Gothic silent cinema, a free Afro-Caribbean carnival and freestyle dance battles take over Fed Square this week.
Fed Square’s Open Air at the Square program kicks into high gear this week with five nights of classic cinema reimagined by musicians, plus a Saturday that packs in both an Afro-Caribbean street party and electrifying dance battles.
Silent Cinema with Live Scores returns, where classic films from Australia, France and China are paired with newly composed soundtracks performed live beneath the stars. Then on Saturday, things shift from quiet appreciation to full-volume celebration as dancehall pioneer Sister Nancy and jungle icon General Levy take over the Square for a massive free party. All events are free and open to all ages.
Here’s everything happening at Fed Square from 16-22 February.
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around Melbourne here.
For the Term of His Natural Life (1927), with hybrid soundtrack by Lori
- 16 February
- 8pm
- Free
The Silent Cinema with Live Scores program kicks off with one of Australia’s greatest silent films, newly restored for the big screen. Set in the penal colonies of early colonial Australia, For the Term of His Natural Life gets an immersive new hybrid soundtrack from Melbourne DJ Lori, blending pre-recorded and live sounds. Lori has become a fixture in the city’s electronic scene through her eclectic DJ sets and radio work, making this a unique opportunity to experience a piece of Australian cinema history through fresh ears.
The Adventurer (1917), with Live Score by Sally Ford and the Idiomatics
- 18 February
- 8pm
- Free
Two of Charlie Chaplin’s most beloved films are coming to Fed Square for a back-to-back outdoor screening celebrating a century of silent film scoring. The 1917 short The Adventurer gets a brand new live score from Sally Ford and the Idiomatics, whose groove-heavy blend of live instrumentation and electronica — cello, trombone, saxophones, flutes and vintage sound effects — promises a fresh take on a classic. That’s followed by Chaplin’s 1936 masterpiece Modern Times, screening with its restored original recorded score.
Both films feature Chaplin’s iconic Little Tramp character, making this a rare chance to trace his evolution across two very different eras of his career.
The General (1926), with live score by Blue Grassy Knoll
- 19 February
- 8pm
- Free
Legends of the live silent cinema experience, gypsy bluegrass ensemble Blue Grassy Knoll return to Fed Square with their energetic and hilarious score to Buster Keaton’s The General in this special 100th anniversary screening. The 1926 comedy follows a Confederate train engineer during the American Civil War in what’s considered one of the greatest films of the silent era. Blue Grassy Knoll’s rambunctious score has become a fan favourite over years of Silent Cinema performances.
The Goddess (1934), with live score by Mindy Meng Wang and Burkhard Dallwitz
- 20 February
- 8pm
- Free
The Silent Cinema program closes with a landmark of Chinese silent cinema, brought to life with a haunting new soundscape to mark Lunar New Year. Guzheng virtuoso Mindy Meng Wang, who bridges traditional Chinese music with contemporary composition, joins acclaimed film composer Burkhard Dallwitz (The Truman Show) for a score incorporating guzheng, piano, guitar, electric cello, percussion and electronics. The Goddess tells the story of a single mother who sacrifices everything to support her son’s education in 1930s Shanghai.
Afro Caribbean Carnival 2026
- 21 February
- 6pm
- Free
Booming bass is the energy on offer when Afro Caribbean Carnival returns to Fed Square for a massive day-to-night dance party.
Jamaican dancehall pioneer Sister Nancy tops the bill, the Queen of the Dancehall whose 1982 track Bam Bam remains one of the most sampled reggae songs of all time. UK jungle and drum and bass icon General Levy joins her, the MC whose 1994 collaboration Incredible helped bring jungle music into the mainstream. Melbourne’s own sound systems round out the lineup, including New Flower Sound System, General Feeling and Yabai HiFi. Fed Square’s forecourt will be packed with Afro-Caribbean and African food from The Real Jerk, Vola Foods and Braz Oz Brazilian BBQ, so come hungry and ready to dance.
City Sessions Street Dance Battle
- 21-22 February
- Free
Australia’s top street dancers descend on Fed Square for two days of freestyle battles, showcases and live DJ sets as City Sessions returns for another year. Presented by Cypher Culture as part of On&On Festival, the event draws street dancers from across Australia and Southeast Asia for an electric showcase of contemporary street dance culture. Expect hip hop, locking, voguing, house and more as dancers improvise and react to each other’s moves and unexpected music. The event is open to all ages, with opportunities for audience participation including warm-up sessions and voting for favourite performers.
Sugar Mountain 2026
- 21 February
- 2pm
- $139.90
Melbourne’s beloved electronic music festival returns to the CBD for a stand-alone event after years of collaborative programming with Boiler Room. Sugar Mountain, Soothsayer and Resident Advisor bring together a lineup of next-gen legends and certified icons, including Motor City Drum Ensemble (performing as Danilo Plessow), Tiga, Salute, Paula Tape, Pretty Girl (live), Baby G and Yikes. The festival maintains its signature 360-degree stage format, which Sugar Mountain helped pioneer in Australia since 2014.
The Fall of the House of Usher (1928), with live DJ set by Emelyne
- 25 February
- 8pm
- Free
Jean Epstein’s mesmerising 1928 adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s gothic horror tale screens with a new live DJ score by Emelyne. Expect a brooding blend of post-punk, trip-hop, jungle and industrial techno with classical undertones, perfectly suited to the film’s unsettling atmosphere of decay and dread. It’s gothic cinema meets underground club culture under the stars.
The screening, which was set for 17 February as part of Fed Square’s free Open Air at the Square summer program, will now take place on 25 February at 8pm in the Main Square.
Game Worlds at ACMI
- On now until 29 March
- ACMI
- $30+
ACMI’s blockbuster playable exhibition transports you inside the worlds of more than 30 iconic videogames, from global hits like Minecraft, World of Warcraft and The Sims to anticipated Australian release Hollow Knight: Silksong. Featuring 44 playable experiences, rare concept art, original design materials and four newly commissioned microgames from Australian developers, it’s the museum’s most popular show since 2018’s Wonderland.
The 13th Koorie Art Show
- On now until 22 February
- Koorie Heritage Trust
- Free
The Koorie Heritage Trust presents its vibrant annual celebration of First Peoples artists across Victoria. This open-entry, non-acquisitive award exhibition showcases work from emerging artists to senior figures, offering a powerful snapshot of contemporary First Nations art and storytelling. Running alongside is the 8th Koorie Art Show Young Mob, celebrating the emerging talent of young creatives aged five to 16.
Wurrdha Marra
- Daily
- The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia
- Free
Meaning ‘Many Mobs’ in the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung language, this dynamic exhibition space on the ground floor of NGV Australia showcases masterpieces and new works from the NGV’s First Nations art and design collection. Featuring artists including Tony Albert, Treahna Hamm, Kent Morris, Marlene Gilson, Rover Thomas and Christian Thompson, the display celebrates the central role of art in passing down important cultural knowledge.
Browse the full Open Air at the Square 2026 program here.
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