What Art Exhibitions Are Happening in Melbourne?
Melbourne has a diverse range of art exhibitions throughout late 2026, covering contemporary art, Australian artists, jewellery, design, photography, digital culture and interactive experiences. Highlights include Margaret Preston: A Retrospective, Plant Life: The Nature of Design, Play On, Feng Mengbo: Long March Restart, Art of the Pacific, Pitcha Makin Fellas and Barbie: The Exhibition. Major venues such as the National Gallery of Victoria, ACMI and Melbourne Museum offer exhibitions for art.
Melbourne Sphere editors · Editorial team
5 min read
In this article
Melbourne has a busy art calendar in late 2026, with major exhibitions covering contemporary art, Australian artists, jewellery, photography, design, film, sound and First Nations art. From large exhibitions at the National Gallery of Victoria to free displays at galleries and museums, there are plenty of options for art lovers this spring and summer.
Cartier at the NGV
CARTIER: Melbourne Winter Masterpieces is one of the major exhibitions currently finishing its Melbourne season. The exhibition features almost 400 jewellery objects, gemstones, watches and archival materials.
When: Until October 4, 2026
Where: National Gallery of Victoria
Best for: Jewellery, design and luxury-art enthusiasts
Margaret Preston: A Retrospective
The Margaret Preston retrospective explores the work of one of Australia's significant modernist artists. The exhibition brings together works from across Preston's career and examines her contribution to Australian art.
When: September 4, 2026 – January 31, 2027
Where: NGV Australia, The Ian Potter Centre
Best for: Australian art and modernist-art enthusiasts
Plant Life: The Nature of Design
Plant Life: The Nature of Design explores the relationship between plants, nature and creative design. The exhibition looks at how botanical forms and natural systems have influenced designers and artists.
When: August 28, 2026 – February 7, 2027
Where: NGV Australia
Entry: Free
Best for: Art, design and nature lovers
Reverb: A Journey into Sound
Reverb: A Journey into Sound explores the influence of vinyl culture and music on art, fashion, film and popular culture.
The exhibition combines visual material, music and interactive elements, making it an interesting option for visitors who enjoy both art and music.
When: Until October 4, 2026
Where: ACMI, Federation Square
Best for: Music fans, art lovers and pop-culture enthusiasts
Play On
Play On is a new exhibition at ACMI exploring play, games and interactive experiences.
The exhibition opens at the end of September and continues through summer, making it one of the newer exhibitions to visit in Melbourne.
When: September 29, 2026 – January 31, 2027
Where: ACMI, Federation Square
Best for: Families, gamers and interactive-art fans
Feng Mengbo: Long March Restart
Feng Mengbo: Long March Restart is a major exhibition at ACMI combining digital culture, video games, technology and contemporary art.
It presents the work of Chinese artist Feng Mengbo and explores the relationship between technology, gaming and visual culture.
When: August 19, 2026 – January 31, 2027
Where: ACMI, Federation Square
Entry: Free
Best for: Digital-art, gaming and technology enthusiasts
Art of the Pacific
Art of the Pacific presents works from the NGV collection and explores artistic traditions and cultural expression from across the Pacific region.
The exhibition provides an opportunity to see Pacific art within the broader collection of the National Gallery of Victoria.
When: Until November 8, 2026
Where: NGV International
Entry: Free
Best for: Art, history and Pacific culture enthusiasts
Rome: Empire, Power, People
Although focused on ancient history rather than contemporary art, Rome: Empire, Power, People is one of Melbourne's major current exhibitions.
It features statues, mosaics, frescoes, jewellery and everyday objects connected with ancient Roman life.
When: Until October 25, 2026
Where: Melbourne Museum
Best for: History, archaeology and classical-art enthusiasts
Pitcha Makin Fellas
Pitcha Makin Fellas is an upcoming exhibition at the Monash University Museum of Art. The exhibition brings together contemporary artistic perspectives and explores themes connected with Australian culture and identity.
When: October 9 – December 5, 2026
Where: Monash University Museum of Art
Best for: Contemporary-art audiences
Shane Cotton and Fiona Pardington
A joint exhibition featuring Shane Cotton and Fiona Pardington is scheduled for Melbourne in October.
The exhibition brings together the work of two artists whose practices engage with history, identity, culture and contemporary artistic expression.
When: September 29 – October 31, 2026
Where: 1301SW, Melbourne
Best for: Contemporary-art enthusiasts
Maria Radun: In the Moment
Maria Radun: In the Moment features oil paintings inspired by the landscapes of Victoria's Mornington Peninsula.
The exhibition provides a closer look at local Australian landscapes through contemporary painting.
When: October 21 – November 1, 2026
Best for: Painting and Australian landscape-art enthusiasts
Physis: Elemental Bodies
Physis: Elemental Bodies is an upcoming photography exhibition by artist Lilli Waters.
The exhibition explores the relationship between the human body, nature and the elements through photographic art.
When: November 12, 2026 – March 25, 2027
Best for: Photography and contemporary-art lovers
Barbie: The Exhibition
Barbie: The Exhibition makes its Australian debut at Melbourne Museum from late November.
The exhibition explores Barbie's history, design and cultural influence through a collection of objects and displays.
When: November 28, 2026 – May 16, 2027
Where: Melbourne Museum
Best for: Families, design fans, collectors and pop-culture enthusiasts
Free Art Exhibitions in Melbourne
Visitors looking for free exhibitions also have several choices. Current Melbourne listings include Plant Life: The Nature of Design, Feng Mengbo: Long March Restart, Art of the Pacific, and the permanent Story of the Moving Image exhibition at ACMI.
The city also has numerous commercial and independent galleries, particularly around the CBD, Fitzroy, Collingwood, Richmond and Windsor.
For example, National Gallery of Victoria is at 180 St Kilda Road, while The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia is at Federation Square. ACMI is also at Federation Square. These are among Melbourne's major destinations for art and cultural exhibitions.
Where Can You See Art Exhibitions in Melbourne?
Some of Melbourne's major exhibition venues include:
National Gallery of Victoria
NGV Australia
ACMI
Melbourne Museum
Monash University Museum of Art
Australian Centre for Contemporary Art
RMIT Gallery
Federation Square galleries
Independent galleries in Fitzroy and Collingwood
Commercial galleries throughout Melbourne CBD
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