What's On 4–10 June 2026
It's a King's Birthday long weekend and RISING's final curtain call, which means Melbourne is doing the most right now — festivals closing, AFL blockbusters stacking up, and the Winter Night Market settling in for its 13-week run. St Kilda Film Festival opens Thursday with a red-carpet gala at the Palais. Use Monday's public holiday to actually recover.
Plan this week with plansorted →Week at a glance
St Kilda Film Festival opening weekend, all three venues
Australia's best short films across three iconic St Kilda venues — red carpet Thursday, St Kilda Rocks Friday, packed programs Saturday and Sunday.
St Kilda Film Festival 2026 — Opening Week
Nearly 200 Australian short films across the Palais, Astor, and St Kilda Town Hall, with Hugo Weaving, Sophie Wilde and Michael Cusack's live-action debut in the mix.
Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs
Friday night footy at the MCG — a resurgent Bulldogs side tests Hawthorn under lights in what shapes as a finals-implications clash midway through the season.
Jacket — New Jazz Bar, Thornbury
Just opened: a neighbourhood jazz and funk bar on High Street designed around a playlist, with wood-panelled walls, Victorian producers on the wine list and live music nightly.
RISING Free Public Program — Final Days
Free projections on Hamer Hall, Art Trams, Flower Power yam daisies in City Square, and the ahm Oracle at Arts Centre forecourt — all free until RISING closes Monday 8 June.
Lead Pick
St Kilda Film Festival opening weekend, all three venues
Australia's best short films across three iconic St Kilda venues — red carpet Thursday, St Kilda Rocks Friday, packed programs Saturday and Sunday.
The 2026 St Kilda Film Festival runs 4–14 June out of the Palais Theatre, Astor Theatre, and St Kilda Town Hall on Carlisle Street — 15 minutes from the CBD. Opening gala hits the Palais Thursday night; Friday it's St Kilda Rocks, a double-bill doco night on the suburb's legendary music venues. The Big Picture filmmaker development day on Saturday 6 June is entirely free — 42 panels and workshops at JMC Academy. Book individual sessions at stkildafilmfestival.com.au; prices vary by session.
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Monday 8 June is the King's Birthday public holiday — most venues will be open but check ahead; the Big Freeze at the MCG kicks off at 3:15pm so factor in transport. RISING closes permanently on 8 June — if there's anything still on your list, this is your last chance.
What's On
Nearly 200 Australian short films across the Palais, Astor, and St Kilda Town Hall, with Hugo Weaving, Sophie Wilde and Michael Cusack's live-action debut in the mix.
Last chance for RISING's final burst: Day Tripper at Melbourne Town Hall on Saturday, free Fed Square activation, Bass Lounge under Chinatown on Friday night.
1,000 postcard-sized works by artists of every stripe open at Linden New Art on Acland Street — now in its 36th year and free to walk in.
Fire pits, global street food, live entertainment and late-night shopping back in the Queen Vic sheds every Wednesday from 5–10pm.
Eight hours of non-stop music and movement — Kae Tempest, Saul Williams, The Congos and more across multiple rooms in one epic festival-within-a-festival.
A thought-provoking new exhibition bringing together artists, researchers and designers to examine how humanity might adapt to a rapidly changing planet.
Sport
Friday night footy at the MCG — a resurgent Bulldogs side tests Hawthorn under lights in what shapes as a finals-implications clash midway through the season.
King's Birthday Eve blockbuster at the MCG — the Blues are flying under interim coach Josh Fraser and a win here keeps their wildcard charge alive.
The most emotionally loaded game on the AFL calendar — the Big Freeze at the MCG carries extra weight this year following the passing of Neale Daniher.
Food & Deals
Just opened: a neighbourhood jazz and funk bar on High Street designed around a playlist, with wood-panelled walls, Victorian producers on the wine list and live music nightly.
Con Christopoulos's (Kafeneion, Siglo) Rome-inspired trattoria at 120 Collins St is open now, with Matt Wilkinson in the kitchen and Sergio's bar-and-record-store next door coming in June.
Wednesday nights from 5–10pm: lobster chowder bread bowls from Soup Factory, Berlin-style doner from Oh My Doner, and hot jam doughnuts from American Doughnut Kitchen.
The new Southern Italian spot from Mama's Dining Group draws on a Sicilian nonno's handwritten recipe book — late-night pasta, candlelight, and white tablecloths on Swan Street.
Free This Week
Free projections on Hamer Hall, Art Trams, Flower Power yam daisies in City Square, and the ahm Oracle at Arts Centre forecourt — all free until RISING closes Monday 8 June.
Free at the Ian Potter Centre (Fed Square) — eight new commissions spanning weaving, photography, possum-skin-cloak making and sculpture by emerging First Nations artists, open daily 10am–5pm.
Free entry from Sat 6 June at Linden New Art, 26 Acland Street, St Kilda — 1,000 new works by 1,000 artists, all postcard-sized and all for sale.
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