Remember when we collectively discovered just how obsessed men were with the Roman Empire? Consider this your warning: a major, Melbourne-exclusive exhibition is officially bringing Ancient Rome to Melbourne Museum in April 2026.
Rome: Empire, Power, People is a large-scale exhibition developed by Museums Victoria in collaboration with Italian partners, drawing on extraordinary loans from the Museo Nazionale Romano and the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Firenze. More than 150 original objects dating from the 1st to 3rd centuries CE will be on display from April 1 to October 25, 2026 – all shown in Australia for the very first time.
You can expect original statues, mosaics, frescoes, jewellery and everyday artefacts that trace Rome’s story from the fallout of Julius Caesar’s assassination through the rise of the Empire and its eventual collapse. The exhibition will foreground the lived experience of being an ancient Roman – think experiencing the theatrics of the gladiator arena, the hustle and bustle of marketplaces, domestic life inside Roman homes, and the luxury and politics that shaped the Eternal City.
Immersive scenography and multimedia elements will also be used to transport Melburnians through imperial splendour and ordinary life, revealing how Roman ideas of power, governance and spectacle continue to shape the modern world.
Beyond the gallery, the Roman theme is taking over the whole museum. Expect Italian-inspired food and drink offerings, exclusive...
April is here, autumn is in full swing, and if you think Melbourne is preparing to go into hibernation mode as the temps drop – you're about to be pleasantly surprised.
First up, a PSA: daylight saving ends on Sunday, April 5, with clocks going back one hour. Yep, we're gaining an hour of sleep (hooray!) – which is probably good news if you've got excited littlies who will want to wake up at the crack of dawn to try and spot the Easter Bunny.
Speaking of Easter, it's this weekend! To help you celebrate, we've rounded up the tastiest hot cross buns in Melbourne, plus all the restaurants open over the long weekend (so you don't have to do any cooking and cleaning).
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is in full swing for much of the month, and to help you decide between the more than 800 shows, we've collated a list of the top ten must-see shows – laughs are guaranteed, so you're welcome.
There are a bunch of markets on, including the delicious Hawker 88 Night Market, which will take place across five weeks and spotlight the sights, sounds and (most importantly) flavours of Asia. Expect street food eats, live entertainment, market stalls and more. Over at the Royal Exhibition Building is the Makers and Shakers Market, featuring more than 185 stalls selling homewares, food and drink, art, accessories, ethical fashion and beauty products.
Melbourne Museum's blockbuster exhibition Rome: Empire, Power, People is finally here, and it offers a portal into Ancient Rome via more than 150 artefacts that reveal the power, spectacle and everyday life of the Roman Empire. Over at Arts Centre Melbourne, Heathers the Musical – based on the 1989 cult movie starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater – is bringing its killer wit and soundtrack to the stage.
And if you've got a tank full of petrol that you're not afraid to use, hit the road to check out the Sorrento Writers Festival, the Macedon Ranges Autumn Festival, the Australian Sand Sculpting Championships or the Tesselaar KaBloom Festival.
When in doubt, you can always rely on our catch-all lists of Melbourne's best bars, restaurants, museums, parks and galleries – you're welcome!
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