The best events in Melbourne this Friday through Sunday—from Grand Slam finals to Nick Cave in the gardens, Pride marching down Fitzroy Street, and enough 90s dance legends to trigger flashbacks.
Melbourne has somehow managed to pack an entire year's worth of events into one weekend. The Australian Open reaches its crescendo with the women's final on Saturday and men's final on Sunday. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds are holding court for three consecutive nights at Alexandra Gardens. The 30th Anniversary Midsumma Pride March transforms St Kilda into a rainbow-draped celebration of joy. And over in Richmond, Lunar New Year festivities are turning Victoria Street into one of the city's most delicious street parties.
That's before we even get to synthwave at the Forum, Finnish rock at Max Watt's, a 90s rave reunion at Northcote Theatre, petrolheads invading Calder Park, immersive planetarium films, and Harry Potter's final weekend in Brunswick. Oh, and Peggy Gou spinning after the men's final because apparently Melbourne doesn't believe in doing things by halves.
Whether you're chasing Grand Slam glory, dancing until dawn, marching with Pride, or eating your way through Richmond's Vietnamese restaurants, this weekend delivers. AllEvents has the full rundown on everything happening across the city—here's where to start.
How this list works: We comb through every listing on AllEvents to surface the genuinely worthwhile stuff—balancing blockbuster attractions with smaller local gems, always prioritizing what makes Melbourne distinctly Melbourne. This weekend, that means tennis royalty, rock royalty, and one very colourful parade.
What it is: The climax of the first Grand Slam of the tennis calendar—Saturday features the women's singles final (7:30 PM) and mixed doubles final, while Sunday brings the men's singles final (7:30 PM) and men's doubles final.
Why go: There's nothing quite like Grand Slam final energy. Two weeks of tournament drama converge into these last matches, and Melbourne Park delivers one of the best atmospheres in world tennis. Even ground passes let you soak in the precinct's buzz, big screens, and surrounding courts.
Who it's for: Tennis fans of any stripe—from those who've been tracking the draw obsessively to folks who just want to experience the electric atmosphere of a major international sporting event.
Need to know: Women's singles final is Saturday at 7:30 PM; men's singles final is Sunday at 7:30 PM, both at Rod Laver Arena. Ground passes are available for daytime access to the precinct. Rod Laver Arena night sessions sell out fast—check resale if you're after centre court seats.
What it is: Nick Cave brings his legendary band to Alexandra Gardens for three consecutive nights, touring behind the critically acclaimed Wild God album with Aldous Harding as support.
Why go: These outdoor shows are already the stuff of legend—Cave at the height of his powers, performing in one of Melbourne's most beautiful settings with the city skyline as backdrop. The Wild God material is some of his most emotionally resonant work, and the Bad Seeds remain one of the great live bands.
Who it's for: Anyone who considers themselves a fan of Australian music (so, everyone), devotees of the man and his mythology, and anyone who's ever found transcendence in a Nick Cave song.
Need to know: Friday January 30, Saturday January 31 (sold out), and Sunday February 1 at Alexandra Gardens, gates at 6:30 PM. Saturday is sold out—check official resale. The venue is outdoor general admission, so bring comfortable shoes and layers for the evening.
What it is: The Australian Open's concert series delivers two massive headliners this weekend—American pop star and actress Reneé Rapp on Saturday during the women's final, and Korean-born DJ superstar Peggy Gou on Sunday following the men's final.
Why go: Reneé Rapp making her Australian debut is a big deal—the Mean Girls star and solo artist has been building one of the most engaged fanbases in pop. Peggy Gou, meanwhile, brings her irresistible blend of house, techno, and disco to close out the tournament in style.
Who it's for: Pop fans finally getting Reneé Rapp on Australian soil; house music devotees wanting to dance after watching tennis; anyone who loves the crossover energy of sport and music.
Need to know: Saturday January 31 from 3 PM (Reneé Rapp with Cat & Calmell) and Sunday February 1 from 2 PM (Peggy Gou with Shygirl presents Club Shy, Baby J, Bryson Hill) at John Cain Arena, Melbourne Park. All ages. Tennis ticket not required.
What it is: Melbourne's signature LGBTQ+ community celebration, with thousands marching down Fitzroy Street in St Kilda in a joyful display of Pride—now marking its 30th anniversary.
Why go: This is Melbourne's Pride at its most exuberant. Community groups, corporate marchers, floats, costumes, and an energy that's genuinely infectious. It's free to watch, free to participate in the surrounding festivities, and utterly Melbourne in its character.
Who it's for: Everyone. The LGBTQ+ community and allies alike. Families, friends, and anyone who wants to be part of a day celebrating love, diversity, and community.
Need to know: Sunday February 1, 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM. Marchers gather at Ian Johnson Oval and proceed down Fitzroy Street, finishing at Catani Gardens. Free to watch from anywhere along the route. Get there early for a good spot.
What it is: A free street festival celebrating Lunar New Year on Richmond's Victoria Street—Melbourne's vibrant Vietnamese precinct—with food, music, cultural performances, and festivities running from midday to 10 PM.
Why go: Victoria Street is already one of Melbourne's best food destinations, but during the Lunar Festival it transforms into a massive street party. Dragon dances, live performances, and an entire neighbourhood's worth of incredible Vietnamese restaurants and street food.
Who it's for: Food lovers, culture seekers, families, and anyone who wants to welcome the Year of the Snake with authentic celebration.
Need to know: Sunday February 1, 12 PM – 10 PM on Victoria Street, Richmond. Free admission. Come hungry—the food options are overwhelming in the best way. The street is closed to traffic.
What it is: UK electronic producer Ryan Lee West, aka Rival Consoles, performs his immersive live audio-visual show across two nights at Melbourne Recital Centre.
Why go: This isn't just a concert—it's a carefully crafted sensory experience where sound and image merge into something genuinely transportive. Following a sold-out Dark Mofo debut, Rival Consoles brings his full A/V setup to one of Melbourne's most acoustically pristine venues.
Who it's for: Electronic music aficionados, ambient/experimental fans, and anyone who appreciates artists pushing the boundaries of what a live show can be.
Need to know: Friday January 30 and Saturday January 31 at 7:30 PM, Elisabeth Murdoch Hall at Melbourne Recital Centre. Fia Fiell supports. Approximately 2 hours 30 minutes.
What it is: A daytime rave reunion featuring 90s dance legends Technotronic, N-Trance, Artful Dodger, and Livin' Joy—billed as "Melbourne's Ultimate Day Party for Grown-Up Ravers."
Why go: "Pump Up the Jam." "Set You Free." "Dreamer." If any of those songs just triggered something deep in your brain, this is your weekend. These are the actual acts, performing the actual hits, in the middle of the afternoon so you can still make it home by bedtime.
Who it's for: Anyone who remembers where they were when "Dreamer" dropped, parents who want to rave but also need sleep, and younger fans curious about the originals.
Need to know: Saturday January 31, 2 PM at Northcote Theatre. Daytime event means you can legitimately be in bed by 10 PM. Standing venue.
What it is: Los Angeles synthwave duo The Midnight bring their lush, 80s-inflected electronic sound to the Forum, touring behind their latest album in a show packed with neon-soaked nostalgia.
Why go: The Midnight have perfected a very specific thing—synth-driven songs that feel like driving down a highway at night in a John Hughes film. Live, it's all immersive production, soaring vocals, and unapologetic romance.
Who it's for: Synthwave devotees, fans of Stranger Things-adjacent aesthetics, and anyone who finds emotional truth in saxophone solos over pulsing synthesizers.
Need to know: Saturday January 31, 7 PM at Forum Melbourne. Boo Seeka supports. The Forum's Byzantine architecture adds to the atmosphere.
What it is: Australia's biggest horsepower party—over 2,000 elite show cars, drag racing, drifting, dyno wars, live music (including Will Sparks), food, and fireworks at Calder Park.
Why go: This is petrolhead paradise. The best muscle cars and modified vehicles in the country, plus drag racing battles, drift demonstrations, and dyno competitions. The festival runs day into night with fireworks closing things out.
Who it's for: Car enthusiasts, Rev heads, families with kids who love loud engines, and anyone who appreciates machines built for speed and spectacle.
Need to know: Saturday January 31, 12 PM – 11 PM at Calder Park Raceway, Sunbury. This is about 30 minutes from the CBD. Expect massive crowds and plan your transport accordingly.
What it is: The official Midsumma Pride March after-party at St Kilda Sports Club—an outdoor day party with free entry, DJs, a sausage sizzle, and good times on the lawn.
Why go: After marching down Fitzroy Street, the party continues. POOF DOOF delivers proper dance floor energy in a relaxed outdoor setting, and free entry means everyone can join the celebration.
Who it's for: Pride March participants wanting to keep the energy going, LGBTQ+ community members and allies, and anyone who appreciates dancing on grass in the afternoon sun.
Need to know: Sunday February 1, 1 PM – 10 PM at St Kilda Sports Club. Free entry. Expect DJs, dancing, and sausages.
What it is: The Australian premiere of the massive Harry Potter exhibition featuring props, costumes, and interactive experiences from the Wizarding World—and this is your last chance to see it.
Why go: If you've been putting this off, the door is closing. The exhibition features authentic film artefacts, immersive environments, and all the magical details that make this franchise beloved. After February 1, it disappears.
Who it's for: Potterheads of all ages, families with kids who've grown up with the films, and anyone who wants one more visit before it's gone.
Need to know: Through Sunday February 1 at The Lume Melbourne, Brunswick. Timed entry—book in advance, especially for weekend slots. Allow 60-90 minutes.
What it is: Finnish rock legends The Rasmus—the band behind the international smash "In the Shadows"—finally make it to Australia for their debut Down Under performances.
Why go: If you were alive in 2003, "In the Shadows" was inescapable. The Rasmus have continued making music and touring Europe, but this is their first time on Australian soil. It's a genuine event for fans who never thought they'd see this happen.
Who it's for: Anyone with early-2000s rock nostalgia, Finnish rock fans, and completists who need to tick this one off.
Need to know: Sunday February 1, 7 PM at Max Watt's, Swanston Street. Melbourne band Nth Rd supports. Standing venue, 18+.
What it is: A world-premiere exhibition pairing two fashion revolutionaries—Vivienne Westwood and Rei Kawakubo—in a show exploring punk, avant-garde design, and the power of fashion to challenge convention.
Why go: This is a once-in-a-lifetime pairing. Westwood's punk heritage and Kawakubo's conceptual genius are placed in dialogue across hundreds of garments, accessories, and contextual materials. The NGV has pulled off something remarkable.
Who it's for: Fashion devotees, design students, Westwood and Comme des Garçons fans, and anyone who appreciates clothing as art.
Need to know: Through April 19 at NGV International, St Kilda Road. Ticketed exhibition—book online to secure your time slot. The rest of the NGV is free.
What it is: A three-day immersive film festival at Melbourne Planetarium, featuring 39 films from 17 countries projected across the entire dome ceiling.
Why go: Forget traditional screens—the planetarium dome becomes a 360-degree canvas for experimental, artistic, and mind-bending short films. It's cinema as total environment.
Who it's for: Film buffs seeking something different, families with curious kids, and anyone who wants their brain pleasantly scrambled by innovative visual storytelling.
Need to know: Friday January 30 to Sunday February 1 at Melbourne Planetarium, Scienceworks. Multiple screening sessions with different themed programs—check the schedule for showtimes.
The champagne-soaked circus cabaret continues its run in the gorgeous mirrored Spiegeltent at Spiegel Haus Melbourne. Acrobats, comedy, glamour, and more bubbly than you can reasonably handle—perfect for a Friday or Saturday night that feels like stepping into another era. Shows at 7 PM with Late Night Vice sessions following.
Transport planning: Melbourne Park for the tennis, Alexandra Gardens for Nick Cave, and St Kilda for Pride March will all draw massive crowds. Public transport is your friend—train to Flinders Street or Richmond for the tennis and gardens, tram to St Kilda.
Weather watch: Late January in Melbourne means hot days (expect high 20s to low 30s) but pack a layer for evening outdoor events. Alexandra Gardens and Pride March are both sun-exposed—slip, slop, slap.
Bookings: Harry Potter exhibition, Westwood | Kawakubo at NGV, and AO Live shows all require advance tickets. Don't risk disappointment.
What's the biggest event this weekend? The Australian Open finals will draw the largest combined audience—tennis fans from around the world descend on Melbourne Park for the climax of the first Grand Slam.
What's good for families? Harry Potter: The Exhibition (final weekend), Dome Under Film Festival at the planetarium, and Victoria Street Lunar Festival are all excellent family options.
What's happening Sunday? Sunday is stacked: Men's singles final, Peggy Gou at AO Live, Midsumma Pride March, Victoria Street Lunar Festival, POOF DOOF after-party, and The Rasmus at Max Watt's.
Where can I find more Melbourne events? AllEvents has comprehensive listings for everything happening across the city—from major concerts to neighbourhood markets. It's the best way to discover what's on and plan your weekend.
Melbourne's thrown down the gauntlet this weekend. Grand Slam drama, rock legends in the gardens, Pride in the streets, and Lunar New Year feasts await. Pick your adventure—or try to do it all. Sleep is overrated anyway.
