Melbourne

From graffiti-covered laneways to the artistic hub of Fed Square, culture is alive and well in Melbourne. The city is home to a thriving community of creatives and artists, which – as you’d imagine – makes Melbourne a pretty fun place to be. Take it from the locals: Melburnians praised their city for its vibrancy, variety and sense of community, shouting out annual events like Moomba as well as cultural institutions like the NGV, Australia’s most-visited and longest-running art museum. 

‘To say we’re spoiled for choice when it comes to what Melbourne’s dynamic arts scene has to offer is an understatement – this is Australia’s undisputed culture capital we’re talking about, after all,’ says Leah Glynn, editor of Time Out Melbourne. ‘Sure, there are blockbuster exhibitions and musical premieres galore, but I’m constantly surprised by the innovative and exciting concepts that pop up. Now or Never, a new festival of ideas and technology, and Rising, a city-wide celebration of music and art, are just two events that blew me away in 2023. And knowing Melbourne, there’s more where that came from.’