Art and Culture

Melbourne hosts a busy calendar of events that celebrate art, live entertainment and sport, and bring international champions and performers to the city.

Masterpieces On Show

Each winter, audiences are dazzled by exhibitions of extraordinary art or history that are brought to the city as part of the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series.

In 2011, an Egyptian pharaoh makes an exclusive appearance at the Melbourne Museum. Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs features over 130 artefacts, including objects unearthed from King Tutankhamun's tomb - a dazzling exploration of Ancient Egypt and those who ruled it.

The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) turns 150 in 2011, a milestone that will be celebrated with special events including Vienna: Art & Design, featuring 200+ works by the greatest Viennese artists, designers and architects of the 19th and 20th centuries.

In 2012, the NGV will treat audiences to a glimpse of another extraordinary period in European history with Napoléon: Revolution to Empire. This exhibition features masterpieces of French art and culture from the 1700s to 1820s.

Entertainment Venues

Discover Melbourne's historic and spectacular theatres. Book a seat at a musical at the Princess Theatre, a grand late 19th century Victorian playhouse. The heritage-listed Regent Theatre hosts musicals, gigs and film screenings and is home to the grand Plaza Ballroom. Built in 1928, the Comedy Theatre is a replica of a Florence palazzo and has headlined many famous names. If you are planning an event, the Forum Theatre is a fantastic Neo-Gothic/Moorish inspired building that is a popular choice for functions as well as a venue for entertainers.

Taking to the Stage

Opera, theatre, music, dance and comedy are all on offer for lovers of live entertainment every night of the week. Melbourne also has a strong circus tradition. Circus Oz was born here over 30 years ago and has since toured its rock'n'roll, animal free circus to 26 countries.

The Melbourne International Comedy Festival attracts local and international comedians to the city each year. Pick up a ticket for some of the hundreds of hilarious events that are staged around the city. Start at the Melbourne Town Hall, the festival hub and the main ticket outlet, and the Peter Cook bar, an ideal spot for a post show analysis.

Take in a Flick

Melbourne loves its celluloid and is home to a diverse range of indoor and outdoor cinemas.

Discover the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI), where the free permanent exhibition, Screen Worlds, The Story of Film, Television & Digital Culture, brings together rarely seen footage, costumes and interactive displays.

Big Ticket Entertainment

Melbourne is entertained by international artists and supports favourite sporting teams at its state-of-the-art stadiums.

The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is the birthplace of Test cricket and the home of Australian rules football. It holds 80+ events annually and also houses the National Sports Museum. Its many function rooms and excellent menus are favourites for key corporate functions.

Etihad Stadium is located on the edge of the CBD and is the only football stadium in the Southern Hemisphere with a fully retractable roof.

Melbourne and Olympic Parks is a major sports and entertainment precinct that is home to the Australian Open Tennis Championships. Its newest facility, AAMI Park, is home ground to Melbourne's Super 15 Rugby Union team, the Melbourne Rebels, A-League soccer teams Melbourne Victory and Melbourne Heart, and National Rugby League team Melbourne Storm.

Sporting City

Melbourne loves its sport; from the spectacle of the annual Formula 1™ Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park to the Boxing Day Test cricket match in December. Victoria's Spring Racing Carnival in October and November showcases world-class thoroughbred racing and is a great time to kick up your heels.

Tee Off

Play a round of golf at a course near the city. Sanctuary Lakes Resort is set around an 18-hole Greg Norman-designed course and 150 acres of lake at Point Cook, while Sandhurst Club is a premier golf club that features two championship golf courses. The Royal Melbourne Golf Club will host the prestigious Presidents Cup in 2011.