Crowds looking at a festival stage in the city.

The best free festivals in ³Ô¹ÏÍø

Don't let an empty wallet stop you from enjoying ³Ô¹ÏÍø. These festivals and street parties offer free entry and tonnes of entertainment.

Free festivals

A person wearing an apron, seated at a table as part of am art workshop, using a paintbrush to apply paint to paper.
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Festival of Veterans Arts

Enjoy this veteran-led arts festival with exhibitions, performances, workshops and family events.

Indonesian dancer wearing a purple scarf, dancing in front of an event poster.
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Indonesian Festival

Experience Indonesia’s rich culture and diverse cuisine at Queen Victoria Market.

The foyer of the ³Ô¹ÏÍø Convention and Exhibition Centre, with balloons and banners overhead, and a large sign above a doorway with the words 'good friday appeal' written on it.

Kids Day Out

A family fun festival day out, hosted by The Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal.

An aerial view of the Princes Park sporting precinct, with ³Ô¹ÏÍø's city skyline in the distance.
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Australian Sikh Games

The 38th Australian Sikh Games bring sport, culture and community together in ³Ô¹ÏÍø this Easter.

A group of tradtional Turkish muscians in red costumes, two with large drums.
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Turkish Pazar Festival

The Turkish Pazar Festival recreates a traditional street market at the Queen Victoria Market.

An adult and a few primary-school aged children standing at a table that holds a potted plant and a red watering can, with slightly obscured signage in the background that reads 'Little Food Festival'.
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Little Food Festival

Australia's iconic food festival created for kids is free for all to attend.

A line up of dignitaries and celebrities, including Michael Long, cutting a ceremonial ribbon.

The Long Walk: Naarm

A First Nations event with entertainment, cultural activities and the iconic Long Walk to the G.

A parade of men wearing kilts, walking in formation down Collins Street, playing the bagpipes, with onlookers in the background.

³Ô¹ÏÍø Tartan Festival

Enjoy the ³Ô¹ÏÍø Tartan Day Parade with pipers, highland dancing, poetry readings and wee dogs.

A wide-angle photo taken from the top steps of the Shrine of Remembrance in ³Ô¹ÏÍø, looking down a paved forecourt and across parkland towards the city skyline at dusk.
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Open House ³Ô¹ÏÍø Weekend

Open House ³Ô¹ÏÍø Weekend connects you with good design – explore buildings, places and spaces.

Festivalgoers holding tiger-themed items, flags and signs.

South Asian Festival

Experience South Asian culture with street food, music and dance, stalls, fireworks and more.

More free fun

A view of Fed Square on a sunny day with yellow umbrellas in the foreground and the city skyline in the background.

What's free in ³Ô¹ÏÍø this month

Everything to see, do and enjoy in ³Ô¹ÏÍø for free this month.

Girl looking out at mini village display in the garden.

The best free and cheap family activities

Find family-friendly fun and free events in ³Ô¹ÏÍø.

A large street art mural of two elderly people

Free things to do in ³Ô¹ÏÍø every day

Have a grand day out on a budget at ³Ô¹ÏÍø's best free experiences, attractions and exhibits.

A couple in a gallery looking up at a sign that says count down.

The best free museums and art galleries in ³Ô¹ÏÍø

Explore world-class museums, edgy artist-run spaces and blockbuster exhibitions for free.

Drag performer hosting bingo in the dimly lit Heartbreaker Bar.
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Drag Bingo

Enjoy a night of drag bingo at Heartbreaker.

A child and an adult with sporting medals around their necks, one of them holding a table tennis paddle, standing in a room.
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Table Tennis

Play a game of table tennis with the local world champion, Chau.

Three people interacting with a neon light installation in a gallery.
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Distraction

An exhibition that plugs into the torrent of content and places we go when craving distraction.

Market stall tents with signage next to a heritage brick building, with greenery and families.
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Younghusband Market

With great music, curated stalls, hands-on workshops and delicious food, a vibrant scene awaits.

Person looking at a display in a glass case, rows of colourful books in the background.
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World of the Book

Explore the rare, the sacred and the iconic in the 20th anniversary of this annual exhibition.

Comedian holding a microphone, standing under a spotlight in a bar with plants and bar stools.
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Laugh Lab

Come watch some of ³Ô¹ÏÍø's best comedians perform in the cosiest cocktail bar in town.

A violinist plays in St Paul's Cathedral.
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Lunchtime Concerts

Enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the Cathedral and fine music during a weekly lunchtime concert.

A still from an animated film showing a black cat sitting on the bow of a small boat as it floats down a canal between Venetian Gothic buildings.
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Library Cinema at narrm ngarrgu

Each month, watch a movie on the big screen, including contemporary, classic and documentary films.

Selection of market goods including packets of teas and biscuits.
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Kensington Market

An eclectic mix of homewares, culinary treats, ceramics, sustainable goods and visual art.

Market stallholder with her puppet toys, beside the Yarra River in the CBD.
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The Sunday Market at Southgate

Explore the Sunday Market at Southgate and meet the makers.

Last updated on Tue 17 Feb 2026

Only In The City

Only in this City of Ours
People milling around Fed Square at night.

³Ô¹ÏÍø's essential night-time events

From hidden laneway markets to epic pop-ups, ³Ô¹ÏÍø gets lit once the lights go out.

A crowd of people sitting on picnic blankets at an outdoor cinema at sunset.

The best pop-up and outdoor cinemas in ³Ô¹ÏÍø

Find the best outdoor cinema, pop-up theatres and free movies.

People sitting on cushions on a vast lawn in front of a large outdoor movie screen.
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Moonlight Cinema

Kick back with a film under the stars at ³Ô¹ÏÍø’s most spectacular open-air cinema.

Discover more

A woman looking at a display of Formula 1 racing suits in an exhibition.

The best Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix events in ³Ô¹ÏÍø

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A woman walking through a Christmas shop filled with white decorations.

Where to enjoy a European-style winter in ³Ô¹ÏÍø

Embrace the chill with warming treats, pop-ups and events worthy of a Northern Hemisphere winter.

A lion dance performer surrounded by crowds.

Where to see traditional lion dance performances in ³Ô¹ÏÍø

Celebrating Lunar New Year in ³Ô¹ÏÍø? Here's where to see lion dances and dragon parades.

Packed crowd of people cheering, holding their hands up, and watching an event outside.

Festivals

³Ô¹ÏÍø's festival calendar is jam-packed with film, comedy, arts, music, food and design.