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1,347 upcoming events

Free events in Melbourne in October 2026

101 events from Wednesday, October 21 to Saturday, October 31, 2026. Busiest venues: The Drunken Poet, The Retreat Hotel, Wesley Anne.

Wednesday, October 21, 2026

Visual arts
until Feb 28

Made to Move: Australian Jewellery 1960–2020: From the NGV Collection

The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia · Melbourne CBD
- Visual arts
Free
Visual arts
until Nov 15

The National Gallery of Victoria Travelling Scholarship

NGV International · Southbank
- Visual arts
Free
Visual arts
until Nov 8

Art of the Pacific: From the NGV Collection

NGV International · Southbank
- Visual arts
Free
Visual arts
until Nov 8

Gian Manik: Fantasy Chamber

Gian Manik

Linden New Art · St Kilda
- Visual arts
Free
Visual arts
until Nov 8

Natascha Stellmach: THE LETTING GO (2012-2026)

Natascha Stellmach

Linden New Art · St Kilda
- Visual arts
Free
Visual arts
until Nov 8

Sarah CrowEST: one thing becomes another again

Sarah CrowEST

Linden New Art · St Kilda
- Visual arts
Free
Visual arts
until Feb 7

Plant Life: The Nature of Design

The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia · Melbourne CBD
- Visual arts
Free
Visual arts
until Oct 31

Lean In

Craft Victoria · Melbourne CBD
- Visual arts
Free
Visual arts
until Nov 22

NEW26

Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA) · Southbank
- Visual arts
Free
Visual arts
until Nov 8

Heidi Holmes: Kwik-Kwik-Kwik

Heidi Holmes

Linden New Art · St Kilda
- Visual arts
Free
Visual arts
until Nov 15

Leo: Swan Bay Dreaming

Linden New Art · St Kilda
- Visual arts
Free
Literature
6 PM

The Last Best Place on the Internet by Richard Cooke

Richard Cooke

Readings Carlton · Carlton
- Literature
Free
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Other
6:30 PM

VIDEO BINGO

Faz

Kindred Bandroom · Footscray
Free Tickets
Music
7 PM

DOLE NIGHT w/ Infuse + The Styes

The Styes

The Tote Hotel · Collingwood
- Music
- Punk
- Rock
Free Tickets
Music
7 PM

Plan B Big Band

P3B - Plan B Big Band

The Retreat Hotel · Brunswick
- Music
- Jazz
- Swing
Free Tickets
Music
7 PM

THE TOFF MAMBO

Toff Mambo

The Toff in Town · Melbourne CBD
- Music
Free Tickets
Cinema
7:30 PM

Evil Dead II (Film Screening)

Northcote Social Club · Northcote
- Cinema
Free Tickets
Other
7:30 PM

TRIVIA

Wesley Anne · Northcote
Free
Music
8 PM

BOGGLE | OCTOBER RESIDENCY

Boggle

The Evelyn Hotel · Fitzroy
- Music
- Indie
- Jazz
Free Tickets
Music
8 PM

Elly McK & The Unbelievers

The Drunken Poet · West Melbourne
- Music
Free

Thursday, October 22, 2026

Music
1 PM

THE HORNETS // THUR ARVO GIG SERIES

The Hornets

Kindred Bandroom · Footscray
- Music
Free Tickets
Literature
6 PM

Emily Millane and George Megalogenis in conversation

Emily Millane · George Megalogenis

Readings Carlton · Carlton
- Literature
Free
Literature
6 PM

Ever Cursed by Olivia O'Flynn

Olivia O'Flynn

Readings Emporium · Melbourne CBD
- Literature
Free
Music
6 PM

Tripside Life

Wesley Anne · Northcote
- Music
Free
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Literature
6:30 PM

A celebration of the 20/40 Prize

Readings State Library · Melbourne CBD
- Literature
Free
Music
7 PM

**FREE ENTRY** Ben Carr Quartet (Front Bar)

Ben Carr

Bar Open · Fitzroy
- Music
- Jazz
Free Tickets
Music
8 PM

Caelo

The Drunken Poet · West Melbourne
- Music
Free
Music
8:30 PM

JIB / SASKIA ROBIN / ARLON FARIA

Brunswick Artists' Bar · Brunswick
- Music
Free Tickets
Music
9 PM

Thomas Skalicky

The Drunken Poet · West Melbourne
- Music
Free

Friday, October 23, 2026

Music
4 PM

Free Wine Tasting with Passage Wines

The Evelyn Hotel · Fitzroy
- Music
Free Tickets
Music
6 PM

Adam Dewalt

Wesley Anne · Northcote
- Music
Free
Literature
6 PM

Austral 2026 launch

Readings Hawthorn · Hawthorn
- Literature
Free
Music
6 PM

Cantrips (DJ set) in The Retreat Beer Garden

Cantrips

The Retreat Hotel · Brunswick
- Music
- Nights out
- Funk
- Soul
Free Tickets
Music
6 PM

Traditional Irish Music Session

The Drunken Poet · West Melbourne
- Music
Free
Music
6:30 PM

**FREE ENTRY** The Four Scoops (Front Bar)

The Four Scoops

Bar Open · Fitzroy
- Music
- Jazz
- Rock
- Rockabilly
Free Tickets
Literature
6:30 PM

Lochard by B. T. O'Brien

B. T. O'Brien

Readings State Library · Melbourne CBD
- Literature
Free
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Music
8:30 PM

Gwyn Ashton

The Drunken Poet · West Melbourne
- Music
Free
Music
9 PM

A Tribute to DOLLY PARTON

The Retreat Hotel · Brunswick
- Music
- Country
Free Tickets
Music
9 PM

**FREE ENTRY** Smoking Vinyl (Front Bar)

Smoking Vinyl

Bar Open · Fitzroy
- Music
- Afrobeat
- Funk
- Jazz
Free Tickets
Music
11 PM

pHinioUS

The Retreat Hotel · Brunswick
- Music
- Nights out
Free Tickets

Saturday, October 24, 2026

Music
1 PM

THORNBURY CRAWL | FREE ENTRY

Shotkickers · Thornbury
- Music
Free Tickets
Music
2 PM

THE UNOS

The Retreat Hotel · Brunswick
- Music
Free Tickets
Music
3 PM

Pat McKernan

The Drunken Poet · West Melbourne
- Music
Free
Music
4:30 PM

ROZ GIRVAN

Brunswick Artists' Bar · Brunswick
- Music
Free Tickets
Music
6 PM

Chris Pappas

Wesley Anne · Northcote
- Music
Free
Music
8 PM

THE SIGNAL PATH: ELAKTRONIC 2

Brunswick Artists' Bar · Brunswick
- Music
Free Tickets
Music
9 PM

Kid James

The Drunken Poet · West Melbourne
- Music
Free
Music
11 PM

Tandem Reserve

The Retreat Hotel · Brunswick
- Music
- Nights out
- Disco
- House
Free Tickets

Sunday, October 25, 2026

Literature
10:30 AM

Storytime at Kids

Readings Kids · Carlton
- Literature
Free
Literature
11 AM

All the Ways I See

Readings Hawthorn · Hawthorn
- Literature
Free
Music
3 PM

BLOWN CONES - playing two sets in the front bar for Michael Hager's birthday

The Blown Cones

The Tote Hotel · Collingwood
- Music
- Punk
- Rock
Free Tickets
Music
4 PM

Tall Dan & The True Stories

The Drunken Poet · West Melbourne
- Music
Free
Music
4:30 PM

MEDITERRANEAN COLLECTIVE PRESENTS: THE EVOLUTION OF BOUZOUKI

Brunswick Artists' Bar · Brunswick
- Music
Free Tickets
Music
5 PM

Crispi

The Retreat Hotel · Brunswick
- Music
- Nights out
- Rock
Free Tickets
Music
6 PM

Rosario De Marco

Wesley Anne · Northcote
- Music
Free
Music
6:30 PM

**FREE ENTRY** The Jude Quintet (Front Bar)

The Jude Quintet

Bar Open · Fitzroy
- Music
- Jazz
Free Tickets
Music
6:30 PM

Old Time Jam Session w/ Double Dole String Band

Double Dole String Band

The Retreat Hotel · Brunswick
- Music
- Bluegrass
- Country
- Old-time
Free Tickets
Music
6:30 PM

Stephen Kennedy

The Drunken Poet · West Melbourne
- Music
Free

Monday, October 26, 2026

Literature
6 PM

Near Death in Venice by Jonathan Biggins

Jonathan Biggins

Readings Carlton · Carlton
- Literature
Free
Music
6 PM

Sunflower Jam

Wesley Anne · Northcote
- Music
Free

Everything on in Melbourne