Melbourne is hailed by many as Australia's cultural capital. Melburnians and visitors alike take to its many festivals in their hundreds of thousands to absorb sights, sounds and ideas inspired by artists from Australia and around the world.

At a global level, the city is Australasia's official host to many of the world's great exhibitions, and many exclusive to Melbourne collaborations such as the upcoming The House of Dior: Seventy Years of Haute Couture and Van Gogh and the Seasons. In the laneways and streets of the city, Melbourne is also known as one of the world's leading street art cities with stunning works creating a free open air galleries.

FAST FACTS

Melbourne offers one of the highest densities of commercial art galleries in the world. The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) Ian Potter Centre houses the nation's largest permanent collection of Australian art. Museum Victoria is the southern hemisphere's largest museum. Melbourne is appointed a UNESCO City of Literature and home to Australia's publishing industry. Melbourne hosts more than 3,000 live music performances every week.

Melbourne's International Comedy Festival first launched in 1987 at a media conference hosted by Barry Humphries (as Sir Les Patterson) and Peter Cook. In the world's top three comedy festivals (with Edinburgh and Montreal), Melbourne's comedy festival hosts around 6,500 performances by over 2,000 artists.

Melbourne's International Jazz Festival typically sees more than 40,000 people attend over 100 public events, with over 500 international and Australian artists performing. The Melbourne Festival features around 1000 artists from more than 20 countries, including world premieres and Australian premieres. More than 30 venues across the city host festival events. Melbourne Fringe Festival see more than 6,000 artists take part, presenting over 400 shows, exhibitions and events. On average, over 300,000 attend festival events across the city.

ANNUAL FESTIVAL CALENDAR

Melbourne International Jazz Festival (2 - 11 June 2017)

The Melbourne International Jazz Festival celebrates the constantly-evolving style of jazz music at concert halls, art venues, jazz clubs and through the streets of Melbourne. From golden-age icons to genre-bending innovators, the festival's program appeals to young and old, enthusiasts and the uninitiated with headliners, intimate club gigs, late-night jams, close encounters, workshops, family events, and free concerts.

Melbourne International Film Festival (3 - 20 August 2017)

The 17-day Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) showcases the best contemporary cinema from Australia and the world as well as retrospectives, tributes and discussion programs. One of the oldest film festivals in the world, MIFF has become an iconic Melbourne winter event.

Melbourne Writers Festival (25 August – 3 September 2017)

Melbourne Writers' Festival is an annual, two-week celebration for writers, readers and thinkers, from Nobel prize winners to mega star bloggers. The festival celebrates the talent and ideas of hundreds of writers from Australia and around the world, through a vibrant program of storytelling, conversation and discussion, intellectual debate, educational programs, live performance, music and art events.

Melbourne Fringe Festival (14 September – 1 October 2017)

The Melbourne Fringe Festival is Victoria's largest celebration of independent art, featuring local, national and international artists activating a variety of Melbourne spaces with works across every conceivable art form.

Thousands of artists participate in the Festival to present some of the most exciting new work from Australia and beyond. With hundreds of shows, events and exhibitions across theatre, comedy, dance, visual art, circus, music and more, the Melbourne Fringe Festival has something for everyone.

Melbourne Festival (5 - 22 October 2017)

Melbourne Festival is one of the world's leading arts festivals and Australia's premier celebration of art and culture from around the world. The annual event brings an unparalleled feast of dance, theatre, music, visual arts, multimedia and outdoor events from renowned and upcoming Australian and International companies and artists to Melbourne.

White Night Melbourne (February 2018)

White Night Melbourne, Australia's most celebrated cultural event, is an annual all night, free cultural event inspired by the international Nuit Blanche movement. The event offers a mix of free and ticketed entertainment including visual art, spectacular illuminations, music, theatre, special dining experiences, film, design and performances. Melbourne's creative industries rule the night, with artists taking over city streets, major cultural institutions, public spaces, gardens, landmark buildings and laneways in a celebration of the city for twelve hours.

Melbourne International Comedy Festival (March – April 2018)

Every March in Melbourne the streets come alive with rip-roaring laughter as a diverse line up of international and Australian comedy, cabaret, street performances, theatre and visual arts performers hit centre state for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. With a hilarious line-up of world class acts, visitors are invited to see for themselves why Melbourne has become one of the three biggest comedy festivals in the world (with Edinburgh and Montreal).

NOW AND COMING UP IN MELBOURNE

Van Gogh and the Seasons (28 April – 9 July 2017)

As host of Melbourne Winter Masterpieces, the NGV will showcase Van Gogh and the Seasons. Art lovers are in for a treat with this collection of 40 paintings and 25 drawings on loan from art galleries around the world – exclusively showcased in Melbourne.

Wallace & Gromit and Friends: The magic of Aardman (29 June – 29 October 2017)

Animation enthusiasts will adore this exciting new Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) exhibition celebrating 40 years of one of the world's most successful animation studios, the exhibition will showcase the journey of Aardman's characters – from concept drawings and storyboards, to the handmade puppets and sets.

The House of Dior: Seventy Years of Haute Couture (27 August – 7 November 2017)

In a major coup for the city, The House of Dior: Seventy Years of Haute Couture is anticipated to attract fashion fans from near and far. A collaboration between the House of Dior and the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), the Melbourne-exclusive exhibition will celebrate 70 years of one of the world's most influential fashion labels and includes a sumptuous display of more than 140 garments designed by Christian Dior Couture between 1947 and 2017. The House of Dior explores the story of the fashion house through a series of themes, featuring works by the seven designers who have shaped Dior's renowned silhouette.

Nite Art (late July, 2016)

Making the most of the winter evenings, Nite Art is a one-night art extravaganza that brings together the work of more than 60 artists across more than 30 sites in the city, Southbank and University of Melbourne. Kicking off at 6pm and running into the early hours, Nite Art features photography, installations, painting, new media, performances and art walks in galleries, museums and hidden spaces usually closed to the public.

Open House Melbourne (30-31 July 2016)

Open House Melbourne throws open the doors on dozens more unique and significant spaces over the weekend. From elaborate historic buildings to modern sustainable design, the event lets visitors discover the city's best architecture through site visits, talks and tours, many of them free.

THEATRE AND PERFORMING ARTS

On the stage, The Book of Mormon needs no introduction and is wowing audiences with its Australian premiere running through to 30 July. Aladdin (from 21 April 2017) also has the critics in raptures with its 37 performers, 337 costumes and 30 tonnes of 'flying' scenery at Her Majesty's Theatre. My Fair Lady (from 12 May 2017) will bring a little propriety to town in a production directed by musical theatre icon Dame Julie Andrews, who was cast in the original Broadway production. Later in the year, The Bodyguard (August) the musical made famous by Whitney Houston, will also hit the stage.

The Australian Ballet will present the Australian premiere of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (12-30 September 2017).

The latest Melbourne performing arts listings can be found here.

WALKING TOURS

Walking tour companies specialise in uncovering Melbourne's beating cultural heart. Walk to Art and Art Aficionado tours explore the city's contemporary art galleries, artist-run spaces and public art.

Melbourne Street Art Tours are run by street artists themselves, providing technical know-how on the mind-boggling array of spray painting, stencil art and paste-ups for which Melbourne is internationally recognised.