March/April 2010

Moomba 2010 is Australia’s largest free festival. Live music, parades and performances on and around the Yarra River. Nightly fireworks, and the (in)famous Moomba Parade and the hilarious Birdman Rally.
5-8 March.

Melbourne Fashion Festival is on from 14-21 March.

Melbourne Food & Wine Festival will present over 150 events across the city including alfresco dinners, wine tasting and cooking demonstrations. 12-23 March.

Formula One Australian Grand Prix: Get ready for the F1 party as Melbourne gears up for the roar of engines, on and off the track. Albert Park, 25-28 March.

The annual two week French Film Festival is organized and presented by the Alliance Française, featuring some of the best modern and classic French movies.

Melbourne’s large Greek community hits Lonsdale Street with their ‘glendi’ (party) at the Antipodes Festival. 20-21 March.

The Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show is the biggest garden show in the Southern Hemisphere. Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens,
24-28 March.

The Melbourne International Comedy Festival sold more than 490,000 tickets in 2009, with more than 4,500 performances in 123 venues. Have a good laugh. 24 March - 18 April.

From contemporary jazz to swing, modern improvisation, avant-garde and blues, daily concerts in and around the city and the main stage at Federation Square. Swing into action at the Melbourne International Jazz Festival. 29 April - 7 May.

May/June 2010

The Spanish Film Festival offers you a selection of diverse and exceptional modern Spanish films.

The Australia v New Zealand Rugby League Test may be the inaugural match played at Melbourne’s brand new Rectangular Stadium.

Good Food & Wine Show: An exciting food and wine event with celebrity and restaurant chefs and wine tasting, over 200 exhibitors presenting food, wine, drink, appliances and cookware. Melbourne Exhibition Centre, 4-6 June.

Melbourne International Animation Festival will have over 300 films in a comprehensive line-up of animated films: the most imaginative artform.

December 2009

‘Anatomy to Robots’ Da Vinci Model Exhibition – about 90 pieces will be on show including life-size, 3D human and animal models and robots created from the original drawings by Da Vinci. Queensbridge Square, Southbank, until 31 January 2010.

The annual Japanese Film Festival will have some of the best Japanese movies on screen. 3-9 December.

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra presents Handel’s Messiah, The Arts Centre, Hamer Hall, 12-13 December.

The ISAF Sailing World Cup: Sail Melbourne will be held at Sandringham Yacht Club from 14-19 December.

Cricket: Boxing Day Test Match Australia v Pakistan. MCG, 26-30 December.

January/February 2010

Australia Open Tennis Championships: This first tournament of the year sees all the international stars of tennis competing for the grand slam title. Melbourne Park, 18-31 January.

Geelong Week: One of the nation’s oldest sporting events (first held in 1844), sees yachts set sail and celebrates all things nautical at Australia’s largest sailing regatta. 23-26 January.

Cricket: Twenty20 International, Australia v Pakistan, 5 February. One Day Internationals, Australia v West Indies, 7 and 19 February.

St Kilda Festival: Enjoy the music, the atmosphere and the beach at this annual festival. 6-14 February.

Chinese New Year: 14 February being the first day of the Year of the Tiger, Melbourne’s Chinese community will celebrate the Lunar New Year before and after this period with a variety of street activities, lions and dragons dances, fireworks, food stalls and cultural entertainment.

2010 Yamaha World Superbike Championship will be held at Phillip Island Circuit. 26-28 February.

Yarra Valley Grape Grazing: The festival is an open air connoisseur’s feast held in picturesque surroundings, involving two days of the finest food and wine that Yarra Valley has to offer.

July/August 2010
 
Melbourne International Film Festival is one of the oldest film festivals in the world. Indulge yourself in a feast of cinematic delicacies from emerging and international film-making talents.

Melbourne Art Fair 2010: Held biennially, the Fair offers the public a rare chance to view and purchase quality works of art by some of the best living artists in the world. Royal Exhibition Building, 4-8 August.


Meet writers of all genres at the Melbourne Writers Festival. Some of the world’s top writers will gather together to join in intellectual and cultural forums, readings and panel discussions.

September/October 2010

Hundreds of fashion related events will be presented during the first week of September to mark the Melbourne Spring Fashion Week with new collections to herald the Spring Racing Carnival.

AFL Grand Final: The Grand Final of Aussie Rules returns to its rightful home: Melbourne. 25 September.

Don’t miss the Royal Melbourne Show which aims to connect the country and the city. The best in agriculture and animal shows, competitions, food and wine, rides, showbags, and displays of arts and crafts. 16-26 September.

The Melbourne Fringe Festival presents 3 weeks of independent, innovative, contemporary artistic ideas and practice, with circus, visual arts, cabaret, dance, theatre and comedy. 22 September – 10 October.

More than 720 cyclists representing 48 countries are expected to participate in the 2010 UCI Road Cycling World Championships to be held in Melbourne and Geelong. 29 September - 3 October.

Melbourne International Arts Festival is on in October presenting dance, theatre, music, opera, and visual arts by local and international artists throughout Melbourne.

November/December 2010

Melbourne Cup: The race that stops the nation on the 1st Tuesday in November, fashion, food, dining and a feast of world-class thoroughbred horse racing event.

EQUITANA Australia: A must see for any horse lover as this is the largest equine event in the Southern Hemisphere featuring competition, education and equine entertainment. Melbourne Showgrounds, 18-21 November.

Watch leading golfers from Australia and around the world in action at the Australian Masters. Victoria Golf Club.

Cricket: 4th Ashes Boxing Day Test Match, Australia v England, 26-30 December.