Balloon Story has opened in Melbourne, bringing an immersive installation made from over 400,000 balloons to South Wharf.
Fresh from a successful New York run, the experience has set up shop at MCEC in South Wharf. Visitors can wander through rooms filled with balloon sculptures, interactive installations, and larger-than-life creations that blur the line between craft and full-scale art installation.
Every sculpture uses latex balloons; natural rubber rather than synthetic materials, with over 200 artists contributing to the designs, creating everything from oversized animals to walk-through environments that test what’s actually possible with inflated rubber.
Balloon Story – South Wharf
- Where: MCEC, 1 Convention Centre Place, South Wharf
- When: From 4 January, Monday to Sunday, 9am-8pm
- Duration: 60 to 90 minutes
- Tickets: Kids under three enter free
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Expect to spend anywhere from an hour to 90 minutes inside, depending on how long you linger in each room. Full accessibility means wheelchairs can navigate the space, though rentals aren’t available on site so you’ll need to bring your own.
Melbourne becomes the second city to host Balloon Story after its Park Avenue Armory debut in New York, where it ran as a two-month popup over summer. Organisers have pitched it as all-ages entertainment, which tracks; balloon art occupies that rare sweet spot where kids lose their minds and adults can actually admit they’re impressed without feeling weird about it.
South Wharf gets another drawcard with this landing at the convention centre, adding to the precinct’s growing roster of temporary experiences and exhibitions.
Group bookings cater to parties of 15 or more, with options for school excursions, corporate events, and birthday celebrations. Smaller birthday groups under 15 people can book through the standard ticketing system rather than the group portal.
Duration sits at a manageable length; long enough to feel like you’ve gotten your money’s worth without overstaying its welcome.
For more information, head here.
