What’s On in Melbourne in January 2026

January in Melbourne means summer is in full swing, with long, hot days and plenty of events going on around the city.

This is one of the busiest months of the year, with visitors flocking to the city for the famous Australian Open tennis tournament.

But even if sporting events aren’t your thing, there are plenty of other activities in Melbourne in January to keep you busy!

Here’s a curated selection of some of the coolest must-dos happening this month.

Melbourne weather in January

The average temperature in Melbourne in January is between 16°C and 27°C. There’s usually little rain – in January last year we had a moderate 62mm of rain in total.

Check the forecast online.

Pack plenty of sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses to protect yourself from the hot sun!

You can also check out my full guide to summer in Melbourne.

Public holidays in Melbourne in January

There are two public holidays in January in Melbourne:

• New Year’s Day – Thursday 1 January
• Australia Day / Invasion Day – Monday 26 January

School holidays are also underway until the kiddos go back on 27 January.

Major events and festivals in January

Australian Open

Tennis greats from around the world converge in Melbourne to battle it out for the Australian Open title.

Midsumma Festival

Melbourne’s premier LGBTQI+ festival, ending with a Pride Parade.

Theatre, film and music

Anastasia

This dazzling production, by the Tony Award winning team Terrence McNally, Stephen Flaherty, Lynn Ahrens and Darko Tresnjak, transports you from the twilight years of the Imperial rule to the euphoria of 1920s Paris.

Duck Pond

Feathers will fly in this take on Swan Lake. Created by Circa, one of the world’s most celebrated circus companies, Duck Pond is a story you thought you knew, re-told in a way you’ll never forget. 

MJ The Musical

Centred around the making of his 1992 Dangerous World Tour, MJ the Musical goes beyond the singular moves and signature sound of Michael Jackson.

Cats the Musical

Experience the 40th Australian anniversary of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s record-breaking musical Cats, showing for a limited time.

Balloon Story

Experience the magic of larger-than-life balloon sculptures that defy imagination, with (eco-friendly!) balloons sculpted into everything imaginable.

Shrek the Musical

Join this epic adventure to a faraway kingdom turned upside down, where an unsightly ogre (not a handsome prince) arrives to rescue a feisty princess, accompanied by a talkative donkey.

Tinkerbell and the Dream Fairies

The Australian Shakespeare Company puts on this family-friendly show, where the adventurous Tinkerbell meets up with the fairies from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. 

Candelight Concert Series with Fever

Fever brings their stunning candlelit concerts to venues across Melbourne. There’s everything from the Best of Frank Sinatra and Fleetwood Mac to tributes to Queen and Beyonce.

Moonlight Cinema

Catch a flick under the stars in the beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens.

Darkfield

Step inside a shipping container in COMPLETE darkness and experience the immersive INVISIBLE or FLIGHT (or grab a deal and do both!).

Maho Magic Bar

Be transported to a neon-lit Tokyo night of mischief and amazement, where Japan’s very best perform exclusive magic shows at your table.

Melbourne Magic Show

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

Museums and art

Westwood | Kawakubo

The NGV’s summer blockbuster exhibition pairs two global icons of the fashion world for the first time: British designer Vivienne Westwood and Japanese designer Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons.

NGV Friday Nights

Music, eating and drinking plus late-night exclusive access to the NGV’s Westwood | Kawakubo exhibition.

Women Photographers 1900-1975: A Legacy of Light

This fascinating exhibition celebrates the wide-ranging photographic practices of more than eighty women artists working between 1900 and 1975.

DIVA

Celebrate legendary divas such as Judy Garland, Joan Crawford, Dame Nellie Melba, Grace Jones, Cher, Prince, Tina Turner, Elton John, Madonna, Adele, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Whitney Houston, P!nk, Bjork and Billie Eilish in this dazzling exhibition.

Jurassic Creatures

The greatest creatures ever to walk the earth will come alive before your eyes at Jurassic Creatures. This realistic animatronics exhibition opens up a world full of life-like moving dinosaurs.

LEGO® Star Wars: The Exhibition

Step into a world of epic battles, gargantuan spaceships and stunning landscapes from a galaxy far, far away. Using over 8 million LEGO® bricks and taking more than 25,000 hours to complete, this is one for fans!

Treasures of the Viking Age: The Galloway Hoard

Travel back in time to early medieval Scotland and discover the unique and mysterious treasure trove of Viking-age treasures, from jewellery, personal heirlooms and one-of-a-kind objects from as far away as Central Asia.

Transmutation: Our Origin Stories

Curated by multidisciplinary artist Weniki Hensch, this exhibition explores Papua New Guinean cultural traditions, matriarchal lineage and contemporary art.

Game Worlds

Game Worlds features more than 30 video games from the 1970s to today – and you can play many of them!

Planetarium Nights

Head to Scienceworks for an adults-only, after dark experience. January’s events include Big Astronomy (journey to three world-class observatories in Chile’s rugged Andes Mountains and arid Atacama Desert) and Chaos and Order (a “mathematic symphony”).

Museum of Desire

An immersive playhouse of art, love, lust and thrills. Discover 20+ exhibits including interactive installations, erotic artworks, and objects of desire.

Prison Island

Step into Prison Island, an interactive adventure where you and your team take on 34 challenge cells, combining escape rooms with physical and mental challenges.

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 and drink events in Melbourne in January

Summer Night Market at QVM

Queen Vic Market’s Summer Night Market are back every Wednesday night, bringing an extravaganza of delicious food, entertainment and locally made goods.

Community and outdoor festivals

Summer Jam 2025

Have fun at this family-friendly streetball event that includes basketball matches featuring top-tier talent, including the Koorie Academy Allstars, live music, streetwear showcases, and food trucks and stalls.

Vida: Melbourne Latin Summer Festival

Discover Latin America through art, culture, food and entertainment in this fun weekend event.

Share the Spirit

Enjoy live music, food and more on this family-friendly day that celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

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