Colour and creativity will burst into bloom when the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show returns to the lush surrounds of the Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens in Melbourne from March 25-29.
Just like this year’s theme 'Kaleidoscope', visitors will enter a world of shifting patterns and perspectives, and are invited to look at gardens from fresh angles of design and sustainability. From intimate urban retreats to immersive landscapes, the five-day event showcases how gardens continue to evolve as places of connection and creative expression.
A major drawcard is the Show Garden Competition, where acclaimed designers transform ideas into living landscapes. Visitors can wander through these breathtaking installations before casting their vote for the coveted People’s Choice Award. This year's finalists include landscaping icon Jamie Durie with a visionary garden focused on sustainability, Matt York’s immersive native garden, Emma Doman’s resort-style retreat and Jason Hodges’ purpose-built wedding garden among others.
Inside the Royal Exhibition Building, the breathtaking Great Hall of Flowers will once again bloom beneath the grand dome, transforming the historic space into a floral gallery. New for 2026, Growers Avenue will celebrate Australian-grown flowers while The Petal Project will hero a single flower through striking installations.
The new Wildplace Children’s Garden offers an imaginative playground inspired by Indigenous perspectives...
Social calendar looking a bit empty? Don't worry, we've got you. There's always something happening in Melbourne, and this week is no different – so let's dive right in!
If you thought things were starting to calm down in Melbourne, brace yourself, because Mad March still has a few tricks up its sleeve! Starting with the Melbourne International Comedy Festival – which is celebrating its 40th birthday this year and is the third largest comedy festival in the world. From stand-up and sketch to improv and musical comedy, this year’s line-up is stacked with hilarious heavyweights.
The largest horticultural event in the Southern Hemisphere is also returning, with the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show kicking off on March 25. It's set to provide plenty of inspo for keen green thumbs. Speaking of floral fiestas, the Tesselaar KaBloom Festival has officially begun, and it's your chance to see more than one million flowers in full bloom.
Over at Bunjil Place, The Offbeat Sari has just opened. This beautiful exhibition is making its Australian debut, and it explores how the 5,000-year-old sari is being reimagined today through everything from street style to couture. Another excellent exhibition to just open is Mother at the NGV. It's free to enter, and brings together more than 200 historical and contemporary works to examine how the experience of being, becoming and relating to motherhood has been imagined across cultures, generations and media.
When in doubt though, you can always rely on our catch-all lists of Melbourne's best bars, restaurants, museums, parks and galleries, or consult our bucket list of the best things to do in Melbourne before you die.
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