Now that we’ve well and truly rolled into winter, events throughout July in Melbourne (and surrounds!) will make even the coldest of days seem a little warmer.

From a slate of gigs coming off the back of Splendour in the Grass to Manchester United’s highly anticipated friendly matches with Melbourne Victory and Crystal Palace FC, the city has a lot to offer us this month.

Firelight Festival

Docklands | July 1 - July 3 | Free
Finding it hard to think of a reason to visit Docklands? Think no more, the annual Firelight Festival will run over three nights and feature food stalls, music and more than 40 fire pits and drums, 35 flame jets, two fire sculptures, and an eight-metre-high fiery phoenix centrepiece. The free family-friendly spectacle celebrates the longest night of the year, the solstice, and will be held across three sites at NewQuay Promenade, Victoria Harbour Promenade, and Harbour Esplanade.

Replay Festival

Comedy Club | Until July 22 | Tickets from $18
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival may be over, but the laughs aren’t. Catch some of the biggest names in Australian comedy, alongside the best breakthrough comedians at the Comedy Republic throughout the month. The July program features Rhys Nicholson, Greg Larsen, Michelle Brasier, Lloyd Langford, Lizzy Hoo, Alex Ward, Frankie McNair, Geraldine Quinn, Luke Heggie and more.

Melbourne Documentary Film Festival 2022

Cinema Nova | July 21 - July 31 | Tickets from $13
In the theme of Punks, Rebels, Mavericks and Renegades, the seventh edition of MDFF is back for another year of great films across feature lengths and shorts, featuring local Australian and international documentaries. There’s also an online festival component that runs from July 1 - July 31.

Fireside Yarra Valley

Yarra Valley | July 9 - July 24 | Tickets here
Returning for its fourth year, the Fireside Yarra Valley festival is back for a 16-day festival of events that celebrates the region’s finest food and wine.

World Food Championships

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre | July 8 - July 10 | Tickets from $23
The world’s largest food sports event is coming to town for three days with over 200 cooks across the country battling it out for a $300,000 cash prize and attendees able to taste an array of cuisine and beverages.

Winter Night Market

Queen Victoria Market | Wednesdays until August 31 | Free
Wednesday evenings in Melbourne mean one thing: The Winter Night Market. A staple in the Melbourne winter calendar, it features over 35 street food traders, a bustle of artisanal stalls and entertainers, and even a silent disco.

Disney on Ice: Into the Magic

Rod Laver Arena | June 30 - July 4 | Tickets from $30
Combining classic Disney stories with world-class ice skating was a stroke of genius when it first debuted in the ’80s, now almost three decades later, Disney on Ice is bigger than ever with new characters like Moana and Elsa mesmerising audiences.

Electric Fields and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra

Hamer Hall | July 7 | Tickets from $50
Award-winning electronic music duo Electric Fields – Zaachariaha Fielding (vocals) and Michael Ross (keyboard/producer) – are coming together with MSO for NAIDOC Week in a debut concert. They will perform song cycles of the duo’s work, arranged for orchestra by the MSO’s 2022 Cybec Young Composer in Residence, Alex Turley.

Sheku Kanneh-Mason: Mid-Season Gala

Hamer Hall | July 30 | Tickets from $70
After performing at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018, award-winning cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason’s career is rising to dizzying heights. He was the first cellist in history to reach the top 10 of the UK album charts and has made debuts with the Seattle Symphony and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France. Kanneh-Mason joins the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for Shostakovich’s Second Cello Concerto.

The Elvis Big Band: 45th Anniversary Spectacular

Thornbury Theatre | July 17 | Tickets from $57
If there ever was a time to see an Elvis tribute show, now is probably it. The Elvis Big Band will be performing music from The King’s career, spanning his early Vegas years to his movie-era rockers and boppers, and epic ballads.

Come Rain or Come Shine

Southbank Theatre | June 20 - July 23 | Tickets from $53
Adapted from Nobel laureate Kazuo Ishiguro’s wildly comic short story, Come Rain or Come Shine is a musical about music, memory and lifelong friendship. Directed by Simon Phillips and starring Gillian Cosgriff (Vivid White), Angus Grant (Cock) and Chris Ryan (Shakespeare in Love).

Cinderella

Regent Theatre | May 20 - July 23 | Tickets from $99
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s take on the classic fairytale comes to life at the Regent Theatre, in this Tony Award-winning musical from the creators of The Sound of Music. Starring Shubshri Kandiah.

Hamilton

Her Majesty’s Theatre | Until October 2 | Tickets from $70
The ubiquitous Tony-, Grammy- and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical tells the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton. The sung-and-rapped musical pulls its sound from a blend of hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway.

Six the Musical

Comedy Theatre | Until August 21 | Tickets from $69
Six is a high octane musical that reimagines the “her-story” of the six wives of Henry VIII through a 21st century lens of modern gender politics and pop culture. Winner of two Tony Awards, including best original score, and with over 450 million Spotify streams, it runs until August 21.

9 to 5 the Musical

Arts Centre | July 10 - September 11 | Tickets from $69
Inspired by the hit film, 9 to 5 the Musical features an all-star Australian cast including Marina Prior as smart as sassy career woman Violet Newstead, Casey Donovan as newly separated new recruit Judy Bernly, Erin Clare as bright and beautiful country girl Doralee Rhodes, Eddie Perfect as controlling boss Franklin Hart Jr and Caroline O’Connor as busy-body Roz Keith.

Picasso Century

NGV | June 10 - October 9 | Tickets from $8
Tracking the career of Pablo Picasso, The Picasso Century features over 80 works from the artist himself, as well as over 100 works of the artists, poets and intellectuals he interacted with during the 20th century. Created exclusively for the NGV by the Centre Pompidou and Musee National Picasso-Paris, this exhibition is a must for history and art lovers alike.

Tyama: A Deeper Sense of Knowing

Melbourne Museum | July 22 - Jan 29 | Tickets from $12
Tyama is an interactive museum experience that immerses visitors in 360-degree responsive projections, breathtaking effects, and exquisite soundscapes.

NAIDOC Week Celebrations

Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia | July 7 - July 13 | Free
In the “most extensive” NAIDOC Week ever programmed by the NGV, the gallery will showcase a diverse week-long festival to commemorate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with local and interstate Indigenous artists, performers, actors and directors.

Gorillaz with special guests

John Cain Arena | July 24 | Tickets from $79.90
In their first Australian tour dates in over a decade, the Gorillaz will be doing one sideshow after their headline at Splendour in Grass.

The Strokes

John Cain Arena | July 26 | Tickets from $79.90
NY rock icons The Strokes will play songs from their 20-year, six-album catalogue. The Strokes’ live set will also feature tracks from their 2021 Grammy Award-winning album The New Abnormal.

Louis Tomlinson

Margaret Court Arena | July 25 - July 26 | Tickets from $89.90
Former One Direction band member Louis Tomlinson will be in Melbourne for his 2022 world tour and will feature songs from his debut solo album Walls.

JEFF The Brotherhood

Northcote Social Club and Hotel Westwood | July 21 and July 23 | Tickets from $35.90
Brothers Jake and Jamin Orrall from Nashville, Tennessee, are no strangers to Australia. The garage rock band is a favourite of Australian festival and gig-goers. They will play the Northcote Social Club on July 21 and Hotel Westwood in Footscray on July 23 – click on the desired date above for tickets.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Princess Theatre | Until October 16 | Tickets from $75
The new version of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child condenses into a single sitting an enthralling theatre epic originally staged in two parts. It follows a brand-new generation of witches and wizards, 19 years after Harry, Ron, and Hermione saved the wizarding world.

Looking for Alibrandi

Malthouse Theatre | July 9 - July 31 | Tickets from $15
Melina Marchetta’s beloved book about 1990s Mediterranean culture in Australia has been adapted for stage for the first time ever, and will show at the Malthouse Theatre.

The Comedy of Errors

Arts Centre Melbourne | July 13 - July 23 | Tickets from $58
Directed by longtime Bell Shakespeare collaborator Janine Watson, Comedy of Errors tells the story of two sets of long-lost twins who miraculously find themselves, 33 years later, in the same city on the same day.

Melbourne Rare Book Fair

Wilson Hall, University of Melbourne | July 7 - July 9 | Free
The Melbourne Rare Book Fair is held annually in July by the Australian & New Zealand Association of Antiquarian Booksellers. It showcases rare books, manuscripts, ephemera, prints and more from the best rare book and antiquarian dealers across Australia, New Zealand and overseas.

Adventure Park’s Winter Glow

Wallington | Until 10 July | Tickets from $29.50
Every year winter Adventure Park transforms into a glowing winter wonderland of snow, lights, fire and ice. Families and friends can build a snowman or roast marshmallows over an open fire, or hop on the new Air Balloons and Tea Cups rides. Get your gloves and gum boots ready!

Manchester United

MCG | July 15 and July 19 | Tickets from $59
Global powerhouse Manchester United will return to Melbourne to play matches against A-League side Melbourne Victory on July 15 and Premier League team Crystal Palace on July 19 at the MCG. Star player Cristiano Ronaldo will be a highlight.

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Harlem Globetrotters

John Cain Arena | July 9 | Tickets from $29
American exhibition basketball team the Harlem Globetrotters is back in Australia with a dazzling show that combines athleticism, theatre, and pure adrenaline.

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