Make May your best month yet with these epic events around the country.

Australia’s action-packed calendar is heating up this May, keeping that autumnal chill at bay with its fiery line-up of events. There’s plenty to keep you warm as the leaves fall and the temperature drops, whether it’s a delectable foodie affair, a fireside music festival or a sweat-inducing sports event.

What’s marked on my calendar, you may ask? I’ll definitely be booking myself a cosy weekend away. It’s the perfect time to make the trip to regional towns like Mudgee, where you can find award-winning cellar doors, cosy B&Bs and plenty of friendly locals. I can already see myself set up somewhere fireside with a red wine in hand, charcuterie board and fleecy blanket at the ready. Inspired yet? Let’s dive in then!

Taylah’s top picks of the month:

• Best foodie event: Hawker 88 Night Market, Melbourne, Vic (until 7 May)
• Best music event: Festival of Outback Opera, Winton, Qld (13–19 May)
• Best cultural event: Taste of Kakadu, Kakadu National Park, NT (23–25 May)
• Best outdoor event: Pyrmont Festival, Sydney, NSW (17–18 May)
• Best arts event: Cézanne to Giacometti, Canberra, ACT (from 31 May)

Upcoming events to keep on your radar:

• Dark Mofo in Hobart, Tas (5–21 June)
• Finke Desert Race in Alice Springs, NT (6–9 June)
• Ningaloo Sky Festival in Exmouth, WA (27–29 June)
• Illuminate Adelaide in Adelaide, SA (2–20 July)
• National Indigenous Art Fair in Sydney, NSW (5–6 July)

NSW | Vic | Qld | Tas | WA | SA | NT | ACT

What’s on in NSW in May

SYDNEY WRITERS’ FESTIVAL
SYDNEY
18–25 MAY

Grab your notebook and pen, you’re going to need them for the annual Sydney Writers’ Festival at Carriageworks this May. The 2025 program is packed to the brim, featuring conversations with internationally acclaimed names such as Jane Caro, Zoë Foster Blake, Helen Garner, Richard Glover and Thomas Mayo, among many other talents.

Both free and ticketed events are your gateway to learning about what inspires authors and their work, the stories behind their books and how it all relates to the world we live in today. Between talks, you can enjoy a pop-up bookshop with all the latest releases and grab a photo with your favourite author at a book signing.

MAKE GOOD FESTIVAL
SHOALHAVEN
17–18 MAY

This month, national arts organisation and wildlife refuge Bundanon will host its inaugural Make Good Festival  on NSW’s South Coast, a weekend focused on ideas for better living through the lens of sustainability. For its first year, the event is expecting a big turnout thanks to special guests like presenter Costa Georgiadis, award-winning author Jane Rawson, Wiradjuri fibre artist Jessika Spencer and more.

The two-day program entices curious minds to explore ways of living thoughtfully and responsibly. Highlights include a pickling workshop, bushwalk with local First Nations Custodians, panel talks, locally run markets, live music and vinyasa flow yoga class overlooking the river. Make the most out of it by booking a stay at The Bridge.

THE BIG CHILL
ARMIDALE
17 MAY

In the New England town of Armidale, winter isn’t a season, it’s a celebration. The Big Chill Festival is all about bringing people together to appreciate everything that the colder months have to offer, especially in regional NSW towns like Armidale.

Grab your best beanie before heading out to sample slow-cooked meats at BBQ Alley, or settling in for a groovy music line-up at Live & Local. If you’re feeling brave, take your experience up a notch (or down in temperature) at the chilli eating contest or Big Chilly Dip at Dumaresq Dam. And with the Little Chillers kids’ zone, there’s something for the whole family to enjoy.

VIVID
SYDNEY
23 MAY – 14 JUNE

Vivid Sydney is back – and this year’s list of highlights is long and varied. Across 23 nights, the festival will connect our city to light artists, music makers, brilliant thinkers and creatives through four key concepts: Light, Music, Food and Ideas. In 2025, Vivid Sydney explores everything that falls under this year’s theme, Dream.

Discover secret tunnels laced with light. Take part in interactive art installations. Feel the pulse of a new beat and move together as one, while talented performers transform the city with live shows in unexpected spaces. Dance to live tunes in the park. Learn from evocative artwork aimed at educating people. Discover parts of Sydney that light you up.

NAROOMA OYSTER FESTIVAL
NAROOMA
2–4 MAY

Discover the distinctive flavours of the state’s sustainable seafood scene at the Narooma Oyster Festival , held in one of the best seaside towns for seafood in Australia. While this year’s program, as always, is centred around these delicious briny bivalves, there’s plenty more to reel guests in – hook, line and sinker.

Enjoy live cooking demonstrations from renowned chefs like Clayton Wells (Merivale) and Al Brown (Depot Eatery), as well as SBS host, author and ambassador for Coles, Nornie Bero. Wander local markets touting regional produce. Visit the finger-licking-good Champagne and oyster bar. Cheer on contestants at Australia’s Oyster Shucking Championships. And down as many of the slippery suckers as you can.

PYRMONT FESTIVAL
SYDNEY
17–18 MAY

Grab your favourite picnic rug and make a beeline for Pirrama Park on Sydney Harbour for Pyrmont Festival , a Sydney celebration of all things food and wine. A buzzing hub of gourmet food trucks, award-winning wine pop-ups, craft beer taps and live entertainment will keep you happy for hours.

The 2025 program is sure to delight, with a diverse array of pop-ups to pick from. Join a creative workshop with local artist Jane Bennett. Watch live music as the sun sets. Take part in daily wine tastings. Browse market stalls touting fresh local produce. Plus so much more at this year’s Pyrmont Festival.

LA DOLCE VITA DINNER
SHOALHAVEN
22 MAY

An interlacing of talent will inform the one-of-a-kind La Dolce Vita Collaboration Dinner at Cupitt’s Estate in May. Billed as a celebration of Italian Soul, the May 12 event looks to ingredients and flavours from both Italy and the South Coast for menu inspiration.

Celebrate this oh-so-civilised concept with stories from the makers such as winemaker Wally Cupitt of Cupitt’s Estate and Ian Martin of Martins Ridge Farm, as well as Jon Reeves, of Lagom Bakery, Jesse Hegg, of Duro Pasta and Kitty Stidwill and Nat Taylor from Milkhaus. The South Coast celebration Book a night in the winery’s onsite villas so you can stay and play for another day. Cost: $85 for a glass of vino and a three-course shared Italian feast. For bookings, visit  www.cupittsestate.com.au  

What’s on in Victoria in May

HAWKER 88 NIGHT MARKET
MELBOURNE
UNTIL 7 MAY

Unfolding under the roof of the iconic Queen Victoria Market, the Hawker 88 Night Market is ready and willing to feed hungry bellies from all over Melbourne. Every Wednesday night until 7 May, the space comes alive with the sounds, smells and tastes of Asia, from Vietnam and Korea to Malaysia and Japan.

Those attending can expect a diverse cultural mix of street food, retail pop-ups and free live music and entertainment across a variety of stalls. Think juicy dumplings, sizzling skewers, fluffy bao buns, loaded ramen, tangy Tanghulu and premium boba tea. Entry is free, with prices varying between sellers.

BALLARAT HERITAGE FESTIVAL
BALLARAT
16–25 MAY

Head inland this month for the 2025 Ballarat Heritage Festival , which highlights the city’s past, appreciates its present and celebrates its future. The 10-day program includes a vintage car show and antique fair, as well as live concerts, art exhibitions, workshops and rides on an old steam train.

The festival is held annually to bring the community together and invites tourists to experience the splendour of the region. Immerse yourself in the rich history of Ballarat while experiencing new local offerings through both free and ticketed events. It’s one of the best autumn festivals in Australia.

MELBOURNE ART BOOK FAIR
MELBOURNE
15– 25 MAY

What do you get when you combine art and literature in one of the most stunning spaces the Victorian capital has to offer? The Melbourne Art Book Fair , of course! Held at the National Gallery of Victoria, the annual Melbourne Art Book Fair is a state-wide celebration of art book publishing and Melbourne’s status as a UNESCO City of Literature.

The program is practically bursting at the seams, from a two-day book market with over 100 stallholders to live conversations, book launches, zine-making workshops, and so much more. While you’re there, you may as well check out some of the NGV’s stunning exhibitions and art displays, too.

GREAT OCEAN ROAD RUNNING FESTIVAL
GREAT OCEAN ROAD
17–18 MAY

Tie your laces, folks, the Great Ocean Road Running Festival is back for another year of pounding the pavement. And what better way to see one of Australia’s most stunning stretches of coast than on foot, running with like-minded people and smashing PBs along the way?

Inclusive of all ages and abilities, the running event features eight different distances (from a 1.5-kilometre kids loop to the epic 60-kilometre Ultra Marathon) across two days between Lorne and Apollo Bay. There’s plenty more on the cards too, from spa treatments and live music to a waiter’s race and kite festival.

PINT OF ORIGIN
MELBOURNE
9–18 MAY

Experience the best of Melbourne’s iconic pub scene this month at craft beer festival, Pint of Origin , brought to you by local publication, The Crafty Pint. Across 10 days, over 20 local venues will change their taps to pour beers from anywhere and everywhere, taking your tastebuds on an epic tour around the world.

Hopheads can look forward to meet and greets, experimental beers and brewing masterclasses, as well as themed tap takeovers, trivia, run clubs and collaboration launches. Whether you’re sipping Scandi samplers at Collingwood’s Beermash or trying Japan’s best brews at Benchwarmer in the city’s west, you’re in for a good time.

65,000 YEARS
MELBOURNE
FROM 30 MAY

After extensive refurbishments by Wood Marsh Architects , the Potter Museum of Art at the University of Melbourne is reopening its doors to the public. It’s a poignant return during National Reconciliation Week, with 65,000 Years: A Short History of Australian Art  running as the headline exhibition.

Curated in consultation with the artwork’s Custodians, over 400 original objects and works will be on display to demonstrate the rise of Indigenous art in the face of colonisation. The powerful exhibition, held at one of Melbourne’s most renowned art institutes, will run until 23 November.

What’s on in Queensland in May

GRAZING THE GRANITE BELT
SOUTHERN DOWNS
24–25 MAY

This autumn, just one ticket grants you access to a range of delightful venues in one of Queensland’s most underrated regions. Held over one weekend in May and November, Grazing The Granite Belt invites foodies to experience the state’s food bowl through a variety of local producers.

Think two days of lazy grazing, award-winning wines, dozens of gourmet dishes, tours of stellar cellar doors and more across the Southern Downs region. And you don’t have to worry about transportation either – tickets even include unlimited use of the event’s hop-on, hop-off bus service.

FESTIVAL OF OUTBACK OPERA
WINTON
13–19 MAY

Hosted by Opera Queensland, the Festival of Outback Opera is a week-long event of live outdoor concerts across the regional Queensland towns of Longreach and Winton. Headlining this year’s program is multi-award-winning soprano Sumi Jo, joined by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and UQ Pulse Chamber Orchestra.

Guests can also enjoy a spectacular range of scheduled events, including musical trivia, cultural conversations, long lunches, an Opera Ball and the ever-popular Dark Sky Serenade – an orchestral sunset performance at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs museum. Tickets are on sale now, but going quick!

BLUES ON BROADBEACH
GOLD COAST
15–18 MAY

Don’t miss Blues on Broadbeach  this month, one of Australia’s largest free music festivals, backdropped by the spectacular Gold Coast skyline. Held over four days in the heart of Broadbeach, the line-up features talented artists from both Australia and around the world, including Jimmy Barnes, The Cruel Sea, Diesel, Eric Gales and more.

The festival is surrounded by some of the best bars on the Gold Coast, with licensed venues onsite too, so you won’t go thirsty while rocking out. The Broadbeach precinct is also home to a variety of places to stay, so guests can book accommodation just minutes from the action.

NOOSA EAT & DRINK FESTIVAL
NOOSA
29 MAY – 1 JUNE

The Noosa Eat and Drink Festival is back for another tasty year, and grumbling bellies across the Sunshine Coast are as excited as ever. Guests to this year’s foodie extravaganza will be treated to locally sourced feasts, whipped up by innovative chefs using only the finest and freshest produce.

In just four days, a range of mouth-watering events will unfold across Noosa, from long lunches by the sea to intimate chef’s tables at the town’s most coveted restaurants. Wrap your tastebuds around everything from dynamic dishes to world-class wine, all backdropped by Noosa’s spectacular coastal and hinterland settings.

NEBO RODEO WEEKEND
NEBO
16–17 MAY

Grab your Akubras and dust off your boots, it’s rodeo time! In 2025, the Nebo Rodeo Weekend is bringing you two fantastic days full of entertainment for the whole family. It’s all happening in the rural town of Nebo, just over an hour’s drive inland from Wotif’s 2018 Town of the Year, Mackay.

The festivities kick off on Friday night with the Nebo Hotel Street Party, with free entertainment, market stalls, a mini eat street and live country music from some great Aussie talents. On Saturday, Queensland’s biggest one-day rodeo event will take place, where crowds of people come to cheer on their favourite cowboys. Yeehaw!

GOURMAY
MARY VALLEY
1–31 MAY

Queensland’s stunning Mary Valley, just 45 minutes inland from Noosa, is preparing for a bumper month of food-focused fun with the annual GourMay Mary Valley Food Festival . The region is known as one of the country’s great food bowls thanks to its fertile soil and microclimates that allow for an extraordinary variety of produce to be grown.

Throughout May, eat your way through a massive 2025 program, which features sunrise breakfasts, long lunches, outdoor dinners, open farm days, foraging walks, cooking demonstrations and more. There will also be a range of film and art events that celebrate food, as well as instructional sessions run by experts and producers.

What’s on in Tasmania in May

AUSTRALIAN MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL
LAUNCESTON
21–25 MAY

The Australian Musical Theatre Festival is an unparalleled opportunity for fans, participants, and industry professionals to get together and celebrate their shared love of musical theatre. Held in Launceston, the annual festival includes a diverse program with ample opportunities to teach, collaborate, engage, and – of course – enjoy.

Whether you’re working in the industry as a teacher, a member of a community musical theatre society, or simply just a passionate audience member, this is the place for you. Experience new takes on old favourites, brand-new productions, live performances by stars of the genre, and so much more!

COALDALE WALNUTS OPEN FARM
RICHMOND
2–4 MAY

This may just be the ultimate autumn activity for those in and around Richmond this month, a hidden Tassie gem that deservedly made our list of the 100 best towns in Australia. While Coaldale Walnuts hosts farm tours throughout the year, nothing compares to its annual Open Farm Day , held across three days every May.

BYO basket and wander through the orchard to pick your own fresh walnuts to take home, priced at just $7 a kilo. Afterwards, enjoy a picnic in the sun, sample pickled walnuts and munch on walnut-infused sausage rolls and pies, washed down with a coffee or refreshment from local business, Muffin Better.

STANLEY & TARKINE FORAGE FESTIVAL
NORTH-WEST TASMANIA
15–18 MAY

A weekend filled with gastronomic delights and immersive experiences is coming to Tassie’s cosy north-west corner this month to celebrate the region’s rich bounty and fresh produce. This year’s Stanley & Tarkine Forage Festival is a feast for the senses, headlined by an exclusive dinner led by MasterChef alumni Josh Perry.

With its long history as a fishing village and its prime location on a peninsula in the Bass Strait, Stanley is the perfect place to host the event. Not to mention, it’s home to Hursey Seafoods , voted 2024’s Best Seafood Restaurant in Australia – making it a must for lovers of fresh ocean fare.

What’s on in Western Australia in May

READERS & WRITERS FESTIVAL
MARGARET RIVER
2–4 MAY

Escape to a world where creativity and expression have no limits at the 17th annual Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival . Lose yourself in a wonderful weekend of words shared with bookworms, authors, journalists and academics at the biggest regional literature event in the state.

Many of the events will take place at the festival hub in Nala Bardip Mia – Margaret River HEART, including panel talks, workshops, masterclasses, readings and cultural walks. Parts of the program will also be held at local libraries and bookshops, as well as the Margaret River Men’s Shed and venues as far as Busselton.

UNWINED
PERTH
16–17 MAY

It’s time to unwind – or should I say, UnWined ? Oenophiles are invited to the ultimate winter celebration of wine in Perth, held at the picturesque Supreme Court Gardens. Sample an array of the state’s best food and wine, with some of the city’s top wineries and cellar doors in attendance.

While guests can definitely expect to sip delightful wine varietals from across WA, there will also be craft beer, boutique spirits and refreshing cocktails on pour. Don’t miss the exclusive Bottomless Long Table, a 90-minute tapas feast paired with bottomless wine and beer. We’ll cheers to that!

ORD VALLEY MUSTER
KUNUNURRA
16–25 MAY

From famed events like the Corroboree Under the Stars and Kimberley Moon Experience to intimate experiences such as bush tucker workshops and black-tie dinners, the annual Boab Metals Ord Valley Muster in Kununurra is a bucket-list event for any Aussie. Its 10-day program is a testament to place, highlighting all that is up-and-coming while recognising the land’s cultural and historical significance.

This year, attendees can enjoy comedy shows, remote dinners, wellness experiences, open-air galleries and dance performances, as well as live shows from headline acts like Lime Cordiale and Thelma Plum. If you love food, art, culture, music and regional WA, this is one for you.

PERTH COMEDY FESTIVAL
PERTH
UNTIL 18 MAY

The Perth Comedy Festival is the WA capital’s biggest annual comedy event. Every April and May, the best comedians from Australia and beyond take to stages across Perth with one goal in mind – to make you laugh as much as possible. The festival program features performances from the finest local acts, as well as international stars and promising emerging talents.

This year, guests can expect a good cackle across a variety of subgenres, from stand-up to sketch, satire to improv and theatre to magic. Those lined up on the 2025 program include big names like Jenny Tian, Guy Montgomery, Lou Wall, Joel Creasey, Melanie Bracewell and Nazeem Hussain, just to name a few.

What’s on in South Australia in May

TASTING AUSTRALIA
STATE-WIDE
2–11 MAY

Welcome to foodie paradise. Savour the best our country has on offer at Tasting Australia 2025 , which spans 150 events and 10 days across a number of stunning South Australian regions. From an exclusive overnight stay in the Northern Flinders Ranges to a day trip aboard a houseboat on the Murray, you’re sure to get a taste of more than just the food.

Presented by experiential tourism brand Journey Beyond , Tasting Australia allows you to choose a destination or event and transport your tastebuds, quite literally. Think intimate dinners in Adelaide, winery tours in the Barossa, chef-led lunches in McLaren Vale and sunset tastings on Kangaroo Island. And that’s just a taste.

HISTORY FESTIVAL
ADELAIDE
1–31 MAY

Past, present, future – this is what you can expect to learn about at South Australia’s History Festival , plus more. The month-long affair explores the constantly evolving nature of history, what we can learn from its most prominent voices and how it not only influences but impacts our future.

The 2025 program is jam-packed with over 550 educational events for attendees to choose from. Each one explores different regions and cities of the state across a variety of categories that will appeal to all kinds of history buffs – think music and literature, food and art, sport and politics. There will also be specific focus programs on LGBTQIA+ history and First Nations history, too.

PENOLA COONAWARRA ARTS FESTIVAL
PENOLA
16–19 MAY

Now in its 33rd year, the annual Penola Coonawarra Arts Festival has grown exponentially over the decades and is recognised as one of the most energetic regional arts festivals in South Australia. Fusing literature, art and the finest wines from the Coonawarra region, expect only the best of the Limestone Coast to be on display.

Those attending have plenty to look forward to, including public exhibitions, art competitions, local music, wine tastings, live performances and workshops for both kids and adults. Don’t miss the iconic Makers Markets, where you can wander stalls touting handcrafted treasures and trinkets from local businesses.

CHARDONNAY MAY
ADELAIDE HILLS
1–31 MAY

Lovers of this buttery white wine will rejoice this month as Chardonnay May takes over a variety of the Adelaide Hills’ best wineries. Cellar doors from across the region are inviting chardy lovers to experience their version of the wine through tasting flights, themed parties, masterclasses and dinners.

A number of local vintners will even unveil new chardonnays, so you can be among the first to taste a brand-new tipple. Participating wineries include Longview Vineyard, Bird in Hand, Cobb’s Hill Estate, Hesketh Wines, Howard Vineyard, Murdoch Hill and Nepenthe, just to name a few.

What’s on in the Northern Territory in May

BASSINTHEGRASS
DARWIN
17 MAY

May marks the return of Darwin‘s biggest music event of the year, turning the peaceful, palm-lined shores of Mindil Beach into a playground for rhythm revellers. And for its 22nd edition, BASSINTHEGRASS is bringing beats in abundance with an unrivalled line-up of talent.

Top acts from around Australia and beyond will take to the stage, including Hilltop Hoods, Meg Mac, The Jungle Giants and more, turning up the heat. It’ll also be the first year for BASS Camp, where families can retreat from the heat to enjoy kids’ activities, karaoke, comfy seats and exclusive amenities.

TASTE OF KAKADU
KAKADU
23–25 MAY

This May, Karrimanjbekkan An-me Kakadu: Taste of Kakadu will take you (and your tastebuds) on an intimate journey through the NT’s biggest national park, home to the world’s oldest living culture. Running across three days, you’ll learn about and celebrate the cuisine, culture and Country of the local Bininj people.

This year’s program is as exciting as ever, with freshly cooked feasts, cooking presentations, workshops, and local markets, as well as traditional dance, music and storytelling. It’s a wonderful opportunity to experience Indigenous culture and customs in one of Australia’s most unique UNESCO-listed sites.

TOP END GIN FESTIVAL
DARWIN
24 MAY

The Top End Gin Festival is back for its fourth year this May, bringing over 20 boutique gin distillers from around Australia up to the tropics to tantalise your palate. Held under the palm trees at Darwin Ski Club, guests can sip G&Ts with front row seats to vibrant Dry Season sunsets.

This year’s event promises to be the biggest yet, with three hours of complimentary gin tastings from a handpicked collection of award-winning and emerging producers. Guests will also love the live music line-up, headlined by The Temper Trap, and the variety of food trucks onsite, too.

What’s on in the ACT in May

CANBERRA INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL
CANBERRA
UNTIL 4 MAY

The eclectic sounds of musicians from all over Australia will fill the autumn air with special performances as part of this year’s Canberra International Music Festival . The festival was founded in 1994 by the late Ursula Callus and has been held annually since 1997, bringing concerts, lectures and masterclasses to Canberrans ever since.

Join in for a musical journey around the globe, with a program that ranges from new works to timeless classics. This year, the festival will feature a boundless collection of thought-provoking acts by Australian and international artists in some of the most beautiful venues around Canberra.

CÉZANNE TO GIACOMETTI
CANBERRA
FROM 31 MAY

In an Australian first, Museum Berggruen in Berlin is loaning more than 170 works of art to one of Canberra’s most iconic galleries for Cézanne to Giacometti. The exclusive collection features paintings by some of the world’s most revolutionary artists, from Cézanne and Giacometti to Matisse and Picasso.

Much-loved pieces by the likes of Dorrit Black, Anne Dangar, Grace Cossington Smith and more will also be on display throughout the major exhibition, highlighting how Aussie artists were influenced by their European counterparts. Cézanne to Giacometti will run at the National Gallery of Australia until 21 September.

PALESTINIAN FILM FESTIVAL
CANBERRA
1–11 MAY

The 13th Palestinian Film Festival is returning to five cities across Australia this May, with a bold and innovative program of cinema from and about Palestine. The poignant event spotlights new voices in film, while offering a powerful and resonant exploration of resilience, love and freedom in the face of war and dispossession.

Not only is the festival a welcoming place for film buffs to share their love of cinema, but it’s also a space for people to educate themselves about what’s going on around the world and show support. Held at Dendy Canberra , there will be everything from first-time screenings to interactive workshops for all to enjoy.