Get ready to dive into a world of wonder and excitement as Melbourne Museum's beloved Nocturnal program makes its return in September 2023 in a reimagined format.
Prepare to unlock secrets behind Melbourne Museum’s permanent and temporary exhibitions as the new Nocturnal focuses on museum collections and new exhibitions, supported by a line-up of tours, curator talks, brain-teasing trivia and DJ performances.
Rendezvous with friends on the second Thursday night of each month as Melbourne Museum comes alive after dark for an adults-only evening of music, food, drinks and entertainment. Curating the after-hours soundtracks, some of Melbourne’s favourite DJs will be spinning tunes in the museum foyer stretching genres of disco, reggae, soul, house and garage. Kicking off the series in September is Natalie Ex, a talent hailing from New Zealand’s club and festival scene. The lineup continues with DJ Retro Red in October and DJ Ella Stoeckli in November.
Melbourne Museum’s Nocturnal program
Nocturnal: Museum After Dark
Tickets: Adults $30, Concession $28 and Members $25
Location: Melbourne Museum, 11 Nicholson Street, Carlton
Nocturnal: Far Fetched
When: Thursday 14 September
Tickets: Adults $30, Concession $28 and Members $25 – includes entry to Melbourne Museum and Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature.
Nocturnal: Tiny but Mighty
When: Thursday 12 October
Tickets: Adults $30, Concession $28 and Members $25 – includes entry to Melbourne Museum and RELICS: A New World Rises.
Nocturnal: Smoke and Mirrors
When: Thursday 9 November
Tickets: Adults $30, Concession $28 and Members $25 – includes entry to Melbourne Museum and RELICS: A New World Rises.
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around Melbourne here.
For September’s Nocturnal: Far Fetched, prepare to be taken on a journey where truth is stranger than fiction, where science intertwines with fantasy, and where the real meets the imagined. In the final days of Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature, come face-to-face with extraordinary creatures from Harry Potter and the Wizarding World. Team up with your smartest pals for Museum Masterminds, a trivia challenge hosted by science communicator and comedian Atlanta Colley that’ll put your knowledge to the test and delve into the far-fetched stories behind our remarkable exhibitions and collections with a variety of talks and tours from our museum experts.
In October, Nocturnal: Tiny but Mighty will ignite your curiosity and challenge your perceptions through explorations of the tiny and the colossal. Step into the captivating world of RELICS: A New World Rises, set in a distant future long after humanity’s reign. RELICS tells the story of a world where LEGO minifigures rise from the debris to create intricate civilisations within discarded human artefacts, each one ingeniously inspired by its newfound home. Visitors will also dive into the fascinating realm of shifting scales with expert talks and tours in Mini Mega Model Museum, Melbourne Story and Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs.
In November, Nocturnal: Smoke & Mirrors unearths a world of animal camouflage and natural illusion. Expert talks and tours will take visitors on a journey to explore the deceptive brilliance of biofluorescent gemstones, unravel the mysteries of taxidermy and dioramas and step into the mysterious part of Melbourne’s red-light district. Visitors will also have the opportunity to explore RELICS: A New World Rises and much more.
Nocturnal will run on the second Thursday night of each month from 14 September 2023 at Melbourne Museum. Further information and tickets are available via the Melbourne Museum website.
