Overview
Rising is set to ascend even more, with the fifth edition of this much-loved amalgamation of music, art, culture and architecture revealing a host of exciting additions to its lineup. Running from Wednesday, May 27–Monday, June 8 across Melbourne, over 400 artists are on the bill, with the latest wave joining the likes of Brooklyn rap royalty Lil' Kim, Seun Kuti — son of afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti — and Welsh songwriter Cate Le Bon.
Taking the festival to greater heights, the headlining artists and events now include God Save the Queen — a Pasifika block party moving in on Fed Square. Led by global street dance icons The Royal Family Dance Crew, this part performance, part mass participation movement invites the audience to master the group's signature Polyswagg choreography live. Held on Saturday, June 7, this dance takeover is just the beginning.
Next, Fed Square will transform into an open-air celebration of Pasifika music, dance and community, featuring the club-ready sounds of JessB, Rubi Du and Afro-Pasifika DJ Lady Shaka. Joining them is genre-bending Aotearoa DJ HALFQUEEN and Kween Kong, the beloved Samoan-Tongan performance artist who blurs the lines between contemporary dance, drag and Pacific cultural practice. Finally, Neo Sun performs alongside the Pasefika Victoria Choir, rounding out the evening with Polynesian techno, dancehall and global club sounds.
The party continues underground at Bass Lounge, Rising's new late-night spot hidden beneath Chinatown's Paramount Food Court. Held across two Friday night sessions, this neon-lit space will feature cracked electronica, live sets and karaoke rooms from 10pm–4am, with local and international selectors. Catch Rotterdam's Rotational, Brussels-based producer Naomie Klaus, and loads more, serving everything from post-punk-infused dub and languid pop to reggaeton-like low-end grooves.
Leading the previously announced participatory dance academy, Land of 1000 Dances, at the Flinders Street Ballroom, this storied space from 1910 now has a full lineup to dive into. Here, award-winning performer Joshinder Chaggar leads high-energy Bollywood sessions, while Country Struts offers crowd-pleasing boot scootin' and a live band–backed bush dance. Meanwhile, Melbourne Shuffle pioneers will help you master the T-step, while Chantal Bala, aka Tejan Diesel Revlon, leads voguing sessions.
Rising 2026 also includes numerous First Peoples-led events and activations, with the First Peoples Melbourne Art Trams returning for this year's festival. Curated by Taungurung woman Kate ten Buuren, six trams are transformed into moving canvases for the next 12 months, featuring art from Marlene Gilson OAM, Natasha Carter, Match Mahoney and more. Accompanying this is Blak Art on the Move, a series of public programs that invite audiences to learn more via artist talks, workshops and public art tours.
Rising 2026 takes place at various locations across Melbourne from Wednesday, May 27–Monday, June 8. Head to the website for more information.
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