workshops, seminars, networking events and parties.

The 2019 theme is Power To The Dreamers, showcasing our local fashion industry as dreams become reality.

View the program at the Melbourne Fashion Festival .
Australia's biggest community festival fills the shoreline of the Yarra River for its 65th year in 2019.

Join the free fun for music, skate and BMX competitions, water sports, food, art and novelties at pop-up stalls, parades and lunatics with wings in the Birdman Rally.

View the program at the Moomba .
Over 250,000 visitors bring their appetites to 200 food-focused events hosted by our favourite culinary creators.

In previous years, Guy Grossi, Jamie Oliver, Nigella Lawson and Heston Blumenthal have thrown shrimps on the barbie. Events are held in restaurants and cafes throughout Melbourne, including many of the hidden haunts tucked in our laneways.

Read the menu of events at Food and Wine Festival .



Green thumbs get ready! This show brings the latest gardening lifestyle trends into Melbourne, providing tips to bring the magic to your own backyard.

There are spectacular, fragrant floral creations, workshops with landscapers and horticulturists, stalls selling flowers, tools and books, and twilight, sculpture and boutique exhibitions.

View the program at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show .
One of the world's biggest laughfests fills Melbourne with chuckles, guffaws, giggles and the odd snort as the best Aussie and international comedians tickle our funny bones with their latest comedy gold.

Performers will include Rose Callaghan , Arj Barker , Bob Franklin , Kitty Flanagan , Dave Hughes , Jimeoin and Wil Anderson .

View the program at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival .
Be inspired by the future as we imagine the Melbourne of tomorrow. With performances, workshops and demonstrations, see innovators are creating new ways of city living.

Using technology, design and art, you'll experience the changes in our food, work, health and sports during this week from the future.

View the program at the Melbourne Knowledge Week .
In Federation Square, the Buddha's Birthday is celebrated in a spiritual festival promoting the best aspects of multiculturalism.

During this weekend in May, a variety of cultures and faiths are invited to host art, music and prayer events. There are workshops in calligraphy and cooking and stalls serving delicious vegetarian dishes, gently promoting the compassionate First Buddhist Precept (no killing).

View the program at the Buddha's Day and Multicultural Festival .
In Jazz clubs, recital halls and arts centres across Melbourne, the free-styling energy of saxophones, guitars and trumpets fills the air with joyous jazz.

Highlights in past years included a celebration of Ella Fitzgerland and Louis Armstrong with Patti Austin and James Morrison, and Armenian pianist, Tigran Hamasyan, performing tracks from his album An Ancient Observer.

View the program at the Melbourne International Jazz Festival .



Still hungry after the foodie festival in March? See more culinary talents behind the hotplate, sample ciders, wines and beers, and taste-test sweet and savoury samples in the Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Plan your experience at the Melbourne Good Food and Wine Show .
Recharge your health and wellbeing with natural therapies, cooking demonstrations, dance performances, seminars and workshops.

Restore mental and physical health with mindful meditation sessions and delicious superfoods. For believers in the esoteric, there are also psychic readings.

Plan your experience at the Mind Body Spirit Festival .
In Grand Designs, we've watched dream homes take shape, with owners risking bankruptcy and their sanity to build their bold constructions

Over 250 of our finest homes, offices and historic buildings are opened to the public to discover the best of Melbourne's architecture and design.

In 2018, buildings open to explore included the Sun Theatre, Government House, St Patrick's Cathedral, the Good Shepherd Chapel, the Rupertswood Mansion, Temperance Hall.

View the program at the Open House Melbourne .
Break the road rules as you run in the middle of our city streets, passing our landmarks on a 5km, 10km or 21.1km marathon.

Thousands of casual runners will join the massive fun run, starting in Fed Square, spurred to the finish line by live entertainment, their charity fundraising and the " runner's high ".

View the program at the Run Melbourne .
In a city where the first feature film premiered, movies are a big deal.

Since the 1950s, MIFF has showcased new release local film and international premieres.

In 2018, audiences watched over 350 films, with eclectic subjects from high-octane music and virtual reality to true crime and wildlife documentaries.

View the program at the Melbourne International Film Festival .



Readers turn the pages as quickly as the authors can write them at our largest literature festival. There are discussions and workshops to engage us with the ideas probed by some of the most talented international and local writers.

In 2018, our favourites were Maria Tumarkin's Axiomatic , Sylvain Tesson's Consolations of the Forest: Alone in a Cabin in the Middle Taiga , Esi Edugyan's Washington Black , Madeline Miller's Circe , and Sally Rooney's Normal People .

View the program at the Melbourne Writers' Festival .
On a cool winter weekend, our historic landmarks are painted with a kaleidoscope of light while musicians and dancers perform throughout the city.

The light installations beam creative animations, using our public buildings as a backdrop. Highlights will feature at the State Library, Flinders St Station, Fed Square and Melbourne Museum.

Ballarat joins the fun in 2019 with their own White Night. View the program at the White Night Melbourne .
Butterflies emerge in a brilliant flash of colour from dull cocoons, just as vibrant fashion bursts spring's warmth to defrost the city.

Dozens of local and international designers bring their latest fashions to catwalks and curated exhibits in 2019. Revitalise your look for a new year with the retail hub and makeover workshops.

View the program at the Melbourne Fashion Week .
In 1835, the Enterprize sailed from Tasmania to settle on the banks of the Yarra River, establishing Melbourne as a colony 2 years later.

To celebrate the birth of the City of Melbourne, be upstanding for the official flag raising, then party with a concert, public talks, music and regatta.

View the program at the Melbourne Day .
Push your artistic comfort zone beyond the ordinary with our most dynamic artists, musicians, comedians, circus performers, actors and dancers

The Fringe hosts hundreds of events to champion art for everyone. In 2018, highlights were music from Polito x Visual Display, Bob Franklin's comedy, the Casting Off circus act, cabaret by Creatures of the Deep and the kid's event, I AM HEAR.

View the program at the Melbourne Fringe .

This show brings the paddock to the city with farm animals, including cows, alpacas, pigs and chickens.

Sample fresh produce and comfort-food creations, brush off the sawdust from woodchopping competitions and duck under the stunt performances.

There are show bags and amusement ride for children and art and craft and cooking workshops for adults.

View the program at the Royal Melbourne Show .
In one of our most creative festivals, theatre, dance, circus acts, music and visual art are featured. The Festival encourages us to make positive changes, in ourselves, our community and our world.

View the program at the Melbourne Festival .
While the other states pretend to work on Melbourne Cup Day, we take a public holiday to celebrate the race that stops the nation.

Arrive early at Flemington to claim your spot beside Hollywood A-listers in the VIP pavilions, in a sea of fascinators and bespoke suits.

Sip champagne, then collect your winnings from penniless bookmakers.

Plan your week, which also includes Derby Day, Oaks Day and Stakes Day, at the Flemington Racecourse .
For 9 days in November, hundreds of musicians strum, perform, scratch and freestyle in over 40 venues, performing exciting sets of modern dance, jazz, rock and pop music.

View the program at the Melbourne Music Week .
Merry Christmas! Tis the season to be jolly as Melbourne celebrates the most wonderful time of the year.

Carollers, Christmas lights, window displays, massive trees topped with twinkling stars will transform Melbourne for the festive season.

Dozens of Santas roam the streets while we feast on cool seafood, warm roasts and sweet desserts.

Enjoy happy times with family while giving to those in need as we seek peace, love and joy.

Whether you've been naughty or nice, join the fun at the Christmas Festival .
Which Melbourne festival are you most looking forward to in 2019? Please let us know with a comment.

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