Thereโs no denying that Melbourne is already a great city year-round, but thereโs no denying it comes alive when the mercury starts to climb โ a rare reprieve from the usual โfour seasons, one dayโ of the rest of the year. In fact, our take is that summer is the best time to be out and about in Melbourne: moods lift, the Birkenstocks go back into the rotation, and there are more activities than ever to get involved in.
From the Australian Open and NGV gallery shows to rooftop happy hours and the Moonlight Cinema, there are round-the-clock activities for everybody.
Whether youโre planning a holiday or are even just a local looking to explore, these are our top things to do in Melbourne heading into summer 2026.
The Ashes
The 2025โ26 Ashes is already underway (and itโs looking good for Australia), but the five test series is coming to Melbourne for the legendary Boxing Day Test on December 26 and itโs guaranteed to be a great day of action.
There are plenty of food and drink options, an electric atmosphere, and hopefully, another win for Australia. Tickets are selling fast, so if youโre keen to get involved, youโd better move fast.
When: December 26 to 30
Where: Melbourne Cricket Ground
Price: From $42
The Australian Open
The first tennis Grand Slam of the year, and the event that unofficially kicks off Melbourneโs sporting calendar, the Australian Open is a must-attend for serious sports fans.
Not only do you get to witness the best players on the planet doing their thing, but the atmosphere is electric, early-round tickets remain surprisingly affordable, and the food and drinks are great (if a touch expensive).
In addition to the tennis tournament taking place, the occasion also attracts world-class international acts, with the 2026 edition bringing in Cassian, The Kid LAROI, Peggy Gou, Spacey Jane, and more. Even if youโve never watched a game of tennis in your life, itโs worth attending just for the experience.
When: January 12 to February 1
Where: Melbourne Park
Price: From $20
Summer Night Markets
The Summer Night Markets are another highlight of Melbourneโs warm-weather calendar, taking place every Wednesday evening at the Queen Victoria Market from November to March 2026.
For a total of 17 weeks, youโll be able to enjoy an endless array of street food stalls, delicious beverages, and shopping from independent artisan stalls. If you find yourself in the city in the afternoon, stay a few more hours and make the trek to the Queen Victoria Market to check it out.
When: November 19 to March 11 (excluding December 24 and 31)
Where: J-M Sheds, Queen Victoria Market
Price: Free
Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix
Following the Australian Open, the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix is the next biggest sporting event of the Melbourne summer, attracting hundreds of thousands of fans from around the world.
As the first match-up of the season, it promises to be filled with all the drama and excitement youโd expect as the international race for the series title begins.
When: March 6 to 8
Where: Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Albert Park Lake
Price: From $45
Melbourne Food & Wine Festival
Melbourne might be famed for its coffee, but equally, thereโs a strong argument to be made that the Victorian capital is also one of the worldโs great dining destinations.
The Melbourne Food & Wine Festival celebrates this culture of quality cuisine, with events taking place across Victoria that range from exhibitions on street food to cocktail parties and multi-course tasting menus.
If youโre an epicurean, thereโs a good bet that thereโll be something in the festivalโs program for you.
When: March 20 to 29
Where: Across Victoria
Price: From free to $150+
NGV Exhibition: Westwood & Kawakubo (Comme des Garรงons)
The National Gallery of Victoria is a popular destination for tourists and art enthusiasts alike during the summer months, with this seasonโs main draw consisting of an exhibition focused on the work of Vivienne Westwood and Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garรงons.
This groundbreaking exhibition will showcase more than 140 different works from both the NGV Collection and selected pieces on loan from international museums and private collections, exploring how the two visionary designers challenged the rules of dress, defied norms around beauty, gender, and the relationship between body and garment, and established themselves as iconoclasts of their generation.
When: December 7 to April 19
Where: NGV International, St Kilda Road
Price: $40 for non-member adults
NGV Friday Nights: Westwood & Kawakubo
As an extra-curricular addition to the showcase of Westwood and Kawakuboโs work, the NGV will also host itโs popular Friday Nights concert series.
Tickets allow visitors to experience the exhibition after hours, before enjoying a performance from one of more than a dozen different artists, including Adriana, DJ Small FRY, YO! MAFIA, and others.
When: Friday nights from December 212 to April 17
Where: NGV International, St Kilda Road
Price: $45
Moonlight Cinema In The Botanic Gardens
As much as we all enjoy flicking through streaming services from the comfort of our couch, thereโs something special about seeing a film on the big screen โ especially when itโs located in the heart of the Royal Botanic Gardens.
The Moonlight Cinema will be screening most days of the week until the beginning of April, showing feel good classics like Elf, Love Actually, The Grinch, and Home Alone, as well as newer releases such as Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, Wicked: For Good, and Moana 2.
When: December 3 to April 5
Where: Central Lawn, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria
Price: From $27.50
Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Even though it technically kicks off in the aftermath of summer, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival is another highlight of the calendar you wonโt want to miss โ especially if youโre keen to see some of the biggest comics in Australia.
With a total of 140 different shows confirmed for the 2026 edition, you can expect headliners such as David OโDoherty, Phil Wang, Nazeem Hussain, Urzila Carlson, Kitty Flanagan, and many, many more.
When: March 25 to April 19
Where: Across Melbourne
Price: From free to $150
Sidney Myer Free Concerts
The only thing better than a Melbourne Symphony Orchestra concert is a free one, and for the first time in 13 years, the MSO is offering four free concerts at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl.
The first concert is Symphonic Celebration, set to play original compositions by Andrew Aronowicz and Holly Harrison, as well as classics like Griegโs Peer Gynt Suite No.1 and Beethovenโs Symphony No.5. Then, itโs the Australian Youth Orchestra that will perform Anna Clyneโs This Midnight Hour, Daniel Nelsonโs Steampunk Blizzard, and Stravinskyโs Firebird Suite.
The third free concert will be MSO x Find Your Voice Collective | SONDER that will unite โ250 humans from more than a dozen regional Southwest Victorian communities in one, collective voiceโ. The fourth and final show to be performed by the MSO is 50 Years of ABC Classic, a love letter to ABC Classic radio as it celebrates half a century on air.
When: February 10 to 14
Where: Sidney Myer Music Bowl
Price: Free
Melbourne Book Fair
Located on the CBD side of Queen Victoria Market, the Melbourne Book Fair takes place every Saturday and Sunday and is a destination for book lovers.
With more than 5,000 pre-owned books available for sale every weekend, itโs the ideal spot to pick up your next summer read.
When: Saturdays and Sundays from 10 AM to 4 PM
Where: D Shed (Peel Street end), Queen Victoria Market
Price: Free
