Summer nights call for outdoor cinema, live music and a healthy dose of free entertainment.
Fed Square’s Open Air at the Square program is in full swing, transforming Melbourne’s cultural heart into an open-air playground for film buffs, music lovers and anyone keen to soak up the warm weather without spending a cent.
This week brings satirical cinema classics, a flag-raising ceremony, young bands vying for the spotlight and a rooftop garden begging for a wander. Throw in some blockbuster exhibitions and you’ve got yourself a week sorted.
If you’re looking to get out on the town this week (and you don’t want to break the bank), here’s what’s going down at Fed Square from February 2 to 8.
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around Melbourne here.
Outdoor Cinema: In Defence of Satire
- Monday 2 – Thursday 5 February
- Main Square, 8pm
- Free
Grab a deckchair and settle in for a razor-sharp program of cult-classic satires that dive headfirst into the absurdities of modern life. Kicking off with Stanley Kubrick’s Cold War black comedy Dr Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964), the series also screens Paddy Chayefsky’s media satire Network (1976), Rob Reiner’s mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap (1984) following a fictional British rock band on a shambolic US tour, and Robert Altman’s Hollywood murder-mystery The Player (1992).
Midsumma Movies: Hairspray
- Friday 6 February
- Main Square
- Free
Big hair, bold personalities, and unstoppable dance-floor energy define Hairspray (1988), John Waters’ gleefully subversive cult classic. Set in 1962 Baltimore, the film follows Tracy Turnblad, a self-described “pleasantly plump” teen who dreams of dancing on local TV and ends up challenging racial segregation along the way. Featuring iconic performances by Ricki Lake, Divine, Debbie Harry, and Sonny Bono.
Garage Band 2026
- Saturday 7 February
- Main Square
- Free
Back for its fourth year, this free one-day showcase turns up the volume on Victoria’s next generation of musicians. In collaboration with internationally acclaimed artist JOF (Joseph O’Farrell), bands and musicians under 21 will take to Melbourne’s biggest outdoor stage for a multi-stage celebration of emerging talent. Come down to support the young guns before they blow up.
Test Garden Open Day
- Saturday 7 February
- Skyline Car Park
- Free
Head up to the rooftop Test Garden at Fed Square’s Skyline Car Park and hear from gardeners, designers and horticulturalists about the naturalistic planting style and flowers in bloom.
This month, horticulturist Natalie Simmons will be in conversation with Head Gardener Russell Larke about her experience working with naturalistic planting and her approach to managing the Test Garden.
A posey workshop with The Beautiful Bunch, a not-for-profit social enterprise florist creating employment opportunities for young women from refugee backgrounds, follows the talk. This pop-up garden provides a preview of Laak Boorndap, the 18,000 square metre urban garden being delivered as part of the Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation, and offers a test bed for conversations about climate change, biodiversity and ecology. Bring a hat and water bottle.
While you’re there, keep an eye out for Compressions, a new sculptural installation by artist-in-residence Francis Carmody hidden amongst the garden’s dense foliage. The work is the first public outcome of the Test Garden artist-in-residence program, commissioned by MAP Co with the University of Melbourne. Developed in dialogue with Dr Dean Schrieke’s research from the Plant Trials at Burnley, the series of small-scale relief sculptures are cast and carved from onsite materials including charcoal, beeswax and experimental substrates. The installation runs until 31 March.
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.
Beat is a proud media partner of Fed Square.
