Celebrate Australia Day 2026 in Melbourne: Events & Ideas
This year, Australia Day falls on Monday 26 January 2026, gifting us a long-weekend to explore and celebrate. If you’re looking for Australia Day ideas in Melbourne, you’ll find the city buzzing with community, culture, and sunshine.
Planning your Aus Day Melbourne itinerary? You’ll find no shortage of ways to celebrate, connect, and explore across the long weekend. With summer at its peak, it’s the perfect time to embrace the city’s outdoor spirit and join locals as they make the most of the season.
Here’s how you can celebrate Australia Day 2026 in Melbourne.
From the flag-raising ceremony to spectacular fireworks and cultural showcases, Melbourne offers a diverse program that reflects the heart and unity of Australia’s people. Here’s what to expect.
The mood is respectful and anticipatory. From there, the Australia Day parade in Melbourne meanders through the CBD, offering a moment of communal celebration with banners, marching bands, and community groups.
Because it takes place early, it leaves the rest of the day wide open for your own plans.
Credit: Visit Victoria
Music amplifies the day, and Melbourne delivers.
At Federation Square in the heart of the city you’ll find open-air stages, roving performers, and family-friendly activities. Meanwhile the Sidney Myer Music Bowl often hosts larger scale performances where you can spread a blanket, bring friends and feel the music under the sky.
These concerts are less about formality and more about a shared, celebratory moment. Think sunset melodies, good company and the city as your backdrop. It’s an excellent bridge between the official daytime events and the evening fireworks spectacle.
Often launched in or around the Docklands precinct, the displays light up the city skyline and reflect in the river, creating a standout moment of the Australia Day experience.
If you’re positioning yourself to watch, arrive a little early to stake out space, ideally on the riverbank or one of the pedestrian bridges. Then, simply let the city’s rhythms carry you.
Credit: Madeline Kate via Visit Victoria
Australia Day is all about coming together to celebrate the nation’s diversity, community spirit, and shared love of the outdoors. From backyard barbecues and park picnics to vibrant multicultural festivals and Indigenous-led events, there’s countless ways to enjoy the day.
Here is where Melbourne’s public parks, riverside edges, and beaches along Port Phillip Bay are ideal. Pack your cooler, a shade umbrella if you have it, some music, and enjoy a slower-paced afternoon.
The beauty here is in the spontaneity: after the early official events, you’ve got the whole afternoon to lounge, chat, laugh, snack and soak up time together. And with the long weekend, you can let your pace drift a little longer.
Whether you're wandering through a food-market event, sampling global cuisine or stepping into an exhibition that invites dialogue about identity and belonging, there’s no better time to explore some of the most popular tourist attractions in Melbourne.
Credit: Visit Victoria
It’s important to recognise that for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, 26 January holds a complex meaning. In Melbourne, there are Indigenous-led gatherings, dawn ceremonies and cultural reflections that sit alongside the more festive moments.
Engaging with these events adds richness and awareness to the day: acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land (the Kulin Nation), understanding histories, stories and footprints that shape this place.
If you choose to attend, arrive with openness and respect.
Credit: Visit Victoria
If you’d rather stay within the city’s pulse, Melbourne’s CBD delivers delicious options. Start your Sunday or Monday morning with brunch in a laneway café, wander through hidden arcades or book a table with a riverside or rooftop outlook.
As evening approaches, find a rooftop bar to toast the long weekend or secure a dinner in a lively precinct for a relaxed yet special city-evening feel.
Local tip: Book ahead, as long weekends bring higher demand.
Here’s a quick checklist of what can help make your day more comfortable:
The good news is, Transport Victoria is providing free public transport across Victoria until February 1 2026 to celebrate the opening of the Metro Tunnel. That means you won’t need to invest in a Myki when you celebrate Australia Day in Melbourne.
With that in mind, it’s still worth planning ahead to make your travel as smooth as possible. Here’s some travel tips to help you get around with ease during Australia Day activities in Melbourne:
Here’s what to keep in mind:
Credit: Visit Victoria
If you’re looking for a stay that places you at the centre of it all, consider booking at Dorsett Melbourne. With a prime location in the heart of the CBD, you’ll be within walking distance of morning ceremonies, riverside views, and the full array of Australia Day activities in Melbourne.
Secure your room now for the long weekend, and turn your Australia Day plans into a city-escape to remember. Book today.
Planning your Aus Day Melbourne itinerary? You’ll find no shortage of ways to celebrate, connect, and explore across the long weekend. With summer at its peak, it’s the perfect time to embrace the city’s outdoor spirit and join locals as they make the most of the season.
Here’s how you can celebrate Australia Day 2026 in Melbourne.
Official Australia Day Celebrations in Melbourne
Every Australia Day, the city comes alive with official events, live entertainment, and family-friendly activities that honour the nation’s history and achievements while recognising the rich contributions of Indigenous Australians.From the flag-raising ceremony to spectacular fireworks and cultural showcases, Melbourne offers a diverse program that reflects the heart and unity of Australia’s people. Here’s what to expect.
Flag Raising Ceremony & Parade Highlights
The official gateway into the day often begins with a ceremony at Government House, Melbourne, marking the raising of the national flag, a gathering of dignitaries, service personnel and the public alike.The mood is respectful and anticipatory. From there, the Australia Day parade in Melbourne meanders through the CBD, offering a moment of communal celebration with banners, marching bands, and community groups.
Because it takes place early, it leaves the rest of the day wide open for your own plans.
Free Concerts at Federation Square and Sidney Myer Music Bowl
Credit: Visit Victoria
Music amplifies the day, and Melbourne delivers.
At Federation Square in the heart of the city you’ll find open-air stages, roving performers, and family-friendly activities. Meanwhile the Sidney Myer Music Bowl often hosts larger scale performances where you can spread a blanket, bring friends and feel the music under the sky.
These concerts are less about formality and more about a shared, celebratory moment. Think sunset melodies, good company and the city as your backdrop. It’s an excellent bridge between the official daytime events and the evening fireworks spectacle.
Evening Fireworks Along the Yarra River
As daylight gives way, Melbourne shifts gears. The banks of the Yarra River become a lively vantage point for one of the most anticipated moments of the day: fireworks.Often launched in or around the Docklands precinct, the displays light up the city skyline and reflect in the river, creating a standout moment of the Australia Day experience.
If you’re positioning yourself to watch, arrive a little early to stake out space, ideally on the riverbank or one of the pedestrian bridges. Then, simply let the city’s rhythms carry you.
Activities and Things to Do on Australia Day
Credit: Madeline Kate via Visit Victoria
Australia Day is all about coming together to celebrate the nation’s diversity, community spirit, and shared love of the outdoors. From backyard barbecues and park picnics to vibrant multicultural festivals and Indigenous-led events, there’s countless ways to enjoy the day.
BBQs, Picnics, and Beach Days
One of the joys of Australia Day is its informal pulse: throwing open the hatch, gathering mates or family at a park, a local beach or riverside lawn, and letting the easy summer day unfold.Here is where Melbourne’s public parks, riverside edges, and beaches along Port Phillip Bay are ideal. Pack your cooler, a shade umbrella if you have it, some music, and enjoy a slower-paced afternoon.
The beauty here is in the spontaneity: after the early official events, you’ve got the whole afternoon to lounge, chat, laugh, snack and soak up time together. And with the long weekend, you can let your pace drift a little longer.
Multicultural Food Festivals and Cultural Exhibitions
Melbourne wears its multicultural identity with pride, and Australia Day offers a layered occasion to taste that. Think street-food stalls, community festivals, cultural exhibitions presenting music, art and flavours from across the world.Whether you're wandering through a food-market event, sampling global cuisine or stepping into an exhibition that invites dialogue about identity and belonging, there’s no better time to explore some of the most popular tourist attractions in Melbourne.
Indigenous-Led Events and Inclusive Celebrations
Credit: Visit Victoria
It’s important to recognise that for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, 26 January holds a complex meaning. In Melbourne, there are Indigenous-led gatherings, dawn ceremonies and cultural reflections that sit alongside the more festive moments.
Engaging with these events adds richness and awareness to the day: acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land (the Kulin Nation), understanding histories, stories and footprints that shape this place.
If you choose to attend, arrive with openness and respect.
Long Weekend Ideas for Australia Day
Long weekends are made for slowing down, switching off, and discovering something new. Whether it’s a hidden beach, a quiet winery, or a scenic stretch of road, this Australia Day weekend offers a chance to recharge and reconnect however you choose to spend it.Day Trips and Outdoor Adventures
Because the holiday falls on Monday, you’ve got the perfect runway for a long-weekend escape. Leave the city for a breath of fresh air and try these destinations in regional Victoria:- A scenic drive to the Mornington Peninsula: beach, vineyards and relaxed coastal breeze.
- A nature-filled outing in the hills around the Yarra Valley: bush walks, lookout points, vineyards for sunset.
- For the more adventurous, starting early and making a day of the Great Ocean Road can be rewarding (and still leave Monday open for city celebrations).
Where to Eat, Drink, and Relax in the CBD
Credit: Visit Victoria
If you’d rather stay within the city’s pulse, Melbourne’s CBD delivers delicious options. Start your Sunday or Monday morning with brunch in a laneway café, wander through hidden arcades or book a table with a riverside or rooftop outlook.
As evening approaches, find a rooftop bar to toast the long weekend or secure a dinner in a lively precinct for a relaxed yet special city-evening feel.
Local tip: Book ahead, as long weekends bring higher demand.
Travel and Weather Tips for Australia Day Celebrations in Melbourne
Late January in Melbourne typically brings warm, sun-lit days. Expect daytime temperatures often 25 °C to 35 °C. It’s perfect for outdoors, but it also means planning wisely is key: sun protection, shade, water and taking breaks matter.Here’s a quick checklist of what can help make your day more comfortable:
- Hat, sunglasses and strong sunscreen.
- Refillable water bottle (hydration is key).
- Lightweight clothing, though bring a light layer for the evening just in case.
- If your plans include beach or riverside fun: swimwear, towel and maybe a shade umbrella
Public Transport and Holiday Schedules
Because Australia Day is a public holiday, transport in Melbourne often moves to a holiday timetable, meaning trams, trains and buses may operate on a different schedule. Road closures or event precinct changes can also affect accessibility around major event zones.The good news is, Transport Victoria is providing free public transport across Victoria until February 1 2026 to celebrate the opening of the Metro Tunnel. That means you won’t need to invest in a Myki when you celebrate Australia Day in Melbourne.
With that in mind, it’s still worth planning ahead to make your travel as smooth as possible. Here’s some travel tips to help you get around with ease during Australia Day activities in Melbourne:
- Check relevant operator apps or websites closer to the date for updated schedules.
- Stay in, or move to, a location that minimises heavy driving and parking hassles (CBD hotels are ideal).
- Leave extra time if you plan to attend a morning ceremony or evening show: crowds happen.
- Consider using walking/tram combos where possible. Many event precincts are close and access is often easier on foot.
Surcharges and Advance Bookings
Long weekends bring high demand, and that usually means elevated prices and fuller venues. Solutions are simple: book early and be flexible.Here’s what to keep in mind:
- Hotel rooms fill quickly; if you’re staying in-city, lock in your room early.
- Restaurants and BBQ gathering venues may impose public-holiday surcharges. Check menus ahead.
- Free events may still require RSVPs or registration for crowd-management. Look out for links and register early.
- If driving, expect heavier traffic. Alternatively, pivot to public transport if feasible.
Where to Stay in Melbourne for Australia Day
Credit: Visit Victoria
If you’re looking for a stay that places you at the centre of it all, consider booking at Dorsett Melbourne. With a prime location in the heart of the CBD, you’ll be within walking distance of morning ceremonies, riverside views, and the full array of Australia Day activities in Melbourne.
Secure your room now for the long weekend, and turn your Australia Day plans into a city-escape to remember. Book today.
