Experience Melbourne Museum after hours, when the doors stay open late and the night belongs to adults.
Nocturnal: Museum After Dark invites you to explore the museum child-free, perfect for a memorable date night or an easy catch-up with friends. Wander the galleries at your own pace, away from the daytime crowds, and discover new perspectives through a curated program of talks and tours offering rare behind-the-scenes insights into our exhibitions and collections.
As the night unfolds, enjoy a live DJ, drinks and snacks available at Museum Market Café. Relax, explore and experience Melbourne Museum in a whole new light - after dark.
Tickets
Adult $25
Concession $22.50
Members $20
Date & Time
First Thursday of the month
6 to 9:30pm
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
Our Wondrous Planet
6 to 9:30pm | Melbourne Story, Upper Level | Exhibition
Experience our planet's intricate and interconnected ecosystems, from rainforests to coral reefs to polar seas. Large scale projections and hands-on interactives bring these worlds to life.
First Peoples
6 to 8pm | Bunjilaka, Ground Level | Exhibition
Through the voices and languages of the south-eastern First Peoples community, the First Peoples exhibition celebrates the cultures of First Peoples with its rich traditions of performance, storytelling, artwork, and knowledge sharing, set against the history of survival throughout the ongoing impacts of colonisation.
Stronger Families, Stronger Communities
6 to 8pm | Bunjilaka, Ground Level | Exhibition
Elevating the voices of nine First Nations men who have taken part in the Dardi Munwurro’s healing and leadership programs, this show explores the themes of strength, healing, resilience and cultural pride of the individuals working to break cycles of trauma and build stronger communities.
Melbourne Story
6 to 9:30pm | Melbourne Story, Upper Level | Exhibition
Melbourne Story is packed with icons of the city's past and present – tales of heroes and scoundrels, growth and decline, and the changing ways Melburnians live, work and play.
Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs
6 to 9:30pm | Science & Life Gallery, Ground Level | Exhibition
An immersive voyage into a lost world to explore the landscapes of the Cretaceous and get to know the creatures that thrived there.
Science & Life Gallery
6 to 9:30pm | Science & Life Gallery, Ground Level | Exhibition
Walk past the skeletons of 17 prehistoric animals through Dinosaur Walk, discover the origin of life in Victoria told through fossils, models, animatronics and animations, and see a world of insects, spiders, snails and other invertebrates in Bugs Alive!
Museum Masterminds Trivia with Alanta Colley
8pm to 9pm | Foyer, Ground Level | Trivia
Come along for Melbourne's nerdiest trivia that will challenge your logic circuits, stress-test your year 10 biology class chops, and reward those who read the descriptions on Melbourne Museum's exhibits. Hosted by science communicator, comedian and public health nerd Alanta Colley!
Jane Melville presents 'For Her Love of Birds: The extraordinary and untold story of Australian naturalist and taxidermist Jane Ward Tost
7:30pm | Foyer, Ground Level | Talk
Join Jane Meville to discuss her book being released on 1st April', 'For Her Love of Birds: The extraordinary and untold story of Australian naturalist and taxidermist Jane Ward Tost' published by Museums Victoria. Following the talk will be a meet the author and signing held in the Museum Store. Jane has previously written the only book on the amazing diversity of Australian dragon lizards, Dragon Lizards of Australia: Evolution, ecology and a comprehensive field guide, and is the author of numerous popular science articles in magazines such as Cosmos, Australasian Science and Science Victoria. She is a contributing author for news magazine The Conversation.
Triceratops Tour
7:30pm | Foyer, Ground Level | Tour
Embark on an insider's journey throughTriceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs and uncover the secrets behind one of the most complete triceratops fossils ever found. Presented by Justin Wright, Associate Producer.
Sad Otter with Gabriel King
7pm | Foyer, Ground Level | Talk
Join Tours Engagement Officer Gabriel King as he discusses our highly meme'd and very beloved 130+ year old South American Giant River Otter who is most famously known as 'Sad Otter', pictures encouraged but no autographs, please.
Music by Mr Weir
6 to 9pm | Cafe Bar, Ground Level | Music
Mr Weir brings disco, funk, house and a healthy dose of Prince to dancefloors across Melbourne.
He’s been keeping crowds moving for over 15 years, including an eight-year residency at Toff in Town, co-creating the legendary disco party The Outpost, and now holding it down as resident DJ at the gloriously contrary queer party MARY!
Metamorphosis by Josef Gatti
6 to 9:30pm | Learning Lab Studio, Ground Level | Immersive Projection
An immersive experience by Josef Gatti at Nocturnal. Created with Museums Victoria, this large-scale experience condenses billions of years of evolution into a poetic journey from eggs to butterflies, using real-world imagery, immersive sound, and luminous projections after dark.
ACCESSIBILITY
Please view our accessibility page for general information. Contact our team on 13 11 02 or email us at mvbookings@museum.vic.gov.au to discuss how we can support your visit.
