Calendar of Events

Melbourne is proud of its reputation as Australia's events capital. It hosts international sporting championships, regular national football league games, and equine events. It celebrates the best in design, food and wine, the great outdoors, music and the arts, fashion, and great films at international festivals throughout the year.

2010 Toyota Australian Football League (AFL) Premiership Season

Where:

Across Australia

When:

25 March-25 September 2010

Every autumn Australian Football League fans arrive dressed in their team colours for the opening bounce of the AFL Premiership Season, which extends to the end of September. Grab yourself a seat and soak up the atmosphere amid the passionate fans and colourful team mascots. Matches are held each weekend at the undercover state-of-the-art Etihad Stadium in Docklands or at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Every year 16 teams and their loyal supporters start the season hopeful for a place in the top eight and a chance to play in the finals series in September. As Australia's most popular sport, the AFL continues to surpass attendance records each year.

www.afl.com.au

Spring Racing Carnival Incorporating the Melbourne Cup Carnival

Where:

Metropolitan courses at Flemington, Moonee Valley, Caulfield and Sandown and country race courses all over Victoria

When:

29 September -17 November 2010

Melbourne's Spring Racing Carnival is a 50-day celebration of the world's best racehorses and jockeys. The Carnival is much more than racing, with entertainment, events, celebrity appearances and fashions on the field at 13 metropolitan and 76 country race meetings. It culminates in the world's most famous two-mile handicap, the Melbourne Cup, popularly known as 'the race that stops a nation'. Join the thousands of elegantly dressed racegoers and embrace the excitement of the sport and the spectacular fashion.

www.springracingcarnival.com.au

Melbourne International Arts Festival

Where:

Various Venues

When:

8-23 October 2010

Melbourne International Arts Festival (MIAF) is the city's flagship cultural event. It is one of Australia's premier festivals, celebrating performing and visual arts from around the world. Held over 16 days each October, MIAF hosts exclusive performances by some of the finest national and international artists and companies. Almost half a million people attend over 500 performances, including free and ticketed dance, theatre, music, visual arts, multimedia and outdoor events.

www.melbournefestival.com.au

Equitana Melbourne

Where:

Melbourne Showgrounds

When:

18-21 November 2010

This international event is Australia's largest multi-disciplinary equestrian show. It is the only occasion in the Southern Hemisphere that brings the entire equine community together to educate, compete and perform. More than 280 exhibitors from Australia and around the world are on show, as well as hundreds of horses, world-renowned presenters, and evening spectaculars. The Grand Prix and World Cup competitions always attract enthusiastic crowds. Other associated events include clinics on dressage, eventing and training your horse, by high-profile equine specialists.

www.equitana.com.au

Boxing Day Test Match

Where:

Melbourne Cricket Ground

When:

26-30 December 2010

The Boxing Day Test cricket match is played each year beginning on 26 December at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. It pitches the Australian cricket team against the opposition international team touring Australia that summer. Having defeated Pakistan in 2009, the locals will be keen to retain the title and prove themselves to a home crowd against the English team in 2010. For information about tickets to the Boxing Day Test see the Cricket Australia website.

www.cricket.com.au

Australian Open

Where:

Melbourne Park

When:

17-30 January 2011

Every year in January, Melbourne Park comes alive for the Australian Open Tennis Championship, a festival of on-and off-court entertainment that is enjoyed by the players and fans alike. See the biggest names in international tennis battle it out for a total prize pool of $24 million. Over 500 of the world's best players vie for the glory of winning at the first Grand Slam event of the year. A total of 46 nations are represented in the main singles draws alone. In 2010, for the eleventh consecutive year, the Australian Open attracted more than half a million patrons with an official tournament attendance of 650,000. 2011 will be an exciting tournament as enthusiastic fans watch Roger Federer and Serena Williams defend their titles. Grab a centre court ticket and take in all the atmosphere of this exciting event. The Australian Open gets bigger and better every year so don't miss your chance to see the world's best tennis players compete for the honour of a Grand Slam title.

www.australianopen.com

Melbourne Food and Wine Festival

Where:

Various Venues

When:

12-23 March 2011

Join the feast that is the annual 12-day Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. Since its launch in 1993, it has grown to be the largest food and wine festival in the Southern Hemisphere. It attracts over 300,000 lovers of food and wine to participate in a busy program of over 250 events including alfresco dinners in city laneways, lunches held in surprising settings, culinary master classes, star appearances and plenty of opportunities to sample the best of local food and wine. This year Federation Square hosted Foodie Films on the big screen and a sprawling lawn and deck chairs took over the square. The 'World's Longest Lunch' remains a popular event, held in special locations throughout Melbourne and regional Victoria.

www.melbournefoodandwine.com.au

2010 Formula 1™ Australian Grand Prix

Where:

Albert Park Lake, Melbourne

When:

March 2011 (TBC)

The fastest men on four wheels come to Melbourne's purpose-built 5.3 kilometre track in Albert Park in March to contest the Formula 1™ Australian Grand Prix. This four-day carnival of speed, glamour and excitement features the world's, best drivers, V8s, great music, food and festivities. Special events include celebrity challenges, performances by leading DJs and musicians, and after the main event, a big-name rock legend will take to the stage to wrap up four days of fabulous F1™.

www.grandprix.com.au

Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show

Where:

Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens

When:

30 March-3 April 2011

Every autumn the largest horticultural event in the Southern Hemisphere blooms on the edge of the Melbourne CBD. The Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show showcases Australia's best landscape and floral artisans as well as garden retail products, and great food and entertainment for all ages. Wander through 10 hectares of displays and see more than 300 exhibits, including a sustainable living garden, floral and design competition entries, and the Great Hall of Flowers.

www.melbflowershow.com.au

Melbourne International Comedy Festival

Where:

Various Venues

When:

30 March-24 April 2011

Melbourne's annual festival of mirth has the whole city laughing out loud at venues around the city each autumn. The Melbourne International Comedy Festival program boasts over 300 events, including stand-up, theatre, music, film and even visual art - more than enough to keep Melbourne chuckling and grinning for weeks. See performances by the international greats of comedy, local favourites, and hopeful newcomers who brave open mic competitions or launch shows of their own. The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is one of the three largest comedy festivals in the world, alongside Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Montreal's Just for Laughs Festival.

www.comedyfestival.com.au