Melbourne, VIC · Summer
Midsumma Festival
Mid-January to early February (3 weeks); Carnival on a mid-January Sunday
Midsumma is Melbourne's queer arts and cultural festival, running three weeks from mid-January. It opens with Carnival, a free day of stages, stalls and community in the Alexandra Gardens, and carries more than 100 events across theatre, visual art, parties, sport and ideas, closing out with Victoria's Pride March in St Kilda.
Around 285,000 people take part. Midsumma's mix is its strength: headline shows at major venues sit beside grassroots work in suburban spaces, and much of the program is free or cheap. It lands in the heart of Melbourne's summer, so outdoor events come with long, warm evenings.
- Cultural Festival
- Arts & Literature
- When
- Mid-January to early February (3 weeks); Carnival on a mid-January Sunday
- How often
- Every year
- Venue
- Alexandra Gardens and venues citywide
- Crowd
- Approx. 285,000
- Entry
- Free + ticketed
- Setting
- Mixed
Dates shown follow the event's typical pattern; exact dates change each year, so confirm on the official site before booking travel.
Getting there by bus
Tell us where you're starting from and we'll find coach options to Melbourne.
Fares and timetables are confirmed on the operator's site before you book.
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AutumnMelbourne International Comedy FestivalLate March to mid-April (approx. 3.5 weeks)
AutumnMoomba FestivalLabour Day long weekend, early-to-mid March (4 days)
WinterRISINGApprox. 12 days in early-to-mid June