The best things to do in Melbourne this weekend (September 12–13)

Raider Nation arrives in Melbourne with a citywide celebration, as the Las Vegas Raiders bring live art, music and NFL culture to the city. Cherry Bar will become the official Black Hole Bar from Thursday 10th to Saturday 12th September, featuring live rock’n’roll, giveaways and drink specials.

Meanwhile, Mark on Melbourne, presented by Union Heights and MTN, will host a live art battle featuring emerging street artists and writers on Saturday 12 September, and so much more. If you’re a diehard NFL fan or just curious about the Raiders takeover, there’s plenty happening around the city.

Funlab is opening Playback96 at Chadstone on Thursday, 27th August — an immersive 90s‑themed social games venue featuring nine interactive nostalgic challenges, retro set design, themed cocktails and party and corporate packages.

If you’ve ever wanted to wander through a dreamscape made of shimmering bubbles and glowing colours, here’s your moment: Bubble Planet is drifting into Melbourne. This immersive, multi-sensory experience invites you to explore 10 playful, interactive environments designed to awaken your senses and bring out your inner child. Find it at the Fever Exhibition and Experience Centre in Brunswick. Get your tickets here.

Baker Bleu is getting into the spirit of things with a menu inspired by the NFL. The highlight is a s’mores cookie, dotted with macadamia nuts and filled with house-made raspberry jam, marshmallow and chocolate, all in the shape of an NFL football.

There’s also some mini pizzas, available in pepperoni & hot honey or cheese & jalapeno, served with house-made ranch dipping sauce. The cookie is available in all stores, will the pizzetta is only available in Caulfield and Cremorne.

Itera — the all-day gluten-free bakery and café from Kudo Bakery founders Felix Goodwin and Elena Nguyen — opens on Saturday 12 September 2026 at 4A Ballarat Street, Brunswick. The 26-seat venue serves a seasonal menu, baked goods using two sourdough starters (including sakadane), signature canelés and Single O coffee.

Kicking off this weekend, from September 4 to October 4 you can get a delicious taste of Spain without ever leaving Australia — the perfect cure for anyone who missed out on a Euro Summer! There are so many restaurants, venues, shops and bars taking part, and the hardest part is knowing where to begin. Check out our guide to Eat Spain, Drink Spain 2026 now and start planning your next stop!

Tucked into a Melbourne laneway, this tiny 32-seat theatre serves up close-up magic, mind-reading and cabaret from FISM world champion Sam Angelico and Raconteur Productions. Main performances run most Saturdays and Sundays, with an extra Saturday matinee.

Melbourne’s Oh My Gelato! just won the inaugural Australian Gelato Cup at Fine Food Australia with ‘The Melbourne Marvel’ — a pistachio, espresso variegato and dark chocolate-coated honeycomb creation. Winners May Quah and Apple Robles will represent Australia at the Sherbeth International Artisan Gelato Festival in Italy this November.

Afloat — Melbourne’s beloved floating bar and restaurant on the Yarra River — reopens to the public on Thursday 27 August as ‘Yamas Greece’, featuring Greek‑inspired décor, seasonal cocktails, a selection of native Greek wines and a new menu of Mediterranean dishes.

The annual Tesselaar Tulip Festival will return to the Dandenong Ranges for its 71st year, showcasing over a million spring bulbs — including more than half a million tulips — alongside themed weekends, food, market stalls and family activities. The festival runs across September and October with special weekends and children’s programming.

Head to Flair, a crimson-lit cabaret cocktail bar open at 125 Smith Street, Fitzroy, on Friday 21 August 2026. Expect live burlesque, circus and cabaret alongside a $15 menu of drinks and shareable dishes. The venue features a custom-built stage, upstairs balcony, hidden beer garden and late-night DJs from 9pm.

Candlelight is bringing classical favourites to the heart of Melbourne this weekend. Candlelight: Tribute to Pink Floyd takes place at The Athenaeum Theatre, while Candlelight: 90s Unplugged is on at 8:30pm.

If you’re after something a little different (and delicious) this weekend, the Melbourne Foodie Passport launches on 5th September, sending fans to six Melbourne venues for 49ers-themed food, drinks and fan experiences in the lead-up to the San Francisco 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams game on 11 September. The city-wide program features themed menu items, special appearances and a fan hub at Federation Square.

Take an intimate look at the human body in the thought-provoking exhibition, BODY WORLDS: The Anatomy of Happiness. Witness real human specimens, frozen in time, and learn how emotions can change the body from the inside out. Find it at The District Docklands. Get your tickets here.

Japanese curry chain CoCo Ichibanya is making its Australian debut in Melbourne, taking a space in the new Journal Market Way development at 100 Franklin St. The student accommodation project is due for completion in September 2026, and the restaurant is expected to open before the end of 2026.

If you’re keen to add a new sweet stop to your weekend itinerary, a MasterChef pastry prodigy is bringing everyday, story-driven pastries to Melbourne’s east. MasterChef alum Jess “Lemon” Liemantara has opened her first solo bakery, Jess Lemon, in Nunawading, offering Asian-inspired pastries, macarons, crookies and chiffon cakes in a small, home-like venue.

Read more about Jess Lemon.

Based on the beloved rom-com starring Julia Roberts, Pretty Woman: The Musical is playing in Melbourne. Go back to Hollywood in the ’80s, when Vivian met Edward and her life changed forever. Find it at the Regent Theatre. Learn more here.

Need a spot to melt the week away? A new Scandinavian-inspired Navia Bathhouse opens in Prahran on August 15, offering Finnish saunas, mineral hot pools, steam rooms, multiple cold plunges, infrared sauna sessions and red light therapy. The venue also houses Fika Café and will be open daily from 06:00 to 22:00.

Check out Arca Arcade: Round One — a playable art exhibition by Māori designer Preston McNeil — on at Carlisle Street Arts Space in St Kilda from 6 August to 31 October 2026. The show turns handcrafted arcade cabinets into interactive artworks, with free entry and a public program of workshops and a tournament.

Wanna try out something new this weekend dining? Try Côte Basque—the new Basque-inspired restaurant from Andrew McConnell and Jo McGann—opens at 25 Crossley St on Friday, August 7. The venue offers wood-fired grill cooking, European wines and classic cocktails, running daily from noon till late.

Swap the city for some fresh country air, this annual festival in Kyneton, Macedon Ranges runs from 4–13 September 2026, featuring daffodil displays, open gardens, markets, art exhibitions, parades and family-friendly activities.

Nearly 400 sparkling jewels, tiaras, necklaces, brooches and more are now sparkling at NGV. Coming exclusively to Melbourne from London’s Victoria & Albert Museum, the Cartier exhibition will feature glittering pieces worn by Elizabeth Taylor, Rihanna, Princess Margaret, Dame Nellie Melba and more. It will also showcase plenty of stunning jewels and objects that have never been seen in Australia before. Find it at NGV International from now until October 4.

The popular NGV Friday Nights is coming back this winter, in celebration of the Cartier exhibition. Explore the exhibition after hours, then stick around for live music, food and drinks. The festivities will take place every Friday night from June 12 until October 2.

In The Vinyl Factory: Reverb, you’ll explore the influence of vinyl culture and music on art, fashion, film and social movements. Originally produced in London, this exhibition showcases The Vinyl Factory Collection and takes a deep dive into different eras of music. Expect a deep listening room, interactive moments, large-scale installations and more. The exhibition is now open at ACMI and will run until October 4.

Step back in time at the newly reopened Clover Cottage Estate, now serving fine dining and casual meals amid restored period gardens.

A historic three-hectare garden estate in Berwick has reopened after nearly ten years, offering a restored restaurant and brasserie with daily service and bookings available. The homestead is being restored for accommodation, with plans to open in 2027.

The William Ricketts Sanctuary has reopened—explore 92 ceramic sculptures tucked into a peaceful Dandenong glade. If you’re after an easy nature-and-culture outing this weekend, William Ricketts Sanctuary on Mount Dandenong is back open after storm repairs, offering visitors a ferny outdoor gallery of 92 ceramic sculptures. Entry is free and the site is open daily from 10:00 to 16:00 (last entry 15:30).

Pop inside State Library Victoria and see Australia’s largest rare book exhibition, World of the Book. Back for its 21st year, this exhibition at State Library Victoria features over 400 rare and historically significant items. This exhibition is also the Library’s largest ever tribute to women writers, with works from Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, the Brontë sisters and more. It’s free to attend.

Journey 450 years ago to the legendary Inca citadel. Developed with leading archaeological experts, this virtual reality experience, you’ll explore Machu Picchu and see the agricultural terraces, the Temple of the Sun and more, surrounded by the majestic Andes. Find it at 206 Bourke St. Get your tickets here. 

This virtual reality adventure was created in collaboration with the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Stand on the edge of black holes, see a supernova, explore an exoplanet and much more. Smithsonian Starstruck is now showing at 206 Bourke Street in Melbourne.

See original statues, mosaics, frescos and more at the Melbourne-exclusive exhibition, Rome: Empire, Power, People. Learn all about the spectacle, rise, rule and legacy of this powerful civilisation at Melbourne Museum. While you’re there, don’t forget to check out the extended program, like a Brunetti Classico pop-up or art classes.

In this immersive, space-filled game, you and your Crew must complete tasks around a Moon base while the Impostors blend in, pretending to work while secretly eliminating the Crew. This is your chance to take part in real-life immersive gameplay that offers a thrilling experience of deception, strategy and teamwork. Get your tickets here.

Artists, scientists and collaborators from around the world will explore how we adapt to a world burdened by ecological collapse, technological accelartion and social upheaval in the EMERGENCE[Y] exhibition at Melbourne Science Gallery. It’s on display from June 6 to December 5. See more here.

Visit Geelong Gallery for their blockbuster exhibition Discovering the Impressionists: Paul Durand-Ruel, art dealer among the artists. See over 70 paintings from two generations of Impressionist artists, including Monet, Renoir, Berthe Morisot and Camille Pissarro. Many of them have come from private collections in France, and have never been seen before in Australia. Stretching across five galleries, this exhibition will look at the legacy of Paul Durand-Ruel, the first art dealer who supported the Impressionist artists. This exhibition will run from now until October 11.

Take a day trip to the Heathcote region and wander through the fields at Shiraz Republic and Cornella Brewery. They’ve created a Cornella Canola Walk, a special track and viewing platform set within their 100 acre fields. The walk will open to the public on Friday, July 24, and run until Sunday, September 27.

Snow season is here! Discover the amazing alpine regions of Victoria, hit the slopes, build a snowman and more. Find out where to see snow in Victoria here.