What's On This Week
This week Melbourne delivers the full package: Friday night footy at the 'G, a free architecture festival throwing open 180+ buildings across the city, and the last gasps of Body Worlds before it leaves Docklands on Sunday. It's the kind of winter week where staying in feels like a waste.
Plan this week with plansorted →Week at a glance
NGV Friday Nights: Cartier
Late-night Champagne, live jazz and 400 glittering Cartier objects — the classiest way to kick off a Friday in Melbourne this winter.
Melbourne v Geelong — MCG
The Dees host the Cats in a Friday night blockbuster with genuine top-four implications — this is the one to be at this week.
Open House Melbourne Weekend
180+ buildings across the city open their doors for free — the best urban exploration event of the year.
Body Worlds: The Anatomy of Happiness
The globally acclaimed plastinated-body exhibition closes at The District Docklands on Sunday 26 July — your last shot.
Off Broadway — Arts Centre Melbourne
A brand-new musical theatre spectacular opens this week from the producers of Celtic Illusion — tickets from $94 and selling fast.
Broadsheet Dine Out — final days
The city-wide food festival wraps Sunday 26 July; check dineout.broadsheet.com.au for any walk-in menus still running this week.
Lead Pick
Open House Melbourne: explore the city for free
Over 180 buildings — private homes, hidden vaults, brand-new infrastructure — open their doors for one weekend only.
Open House Melbourne runs Friday 24 to Sunday 26 July across the CBD, inner suburbs and beyond, all themed 'Generous City'. Highlights include the Primrose Potter Australian Ballet Centre (costume department and rehearsal studios), the ST. ALi Coffee Roastery in South Melbourne, and the Rock Posters printing factory in Thornbury. Most events are free but the popular ones book out — get on openhousemelbourne.org now and lock in two or three considered visits rather than trying to sprint through six. Tram it in; CBD parking will be a nightmare.
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Sort my week →Worth Knowing Before You Plan
Body Worlds closes permanently at The District Docklands this Sunday 26 July — if you haven't been, this is your actual last chance. Also, Open House Melbourne is free but the most popular tours (especially Australian Ballet Centre and private homes) book out quickly — get onto openhousemelbourne.org today and lock in your spots before they're gone.
What's On
Unlimited after-dark access to the Cartier Winter Masterpieces exhibition plus live jazz, Moët & Chandon, crêpes and rotating performances every Friday night.
⚡ Book ahead — limited tickets at the door
This Friday's lineup features Melbourne International Jazz Festival curates: Cannonball feat. Chantal Mitvalsky. Pre-book at ngv.vic.gov.au.
Over 180 architect-led tours, talks and first looks at usually off-limits buildings — private homes, heritage icons and brand-new infrastructure — all under the 'Generous City' theme.
⚡ Book popular experiences in advance at openhousemelbourne.org
Download the map and plan a precinct — the Arts Precinct, City North and Yarra all have strong programs. Pick 2–3 stops max.
Real plastinated human bodies in motion, side-by-side organ displays and interactive features — confronting, clinical and strangely moving, and this is its final week in Melbourne.
⚡ Book on Fever — 30% off tickets this week to celebrate 30 years of Body Worlds
Factor in 60–90 minutes. Closes permanently Sunday 26 July.
A new musical theatre spectacular that romps through Broadway's greatest moments — Rodgers & Hammerstein to Lin-Manuel Miranda — with a powerhouse Australian cast.
⚡ Book at artscentremelbourne.com.au
Opening week — great excuse to grab dinner on Southbank before the show.
Joanna Murray-Smith's sharp new adaptation of Chekhov's classic, directed by Anne-Louise Sarks and starring Daniel Henshall — sharp, funny and emotionally brutal in the best way.
⚡ Book at mtc.com.au — mid-week sessions usually have better availability
Running 21 July – 22 August; this week is a good time to lock it in before weekend sessions sell out.
Sport
The Dees host the Cats in a top-four battle — both clubs are locked in at 12 wins from 18, and with finals around the corner, neither side can afford to drop this one.
⚡ General public tickets on sale via Ticketek — buy now
Carlton at home under the roof — a good daytime option if you want footy without the Friday night crowd.
⚡ Tickets via Ticketmaster
Night footy under the roof — the Dogs are sitting 7th and Richmond is mid-table; expect a feisty clash from two teams with something to prove.
⚡ Tickets via Ticketmaster
Food & Deals
The city-wide food festival runs until Sunday 26 July with walk-in exclusive menus, chef collabs and pop-ups — including Farmer's Daughters x Yellow (plant-based, Sat 25 July) and Ho Jiak x Sun Ming & Sam Young (Sun 26 July).
Shannon Martinez's cult plant-based deli has finally landed in the CBD — pastries and market plates by day, tapas and espresso martinis by night at 16 Degraves Street.
Fever is running a 30% discount on Body Worlds tickets this week to celebrate 30 years of the exhibition — but only until 30 July, so grab it before it closes Sunday.
The new French bistro at 15 Collins Street has a menu where every single dish is $14 — a proper no-brainer for a midweek dinner in the city.
Free This Week
180+ buildings across Melbourne — private homes, heritage icons, new infrastructure — open for free over Friday to Sunday; the best free weekend in Melbourne's annual calendar.
The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia at Federation Square has a free First Nations exhibition on throughout July — emerging artists paired with established Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creatives across weaving, photography, sculpture and more.
Free, timed 5km at dozens of Melbourne locations every Saturday morning — Albert Park, Princes Park, Maribyrnong River and more; register once at parkrun.com.au and you're set for life.
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