What’s On in Melbourne in August in 2024

While you may still be shivering away in August in Melbourne, there’s still plenty to do to keep you entertained, informed and warm!

Here’s a curated selection of the must-dos happening this August in Melbourne.

Melbourne weather in August

It’s still chilly! The average temperature in Melbourne in August hovers between 8°C and 16°C during the day, but it can get a lot colder than that.

There’s usually not many huge rainfalls, but you can expect a little rain on around 9 days of the month.

Check the upcoming Melbourne weather forecast online, and read my full guide to winter in Melbourne.

Public holidays in Melbourne in August

Another month without a public holiday, sadly!

Major events and festivals in August

Check back regularly throughout the month – I’ll keep this page updated as I hunt down more events!

Melbourne International Film Festival

From blockbusters to indie flicks, check out the best of the international cinema scene.

Lightscape

Be mesmerised by an eight-metre sphere filled with over 20,000 moving LEDs, singing trees and a flickering fire garden among colour-changing installations, soundscapes and large-scale illuminated sculptures.

Now or Never

Now or Never debuted last year and features art, ideas, sound, technology and more. It’s a combination of Melbourne Music Week and Melbourne Knowledge Week and celebrates Melbourne’s creative scene.

Theatre, film and music

Six

Returning to Melbourne, the six wives of Henry VIII tell their stories through music, rewriting 500 years of history.

Candelight Concert Series with Fever

Fever brings their stunning candlelit concerts to venues across Melbourne. There’s everything from Hollywood Movie Soundtracks to Emo Hits on String to tributes to Queen and Adele.

Beauty and the Beast

The much-loved classic tale comes to the stage in a spectacular performance.

Sunset Boulevard

The glitz and glamour of the Golden Age of Hollywood comes to Melbourne in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new production of Sunset Boulevard, starring Sarah Brightman.

A Streetcar Named Desire

Experience the raw intensity of Tennessee Williams’s classic masterpiece – one of the most critically acclaimed plays of the 20th century.

WICKED the Musical

Long before Dorothy arrived in the Land of Oz, there were two young witches: Elphaba, whose skin is green, and Glinda, who is blonde and beautiful. See how one became good and one became wicked.

Melbourne Magic Show

Have your mind blown by the magic and illusion of Master Magician Luke Hocking.

Museums and art

Jurassic World: The Exhibition

This immersive experience brings you face-to-face with life-sized dinosaurs. Walk through the iconic Jurassic World gates and prepare to be in awe as the ground-breaking movie franchise is brought to life.

The Art of Banksy: Without Limits

The Art of Banksy: Without Limits features more than 180 artworks, such as certified art, prints on different kinds of materials, photos, sculptures, installations, digital installations, murals and mapping shows.

Pharaoh

Presented in partnership with the British Museum, this NGV exhibition celebrates 3,000 years of ancient Egyptian art and culture.

NGV Friday Nights

Music, eating and drinking plus late-night exclusive access to the Pharaoh exhibition = a perfect night out.

Victoria the T. rex

Come meet Melbourne Museum’s newest visitor, Victoria the T. rex – a 12-metre-long, 3.6-metre-high, 66-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex fossil.

Africa Fashion

More than 200 works will feature in the NGV’s Africa Fashion exhibit, which celebrates the creativity, ingenuity, and global impact of contemporary African fashions from the mid-twentieth century to the present day.

Leonardo da Vinci – 500 Years of Genius

The Lume’s newest immersive exhibition celebrates the life and art of of Italian polymath Leonardo da Vinci.

Planetarium Nights

Head to Scienceworks for an adults-only, after dark experience. August’s events include Where’s the Water? (join the search for water throughout the solar system) and Flow: Visions of Time (get closer to the mysterious force of time).

Monopoly Dreams

Immerse yourself in giant Monopoly sets, win prizes and – most importantly – stay out of jail!

Experience the Dome Promenade

One of Melbourne’s most iconic buildings has opened a hidden part that hasn’t been accessible to the public for 100 years.

Food events in August

Winter Night Market

The Winter Night Market is back at Queen Vic Market every Wednesday evening, with street food trucks and stalls, local brewers and distillers, shopping and lively entertainment.

Community events, festivals and shopping

Cachivaches Latin Market

Explore the foods, cultures and crafts of Colombia, Venezuela, Chile, Brazil and more Latin American countries.

Affordable Art Fair

Pick up a piece of art for your walls at this art fair, with everything under $10,000.

What are you most excited to see and do in August in Melbourne?