DESTINATION GPS
All Eyes on Melbourne
All Eyes on Melbourne
Any time is a good time to visit Australia, but for 2026, our compasses are pointing to Melbourne, Victoria.
In 2026, Australia’s cultural capital promises an enticing year-round events calendar, from the NFL’s first regular-season game on Australian soil to blockbuster art exhibitions, bold culinary festivals, and nature escapes just beyond the city’s edge. Each season in the state of Victoria offers a different adventure, and Melbourne is the idyllic gateway to pair urban thrills with nature and serenity.
The Buzz
DECEMBER – FEBRUARY
This is summertime in Melbourne (remember, it’s the Southern Hemisphere) and everything is abuzz. The Australian Open—the first Grand Slam of the year—is a must, as is the National Gallery of Victoria, which unveils its much-anticipated, fashion-meets-art exhibition, Westwood | Kawakubo, through April 2026. Rooftop bars host locals celebrating long days and warm nights. These days call for VIP access to tennis courts, after-hours gallery tours, and exclusive restaurant tables at culinary standouts. Beyond the city, escape to the Mornington Peninsula for hot springs, wineries, and golf, or take in the surf and scenery along the Great Ocean Road. Phillip Island’s famous penguin parade is a reminder that in Victoria, wildlife is always nearby.
The Bold
MARCH – MAY
Autumn ushers in Melbourne’s most intoxicating mix: bold colors and grand events. “Mad or Marvelous March” lives up to its name with the Australian Grand Prix, the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival, and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. As evenings grow cooler, Broadway openings and the legendary Rip Curl Pro take center stage. Beyond the city, the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges showcase their own drama: vineyards ablaze with autumn hues, brilliant art at the new TarraWarra precinct, and steam-train journeys through Puffing Billy forests.
The Cool-cation
JUNE – AUGUST
As Northern Hemisphere travelers seek to escape the heat, Victoria offers the perfect “cool-cation.” Melbourne is home to cozy cafés, winter night markets, and spectacular festivals. Sports fanatics can witness the Aussie Rules Football match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, a national obsession best understood in real time. Stargazers can chase the Aurora Australis (Southern Lights) along the Great Ocean Road, Wilsons Promontory, or Phillip Island. Venture further to Victoria’s High Country for skiing, brewery trails, and cliff-top picnics—even better if you arrive by heli-transfer! If you’re looking for less crowds and more savings, winter is the perfect time to visit.
The Refreshing Escape
SEPTEMBER – NOVEMBER
Come spring, longer days, wildflower blooms, and a packed calendar of championship events set the pace: the AFL Grand Final, the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships along the Great Ocean Road, the Phillip Island MotoGP, and the NFL showdown in Melbourne, with the LA Rams hosting the first Australian regular-season game. What’s more, discover the Great Southern Touring Route, where surf beaches, rainforests, cliff-top picnics, and charming country towns reveal Victoria’s diversity in just a few hours’ drive. In the Grampians, waterfalls roar, wildlife roams, and the Royal Mail Hotel plates epic seasonal menus. For a wellness reset, Daylesford beckons with mineral-rich pools, spa treatments, and The Lake House restaurant.
DESTINATION GPS
All Eyes on Melbourne
All Eyes on Melbourne
Any time is a good time to visit Australia, but for 2026, our compasses are pointing to Melbourne, Victoria.
In 2026, Australia’s cultural capital promises an enticing year-round events calendar, from the NFL’s first regular-season game on Australian soil to blockbuster art exhibitions, bold culinary festivals, and nature escapes just beyond the city’s edge. Each season in the state of Victoria offers a different adventure, and Melbourne is the idyllic gateway to pair urban thrills with nature and serenity.
The Buzz
DECEMBER – FEBRUARY
This is summertime in Melbourne (remember, it’s the Southern Hemisphere) and everything is abuzz. The Australian Open—the first Grand Slam of the year—is a must, as is the National Gallery of Victoria, which unveils its much-anticipated, fashion-meets-art exhibition, Westwood | Kawakubo, through April 2026. Rooftop bars host locals celebrating long days and warm nights. These days call for VIP access to tennis courts, after-hours gallery tours, and exclusive restaurant tables at culinary standouts. Beyond the city, escape to the Mornington Peninsula for hot springs, wineries, and golf, or take in the surf and scenery along the Great Ocean Road. Phillip Island’s famous penguin parade is a reminder that in Victoria, wildlife is always nearby.
The Bold
MARCH – MAY
Autumn ushers in Melbourne’s most intoxicating mix: bold colors and grand events. “Mad or Marvelous March” lives up to its name with the Australian Grand Prix, the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival, and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. As evenings grow cooler, Broadway openings and the legendary Rip Curl Pro take center stage. Beyond the city, the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges showcase their own drama: vineyards ablaze with autumn hues, brilliant art at the new TarraWarra precinct, and steam-train journeys through Puffing Billy forests.
The Cool-cation
JUNE – AUGUST
As Northern Hemisphere travelers seek to escape the heat, Victoria offers the perfect “cool-cation.” Melbourne is home to cozy cafés, winter night markets, and spectacular festivals. Sports fanatics can witness the Aussie Rules Football match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, a national obsession best understood in real time. Stargazers can chase the Aurora Australis (Southern Lights) along the Great Ocean Road, Wilsons Promontory, or Phillip Island. Venture further to Victoria’s High Country for skiing, brewery trails, and cliff-top picnics—even better if you arrive by heli-transfer! If you’re looking for less crowds and more savings, winter is the perfect time to visit.
The Refreshing Escape
SEPTEMBER – NOVEMBER
Come spring, longer days, wildflower blooms, and a packed calendar of championship events set the pace: the AFL Grand Final, the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships along the Great Ocean Road, the Phillip Island MotoGP, and the NFL showdown in Melbourne, with the LA Rams hosting the first Australian regular-season game. What’s more, discover the Great Southern Touring Route, where surf beaches, rainforests, cliff-top picnics, and charming country towns reveal Victoria’s diversity in just a few hours’ drive. In the Grampians, waterfalls roar, wildlife roams, and the Royal Mail Hotel plates epic seasonal menus. For a wellness reset, Daylesford beckons with mineral-rich pools, spa treatments, and The Lake House restaurant.
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