Melbourne

Australian F1 Grand Prix

12 — 15 March 2026

Albert Park Lake, near St Kilda.

Motorsport fans have a real treat with the Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne's Albert Park Circuit. Around early-March the event anchors a full weekend of racing and entertainment…

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Australian F1 Grand Prix

12 — 15 March 2026

Albert Park Lake, near St Kilda.

Motorsport fans have a real treat with the Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne's Albert Park Circuit. Around early-March the event anchors a full weekend of racing and entertainment at the picturesque lakeside circuit just south of the city's centre. The track is a temporary street-style layout with a relatively smooth surface and faster profile than many street circuits, but it still presents a challenge to drivers and offers limited overtaking opportunities. While it has frequently served as the first or one of the first races on the Formula One calendar, this status can vary from season to season. The atmosphere is vibrant, and the event enjoys strong support from Australian fans and an increasing number of international visitors.

Website www.formula1.com

Melbourne Cup

03 November 2026

Flemington Racecourse

Melbourne's premier turf event isn't just any horse-race. The Melbourne Cup, first run in 1861, is billed as 'the race that stops a nation' and 'Australia's most famous Tuesday'. H…

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Melbourne Cup

03 November 2026

Flemington Racecourse

Melbourne's premier turf event isn't just any horse-race. The Melbourne Cup, first run in 1861, is billed as 'the race that stops a nation' and 'Australia's most famous Tuesday'. Held at Flemington Racecourse on the first Tuesday in November, it anchors a multi-day Spring Racing Carnival. While not formally confirmed as the largest race in the Southern Hemisphere, the Cup is one of the richest and most-watched turf handicaps worldwide. The Carnival is also an occasion to dress up and enjoy gourmet hospitality, with fashion-forward crowds and a chance to mingle amid Melbourne's social scene.

Website www.melbournecup.com.au

Australian Open Tennis Championships

12 January — 01 February 2026

Melbourne Park

What began in 1905 as the Australasian Championships has evolved into today's Australian Open. It was played across a range of Australian cities (Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisb…

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Australian Open Tennis Championships

12 January — 01 February 2026

Melbourne Park

What began in 1905 as the Australasian Championships has evolved into today's Australian Open. It was played across a range of Australian cities (Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth) and even in New Zealand, before permanently settling in Melbourne in the 1970s and relocating to Melbourne Park in 1988. The tournament is one of tennis's four Grand Slam events (alongside the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open), giving it a core place in the sport's calendar. Originally contested on grass, it now uses acrylic hard-court surfaces. The event has grown enormously and attracts international competitors and spectators, becoming one of the largest tennis tournaments in the world.

Website www.australianopen.com

Melbourne Writers Festival

07 – 10 May 2026

The Melbourne Writers Festival is one of the city's leading literary gatherings, now approaching its fourth decade. Each year it brings together distinguished writers, thinkers, ar…

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Melbourne Writers Festival

07 – 10 May 2026

The Melbourne Writers Festival is one of the city's leading literary gatherings, now approaching its fourth decade. Each year it brings together distinguished writers, thinkers, artists and performers from around the globe. The diverse programme spans novels, journalism, comics, song-writing, politics and more, with sessions offering something for every lover of good writing. Past international guests have included Isabel Allende, Margaret Atwood, Bill Bryson, A. S. Byatt, J. M. Coetzee, Paulo Coelho, Seamus Heaney and Ian Rankin. Full details and bookings are available on the festival's official website.

Website www.mwf.com.au