The Melbourne Moomba Festival 2026 promises a whirlwind of Yarra-side mayhem from 5th-9th March, turning Birrarung Marr into a free-for-all playground packed with thrills, tumbles and enough family-fun to rival the Grand Prix and AFL frenzy buzzing nearby. The festival anticipates 1.5 million revellers diving into the action.
Monarchs Take The Crown
Crowned as this year’s Monarchs, Red Wiggle Caterina Mete and comedy maestro Sammy J are set to sprinkle pure Melbourne magic across the long weekend. Caterina, who’s been delighting kids since slipping into her red skivvy in 2021—and fresh from welcoming IVF twins Dolly and Gigi—brings infectious choreography and heartwarming vibes straight from her two-decade Wiggles journey.
Meanwhile, Sammy J, the self-proclaimed “Melbourne nerd” behind viral sketches, Netflix sitcoms and his 2025 Fringe smash Fiasco: A Burke & Wills Musical, plans to plummet into the Birdman Rally with 12 other hopefuls, all for charity after last year’s $61K splash.
“I’m thrilled to sprinkle Moomba magic on families along the Yarra—let’s make memories that stick like fairy floss,” Caterina beamed, while Sammy J quipped: “My careers counsellor scoffed at ‘Moomba Monarch’—now he’s the flop, and I’m crowning this nerd paradise.”
New Attraction At Moomba Festival
Kicking things up a notch, Moomba rolls out dodgeballs debut in a dedicated arena (grab mates and duck!). Thrill-chasers can tackle the beastly Lunarix ride, soaring 40m at a stomach-churning 3.5Gs, alongside three more new carnival contraptions in a lineup of 30+ rides.
Birrarung Marr’s Upper Terrace transforms into a pint-sized paradise with family-friendly mini-rides, a colossal Moomba Maze where the little ones can vanish (briefly) and Speakers Corner bursting with sand-sculpting, kids’ comedy, puppetry magic and face painting galore.
Over on Palms Lawn, a fresh entertainment hub pulses with K-Pop dance parties, Bollywood workshops, sea shanty sing-alongs, line dancing and acts like ARIA-nominated Whistle & Trick or the gloriously weird DISCOYOGA.
More than 35+ food trucks line up (with 30% exciting newcomers like OZ waffle, Pizza Forno, X’Press and Wonder Pies & Fries), serving festival classics—dagwood dogs, Twistto potatoes and fairy floss—amongst global staples like dumplings, tacos, healthy slushies and steaming paella.
Returning Highlights Of 2026
Iconic highlights roar back stronger: The Birdman Rally celebrates 50 years since its debut (with a slick new platform) on Sunday March 8 at 11am, as hopefuls flop for funds.
Additionally, Monday’s Parade (11am start after 10:30am formalities) revives its leafy Shrine-Birdwood-Linlithgow route, starring 1,800 performers from 35+ cultural groups, eight floats (four new like Planet Play, Gamer, Shapes & Scribbles and a Monarch special), plus kid-designed giant puppets.
Moomba Masters marks 65 years with elite water skiers and wakeboarders from 19 countries ripping slalom, tricks, jumps, night jumps and wakeboarding on the Yarra.
Riverslide Skate Park jams all weekend with Thursday inline/quad champs and Friday BMX Frenzy. Saturday-Sunday Australian Skate League qualifiers lead to finals with huge prize pools split evenly between men and women, and Monday’s Moomba Madness Scooter showdown caps it with junior/open divisions.
A Festival That Gives Back To Melbourne
True to form, Moomba remains carbon-neutral (since 2022), props up over 800+ jobs across arts, creative and services and injects more than $46 million into the economy.
Accessibility shines with relaxed 4pm-6pm hours Friday for those sensitive to lights and sounds, a Thursday Ride Pass for unlimited carnival laps, nightly 9pm fireworks exploding over the Yarra and more than 60 performers—from acrobats and roving silent discos to giant wandering animals.
Lord Mayor Nick Reece raves: “Moomba’s colour and fun will have the city buzzing bigger than ever—perfect monarchs in Sammy J and Caterina to lead the mischief.”
Meanwhile, Councillor Mark Scott chimes in: “Melbourne will once again come to life to celebrate the magic of Moomba this March—with a long weekend full of community, creativity and exciting experiences for people of all ages.”
Festival Map & Key Details
- When: 5th-9th March 2026, Thursday & Friday, 4pm to 10pm / Saturday-Monday, 10am to 10pm
- Where: Yarra River (Birrarung Marr) & Alexandria Gardens
See the full program here
