Melbourne Is Getting a Major New Festival Dedicated to Creativity and Big Ideas

As Melbourne continues to recapture its mojo and rebuild its events calendar following a couple of challenging years, the City of Melbourne has gone and announced a brand-new festival is coming our way — one that's dedicated to creativity, innovation and big ideas.

While the name of said major fest is yet to be revealed, we do know that it'll make its debut in August 2023, speaking to the theme 'Now or Never'. It's also set to replace two existing events: Melbourne Music Week and Melbourne Knowledge Week.

It looks like we can expect a forward-thinking program that's jam-packed with a diverse array of experiences, art, talks, installations, music, culinary delights and more. And organisers are teasing a bumper lineup of boundary-pushing creatives and innovators from both near and far, set to bring it all to life.

Lycheeart, via Unsplash

With a calendar of events running both by day and into the night, you'll be able to immerse yourself in everything from virtual reality experiences, live tunes and digital exhibitions, to multi-sensory feasts, thought-provoking talks and captivating visual art.

In a statement, Lord Mayor Sally Capp hinted at the new event's scale, while putting the word out for any local creatives keen to be a part of it. "This new festival will bring together Melbourne's untapped talent and innovation, and we're calling for the best minds to make history and get involved in this inaugural event," she said.

There's up to $50,000 in funding available to help develop and present projects for the new festival, with a focus on concepts that forge connections between technology and art. You can read more about the application process and submit your ideas over on the website.

City of Melbourne's new festival will take place in August, 2023. Further details are set to be revealed in the coming months, including the event's name — stay tuned and we'll share more info as it drops.

Top Image: Melbourne Music Week.