The best events in Melbourne for 2023

Melbourne is back. That’s the message this 2023 calendar is sending. After three years of cancellations, it’s time for our city to get back to what it’s best at – making every other Australian capital jealous of our arts scene.

Ballet and opera

Australian Ballet is celebrating 60 years on the stage with a season that deftly weaves innovation with some much-loved classics. The world premiere of Don Quixote (State Theatre, March 15-25) promises a lush and colourful spectacle, while the centrepiece of the celebrations is a bold reinvention of Swan Lake (State Theatre, September 19-30). If opera is more to your tastes, Opera Australia’s acclaimed production of Phantom of the Opera (State Theatre, until February 18) almost qualifies, although traditionalists might prefer the grand romance of Wagner’s Tannhauser (Hamer Hall, May 17 and 20). Victoria Opera’s new season is also worth a look, the standout being an upbeat take on Rossini’s Cinderella (Melbourne Recital Centre, March 10). 

Top pick: Swan Lake

Theatre

It’s also a big year for the Melbourne Theatre Company. Highlights include the legal drama, Prima Facie (February 8-March 25), American sensation Is God Is (June 19-July 15), Judith Lucy in Happy Days (May 1-June 10) and new Melbourne productions Bloom (July 18 – August 19) and A Very Jewish Christmas Carol (November 14-December 16).

Other big shows include overseas hits Mary Poppins at Her Majesty’s Theatre until April 30, & Juliet  – a joyful reimagining that gives Shakespeare’s heroine a second chance at happiness – from February 26 at The Regent Theatre. The Comedy Theatre hosts The Mousetrap from February 17, Agatha Christie’s classic mystery that has kept London audiences guessing for more than 70 years. There are also victory laps from Cruel Intentions (Athenaeum Theatre, February 16-26), Moulin Rouge (Regent Theatre, from August 20) and The Rocky Horror Show (Athenaeum Theatre May 18-June 11).

Top pick: & Juliet

Music

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra continues its ever-popular soundtrack concerts with the final Harry Potter movie (Hamer Hall, March 30-April 1) and Frozen (The Plenary, June 17), while their East Meets West series features great artists from across Asia performing classic works including Brahms’ Violin Concerto (Hamer Hall, March 11).

It’s the gig scene that really shows Melbourne is back in business. From new acts, we have the chart-conquering Harry Styles playing Marvel Stadium (February 25-26), Florence + the Machine bringing ace new record Dance Fever to Rod Laver Arena (March 8-9) and Ed Sheeran knocking the MCG for a six (March 2-3). The nostalgia boom continues with ’80s legends Icehouse (February 11), The Proclaimers  (March 9-10), Sting (February 23) and Belinda Carlisle (November 11), ’90s acts Backstreet Boys (February 28-March 1), Soul II Soul (March 18), Counting Crows (April 4-5) and The Corrs (November 6), and 2010s star Carly Rae Jepsen of Call Me Maybe fame (March 13-14).

Top pick: Harry Styles

Festivals

If there’s one thing that defines Melbourne it’s our love of festivals (OK, and footy). One weekend brings not one but three amazing fests – Moomba, Port Fairy Folk and Golden Plains (all March 10-13). We can also expect returns from big hitters the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (March 29-April 23), Melbourne Writers Festival (May 4-7) and Melbourne International Film Festival (August 3-20). Finally, after a rough couple of years, we’re hoping the smaller scale Melbourne Cabaret Festival will make a triumphant return come June.

Top pick: Don’t make us choose!