Melbourne’s cool and quirky winter festival of art, ideas, sound and technology is back from August 19–30. Across 12 days, more than 250 local and international artists will take over iconic venues and public spaces as part of Now or Never.
This year’s theme, ‘A Whole New World’, explores how AI, immersive technology and digital storytelling are reshaping the way we see, hear and experience the world. Translation: expect plenty of things that make you stop and stare.
The Royal Exhibition Building is at the heart of the action, with the particularly dreamy Somnia inviting audiences to spend the night beneath its famous dome. The overnight sleep concert features ambient pioneer William Basinski and Norwegian saxophonist Bendik Giske, so you can literally lie down and let the music wash over you.
There’s a major celebration of American composer Philip Glass, with Orchestra Victoria performing In the Upper Room and concert pianist Maki Namekawa bringing his Piano Etudes 1–10 to life. You can also enjoy a breathwork and soundbath experience with First Nations artists David and Daniel Wilfred.
Down by the Yarra River there will be free, large-scale light installations that transform the waterfront after dark. Look out for Taiwanese artist AKA Chang’s monumental laser work Multimmersion Upside Down V2 and Emily Parsons-Lord’s The Falls Before Us, which makes the Evan Walker Bridge appear to dissolve into mist.
Meanwhile, Melbourne Town Hall gets a spectacular makeover, with dance, lasers, sound, video and kinetic sculpture taking over its grand interiors and forecourt. Come nightfall, the venue takes things up a notch with late-night music, featuring the likes of A.Chal, Octave One, Sleep D, JNett and My Disco.
There’s plenty for curious minds, too, from tech critic Cory Doctorow’s Enshittification to A Sexual History of the Internet by historian Mindy Seu. Returning favourites round out the program, including collaborations with ACMI, the XR partnership with MIFF, Library Up Late at State Library Victoria and Queer PowerPoint at Fed Square. Coming? We'll see you there.
For more information and tickets, go to the Now or Never website here.
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