The City of Yarra has endorsed a new council-led Brunswick Street Festival in Fitzroy
The Brunswick Street Festival could be on its way, with the City of Yarra endorsing plans for a new annual street event.
The council approved the proposal at its ordinary meeting on 10 March, confirming that the inaugural Brunswick Street Festival will take place on 24 October 2027, subject to funding being allocated as part of the 2026/27 and 2027/28 budgets.
The single-day event will stretch along Brunswick Street in Fitzroy, between Rose and Moor Streets, putting the spotlight on the precinct’s local traders, live music venues and creative community.
Brunswick Street Festival
- Brunswick Street, Fitzroy (between Rose and Moor Streets)
- 24 October 2027
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It’s being pitched as a family-friendly, locally focused celebration of one of Melbourne’s most well-known entertainment strips. Programming will be developed in partnership with the businesses, performers and artists who already call the precinct home, with the aim of amplifying what’s already there rather than layering something over the top of it.
The proposal has been in the works since 2025, when the council launched a feasibility study following interest from businesses along the strip. Two trader workshops held in August and September 2025 attracted a combined 32 attendees, and a survey was distributed to 152 local businesses. Emergency services — including Fire Rescue Victoria, Victoria Police and Ambulance Victoria — and the Department of Transport and Planning were also consulted during the process.
The council will run the whole thing end-to-end under a council-led, council-produced model, managing stakeholder engagement, marketing, logistics, budgets and governance.
A Live Music Precinct
Brunswick Street already sits within one of the City of Yarra’s newly designated Live Music Precincts, a planning measure designed to protect music venues from noise complaints triggered by new residential developments. The strip also has form when it comes to hosting large-scale street events — Fitzroy is already home to Victoria’s Pride Street Party and the Johnston Street Fiesta.
Inclusive programming is a stated priority for the event. The council’s feasibility report commits to representation from First Nations artists, women, non-binary performers and LGBTQIA+ communities across festival stages. A formal evaluation of the inaugural event is expected by December 2027, which will shape planning for future years.
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