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Rainy day in Melbourne? These free indoor activities need no ticket: galleries, libraries and museums you can walk into, plus this week's undercover free events. Each one is listed with the date we checked it and a link to its source.
Hours Daily 10am–6pm (open most public holidays, including Cup Day)
Where 328 Swanston St, Melbourne
Price Free entry
The domed La Trobe Reading Room is one of Melbourne's great free interiors. Easy to reach on any tram up Swanston St.
Checked Sat 31 Oct 2026 · Source
Hours Daily 10am–5pm
Where 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne
Price Free entry to the collection (some special exhibitions are ticketed)
Walk straight in to see the permanent collection for free, and stay dry while you do.
Checked Sat 31 Oct 2026 · Source
Hours Daily 10am–5pm
Where Fed Square, Melbourne
Price Free entry to the collection (some special exhibitions are ticketed)
The NGV's Australian art building, right at Fed Square. This week it also has two free shows (see the weekly list).
Checked Sat 31 Oct 2026 · Source
Hours Daily 10am–5pm
Where Fed Square, Melbourne
Price Free entry (some events are ticketed)
ACMI's free, family-friendly exhibition about the moving image.
Checked Sat 31 Oct 2026 · Source
Hours Daily 9am–5pm (closed Good Friday and Christmas Day)
Where 11 Nicholson St, Carlton
Price Free for children up to 16 and concession card holders. Adults $18. Some temporary exhibitions cost extra.
Kids up to 16 get in free, but adults pay, so it isn't a fully free day out.
Checked Sat 31 Oct 2026 · Source
Hours See the library page for today's hours. Songbirds runs Wednesdays 10:30–11am during Term 4 (5 Oct–11 Dec 2026).
Where 107 Victoria Harbour Promenade, Docklands
Price Free (Songbirds is a free session for newborns to 18 months)
A waterfront library with free wi-fi and harbour views. Trams 11 and 48.
Hours Tue–Sun 11am–4pm. Closed on public holidays.
Where 26 Acland St, St Kilda
Price Free entry
A free contemporary art gallery at the top of Acland St.
Checked Sat 31 Oct 2026 · Source
When Sat 31 Oct 2026, 2pm–10pm (lighting ceremony at dusk)
Where Marvel Stadium Square, Docklands
Price Free, no ticket needed
45+ live acts, 60+ stalls, henna and rangoli stations, kids zone, all undercover so it's on rain or shine.
Checked Sat 31 Oct 2026 · Source
When Sat 31 Oct 2026, 10am–3pm
Where Kensington Town Hall, 30/34 Bellair St, Kensington
Price Free entry, booking not required
40+ stalls: tarot readers, a tattooist, crystals, candles and cauldrons. Peak Halloween energy.
Checked Sat 31 Oct 2026 · Source
When Wed 4 Nov 2026 (weekly), 7:30pm–9:30pm
Where Downstairs at Bar Humbug, 586 Little Bourke St, Melbourne
Price Free, booking not required
Quick-fire free stand-up: each comic gets five minutes to test new material.
Checked Sat 31 Oct 2026 · Source
When Sat 31 Oct, Sun 1 Nov, Thu 5 – Sun 8 Nov 2026, 12pm–4pm (Thu–Fri 12pm–5pm)
Where KINGS Artist-Run, 69 Capel St, West Melbourne
Price Free, booking not required
Three new shows across three rooms at one of Melbourne's best artist-run spaces.
Checked Sat 31 Oct 2026 · Source
When Daily until Sun 8 Nov 2026 (closes), 10am–5pm
Where NGV International, Level 2, 180 St Kilda Rd, Southbank
Price Free entry
Last chance: barkcloth, fashion, photography and sculpture from across the Pacific. Closes 8 Nov.
Checked Sat 31 Oct 2026 · Source
When Opened Fri 30 Oct 2026; daily (runs to 14 Jun 2027), 10am–5pm
Where The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Level 3, Fed Square
Price Free entry
Brand-new show of bold portrait photography by Melbourne-based South Sudanese artist Atong Atem.
Checked Sat 31 Oct 2026 · Source
When Daily (runs to 7 Feb 2027), 10am–5pm
Where The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Fed Square
Price Free entry
Fungus leather, hemp fibreboard and more: design's relationship with plants. Pair it with Atong Atem upstairs.
Checked Sat 31 Oct 2026 · Source
