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Aerial view of the affordable art fair at the royal exhibition building
Photograph: Supplied | Affordable Art Fair
Photograph: Supplied

Things to do in Melbourne in August

The temps may be low, but the vibes are high this month in Melbourne – here's your ultimate guide to all the fun

Leah Glynn
Written by Leah Glynn
Melbourne Editor
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PSA: There's only one month of winter left! We repeat, one month of winter left! To help you get through these final chilly weeks, we've rounded up a list of all the fun events, exhibitions, festivals and more happening across August. You're welcome!

It's the most wonderful time of the year for local cinephiles, because the Melbourne International Film Festival is back. Opening on August 6 with the Australian premiere of Wicker (starring Olivia Colman and Alexander Skarsgård), it will run in cinemas across the city until August 23. Check out our round-up of the ten best films to see here.

Also returning is Now or Never, Melbourne's winter festival of art, ideas, sound and technology. This year's bold program features everything from an overnight sleep concert at the Royal Exhibition Building to large-scale installations and hypnotic dance concerts.  

On the foodie front, the annual Hot Chocolate Festival is on now until the end of the month, with 31 limited-edition flavours available to try – including a delicious take on the viral dot cake trend.  

The city's stages are also booked and busy this month. Over at the Princess Theatre is A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical, while Her Majesty's Theatre will play host to Death of a Salesman starring Anthony LaPaglia. Pretty Woman is on at the Regent Theatre, Uncle Vanya at Arts Centre Melbourne and Steel Magnolias at the Athenaeum – phew!

Plus, art lovers are in for a treat when the Affordable Art Fair rolls into town – pieces start at just $100, so there's something for everyone.

But if you want to fully lean into the winter vibes, be sure to also try these hot chocolates and mulled wines, or get cosy at one of Melbourne's best pubs with fireplaces. 

Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox.

After more fun things to do in our city? Check out the best events happening in Melbourne this week.

Melbourne events in August

1. RMIT Open Day Makers Market

  • Things to do
  • Markets
  • Brunswick
RMIT Open Day Makers Market
RMIT Open Day Makers Market
Photograph: Supplied | RMIT
Calling all culture vultures: this Sunday, August 9, a new design-focused market is popping up at RMIT for one day only. Head down to the university’s Brunswick campus on Open Day and browse a curated collection of pieces from students and alumni.  From 10am to 3pm, you can browse market stalls showcasing original fashion, textiles, accessories and plenty of other goodies you won’t come across anywhere else. Plus, a line-up of food and drink will also be available if you need to take a break between perusing stalls. Be sure to leave yourself plenty of time to explore the stalls, meet the makers behind the pieces, and chat with the RMIT students and alumni taking part. Hear about their creative processes and journeys, and perhaps leave with a little inspiration of your own. While you’re there, you can also explore studios, tours and info sessions as part of the wider RMIT Open Day. So, whether you’re on the lookout for your next find or considering studying at RMIT, it's the perfect excuse to spend a Sunday soaking up local creativity or getting familiar with the campus.  RMIT Students and Alumni Makers Market is on Sunday, August 9, 2026 from 10am to 3pm at RMIT's Brunswick campus. To learn more and to register for RMIT Open Day, visit the RMIT website. 
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2. Hot Chocolate Festival

  • Things to do
  • Food and drink
  • Ashburton
  • Recommended
Hot Chocolate Festival
Hot Chocolate Festival
Photograph: Supplied
The Mornington Peninsula, Great Ocean Road and Yarra Valley Chocolateries are famous for their month-long festival dedicated to hot chocolate in all its irresistible forms, and this year’s no different. A total of 31 limited-edition flavours will be available to try throughout August, with decadent options loaded with everything from giant marshmallows to golden syrup dumplings. Some of the flavours already revealed include Tipsy Lemon, which features a white chocolate cup filled with Limoncello ganache, piped meringue and a side of fresh biscotti; and Dot Cake, a take on the viral foodie trend complete with a polka dot-covered vanilla and white chocolate disc atop a milk chocolate hot chocolate. Heaven!  “This year’s Hot Chocolate Festival flavours are next level – we’ve been inspired to create adults-only ways to whisk with boozy accompaniments and extra decadent ingredients for melting, as well as whimsical ways to delight the kids with cute additions to dunk and slurp,” said head chocolatier, Allan Grandjean.  Can’t decide on just one hot choccie? Then the tasting sessions have your name on it. At $28 per person, it’s an opportunity to sample eight different flavours. You'll also get the chance to flex your culinary chops by choosing from different ingredients to make three bespoke creations. Throughout the festival, there’ll be a range of exclusive products available for purchase online, including DIY kits to recreate the hot chocolate magic at home. And you can also...
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3. Fine Food Australia

  • Things to do
  • Expos and conventions
  • South Wharf
Fine Food Australia
Fine Food Australia
Photograph: Supplied/Fine Food Australia
Mark your calendars and gather your appetites as one of the largest and longest-running food industry trade shows lands in Melbourne. Fine Food Australia will take over the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from August 31 to September 3, with a stellar ensemble of the country's top chefs and leading food brands. Whether you drop by for one hour or come back every day, there’s no limit to how much you can pack in.  Start your sensory adventure in the Fine Food Australia exhibition hall, where more than 900 brands from across 30 countries will be sharing everything from natural and organic foods to specialty drinks, sustainable seafood and quality dairy. The stalls go beyond just food and drink, too, showcasing the most innovative catering equipment, retail technology, design services, packaging and more.  With so much information to soak up, we suggest filling your program with expert-run seminars and inspiring talks from industry leaders. You can discover an incredible line-up of chef-led demonstrations over at the Culinary Kitchen; gain insights from leading pastry chefs, chocolatiers and bakers at the Artisanal Bakehouse; learn how digital tools can streamline operations at the Talking Tech stage; hear the latest ideas shaping the industry at Talking Trends; and watch competitions like the Offical Great Aussie Pie contest.  This traders-only showcase is free to enter with pre-registration. A $45 fee applies to anyone who registers during the show days, online or...
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4. NGV Friday Nights

  • Things to do
  • Exhibitions
  • Southbank
NGV Friday Nights
NGV Friday Nights
Photograph: Supplied | Sean Fennessy
NGV Friday Nights is back to kick-start your weekend with a glamorous glow-up. Taking place every Friday night until October 2, the National Gallery of Victoria will become the ultimate after-dark destination with the arrival of Cartier, the 2026 Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition – yes, that's the same French luxury brand known for its designer jewellery and watches. Adding to the experience, ticket holders will also get access to Ragnar Kjartansson: Mercy, a new exhibition showcasing eight distinct video and film works from the Icelandic artist. NGV Friday Nights is your chance to wander through the gallery and enjoy a rotating line-up of live music, film screenings, food and, of course, Champagne. Each Friday brings a completely different vibe, with music residencies hosted by some of Melbourne’s biggest cultural names including the MSO, Melbourne International Jazz Festival and Wax Museum Records. Expect everything from jazz and soul to classical performances and DJs, with artists including Marley Del Prete, Yunior Terry Quartet, Raleigh Williams, Plexus and the MSO Cello Quartet taking the stage. Opera lovers are also in for a treat. On July 24 and September 11, Melbourne Opera will present Diamonds for the Diva – a special tribute to legendary Australian soprano Dame Nellie Melba GBE, who was one of Cartier’s early clients. Some of Melba’s Cartier jewels and memorabilia are also featured in the exhibition. Adding to the glamour are film screenings of classics...
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5. Funeral Flowers

  • Drama
  • St Kilda
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Funeral Flowers
Funeral Flowers
Photograph: Jess D Cruze
Decked in a blue Puma tracksuit top and floral-print baggy jeans, Angelique (Lucy Ansell) strikes a sure and steady figure in London playwright Emma Dennis-Edwards’ Scotsman Fringe First Award-winning play, Funeral Flowers. Exuding natural charm and abundant confidence, Angelique’s level-headed for a 17-year-old. There’s poetry to the way she talks and swagger to the way she walks. She’s focused on turning a course in floral arrangement into a small business career. But looks can be, if not deceiving, then certainly misleading in this Australian premiere of Dennis-Edwards’ dazzling show, produced by Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre and directed by the powerhouse Candy Bowers. What do you mean? As Angelique holds court on a playground slide, the bric-a-brac of childhood’s primary colours toys mingle with the empty bottles of booze littering the grass that clings to its stepped stone frame. Funeral Flowers’ subtle but striking signals, captured precisely by set and costume designer Bianca Pardo’s pointed work, remind us that 17 isn’t all that far from childhood. That we still need solid support from the so-called grown-ups in our lives at that age. Support that hasn’t always been there for Angelique, with an absentee father and a mother whose dreams of visiting Paris have been rudely interrupted by a spell inside.  Luckily, Angelique has a newfound rock in Sam. Her proudly queer foster carer supports her goals while insisting the younger woman plays by her house rules of mutual...
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6. Ballarat’s Best Pie

  • Things to do
  • Food and drink
  • Ballarat
Ballarat’s Best Pie
Ballarat’s Best Pie
Photograph: Supplied | Chris McConville
There’s something so comforting about a pie. What’s not to love about the flaky, flavour-packed pocket of joy, warmed to perfection and slathered in tomato sauce? It’s little wonder, then, that one of the region’s most beloved winter drawcards is all about the hearty pastry. Returning for its fourth year this August 1-31, Ballarat’s Best Pie will see 30 bakeries, cafes, restaurants and pubs battle it out for the coveted title.  Take your pick from savoury and sweet (or both), with twists on traditional favourites and brand-new creations competing for the crown. This year’s line-up might be the most inventive yet, featuring everything from a chicken parma pie to a cheeseburger pie and an ice-cream pie inspired by Wagon Wheels.  Judging will take place on August 1, with a panel awarding winners across six categories before the full line-up is made available to the public, who have the entire month of August to try them out and vote for the People’s Choice. Better still, anyone who casts a vote will go in the draw to win a getaway to Ballarat.  Whether you’re a pie connoisseur or simply looking for a foodie getaway, there’s plenty to do in Ballarat this winter as the city warms up with a jam-packed program worth rugging up for. From a short film festival to a jousting championship, it's easy to see why Ballarat was recently named Australia’s happiest place with so much fun to be had. You can view the map of participating venues and follow the pie trail here.
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7. The Affordable Art Fair

  • Art
  • Carlton
The Affordable Art Fair
The Affordable Art Fair
Photograph: Supplied
Art collectors and aesthetes of Melbourne, assemble. The time is almost upon us to gather up that loose change – because the Affordable Art Fair (AAF) is back for another year.  Set to be bigger, bolder and brighter than ever, the world’s largest art fair will take over the Royal Exhibition Building with thousands of original works and installations from some of Australia's best boutique galleries (as well as an impressive line-up of works from around the world). Running from August 27-30, the Affordable Art Fair has become a cornerstone event in the city’s eclectic arts and culture scene since its debut five years ago. It will allow collectors and art lovers to engage directly with featured artists and gallery owners, as well as browse a selection of landscapes, sculptures and abstract paintings – all priced from $100-$10,000 (and some even available to take home that day!).  Along with works from more than 70 Australian and international galleries, we can also expect interactive installations and programming that will appeal to everyone from creative kids to fashion designers in-the-making. Tickets are available via the Affordable Art Fair website here. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Melbourne newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox. Can't make the fair? Here's where to buy art around Melbourne. 
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8. Uncle Vanya

  • Drama
  • Southbank
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Uncle Vanya
Uncle Vanya
Photograph: Pia Johnson
In a year when Melbourne Theatre Company has committed to programming mostly new works by local writers, this production of Uncle Vanya by Russian playwright Anton Chekhov bucks that trend a little bit – with a new adaptation by world-renowned Aussie writer, Joanna Murray-Smith. Murray-Smith has dedicated much of her career to analysing the frailties and blind spots of middle-class Australians and is perfectly suited to tackle this particular Chekhov adaptation – freely adding in the occasional f-word and making concrete the comedy in a play that focuses a lot on boredom. A play about boredom? Is it a bore? Chekhov’s work has lived in a complicated space between comedy and tragedy and each production has to give his text a tweak to figure out where it will land each time. Murray-Smith turns up the comedy, without losing sight of the inherent drama, while also giving female characters like Yelena and Sonya more clear interior lives and agency than the original suggests. This version of the play is masterful, crafting a new vision, without compromising what Chekhov was exploring. Uncle Vanya focuses on the owners and managers of a Russian estate, dissecting the deep-seated feeling they have wasted their lives. Enter Yelena, married to esteemed professor Alexandre Serebryakov, whose first wife used to own the home. Vanya, brother to Alexandre’s first wife and manager of the estate, and local doctor, Astrov, fall for Yelena and try to seduce her in an attempt to add some...
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9. The Vinyl Factory: Reverb

  • Things to do
  • Exhibitions
  • Melbourne
The Vinyl Factory: Reverb
The Vinyl Factory: Reverb
Photograph: Supplied | ACMI
Even though temperatures are dropping, Melbourne’s culture calendar is just heating up. This winter, two of the city’s biggest cultural institutions, ACMI and Rising, are teaming up for a multi-sensory exhibition, celebrating music’s cultural impact and paying tribute to vinyl. From May 22 to August 31, The Vinyl Factory: Reverb will bring together some of the leading figures working in video and sound to deep dive into different eras of music, through large-scale moving image works, immersive sound installations and interactive vinyl experiences.  Spanning the early days of techno to contemporary digital art, you’ll see work from celebrated artists including Canadian media artist Stan Douglas; British-Nigerian filmmaker and visual artist Jenn Nkiru; American fashion visionary Virgil Abloh; US filmmaker and music video director Kahlil Joseph; London-based photographer and video artist Gabriel Moses; South African artist William Kentridge; Turner Prize-winning British artist Jeremy Deller; British poet and sound artist Julianknxx; Argentinian performance artist Cecilia Bengolea and German electronic music and sound art innovator Carsten Nicolai.  Highlights include hands-on access to Technics turntables with remixable loops; a fantasy rap battle; and access to The Vinyl Factory’s archive, which features 100 vinyl pressings with works by Marina Abramović and Thom York.  There’s also the chance to pick a record and take it into the Listening Room, which by day functions as a...
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10. Melbourne International Film Festival

  • Film
  • Film festivals
  • Melbourne
  • Recommended
Melbourne International Film Festival
Melbourne International Film Festival
Photograph: Supplied/Common State
It’s lights, camera, action for the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) this August, when a red carpet will be rolled out for a massive eighteen days of cinematic revelry. The festival celebrates Australian and international filmmaking with a huge program of flicks. With so much to see, we've cut through the curtain to unveil everything you need to know.   What is the Melbourne International Film Festival? Now in its 74th year, MIFF is one of the oldest film festivals in the world, alongside Cannes and Berlin. The annual festival is held over three weeks each year throughout Melbourne and surrounds. Founded in 1952, the festival presents a curated global program of screen experiences and the world's largest showcase of Australian filmmaking.  When is the Melbourne International Film Festival? Running between August 6 and 23, MIFF will include 18 days of bold in-cinema programming with star-studded events, world premiere screenings, headline features and filmmaker talks.  What sort of things can we expect from the program? At this stage, we've only just scored a first look at the MIFF line-up for 2026, but let's just say it's already getting a standing ovation (Cannes style, of course) from us. Here are some of the highlights so far. MIFF will host the world premiere of The Airport Chaplain, a drama series set in Melbourne Airport, starring Hugo Weaving and Shabana Azeez, and inspired by a real encounter with Tullamarine's own chaplain. Straight outta Berlinale...
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