Adult visitors next to the Blue Whale display in the Galleria during Nocturnal at Melbourne Museum

18+ event

Nocturnal: Museum After Dark DRAFT

First Thursday of the month

Museums Victoria / Melbourne Museum / What's on / Nocturnal: Museum After Dark DRAFT

Overview Upcoming programs Gallery Accessibility

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

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

Source: Museums Victoria / Photo: Rodney Start

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

Stronger Families, Stronger Communities

Elevating the voices of nine First Nations men wo 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

Hear about Horridus the triceratops while standing around the imposing 85% complete fossil. / Source: Museums Victoria

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 with the dinosaurs! / Source: Melbourne Museum / Photo: Tobias Titz

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!

Nature Bi Design with Dr. Cat

7pm | Our Wondrous Planet, Upper Level | Expert Talk

Dr Cat of JOY 94.9's Science Queeries is exploring the animal “queendom”, because same-sex sexual behaviour is actually quite common among animals – 1,500 species and counting. At the beginning of last century, same-sex sexual behaviour was observed among different birds but was dismissed or swept under the carpet. But things are changing…

Triceratops Tour

7pm & 8:30pm | Foyer, Ground Level | Tour

Take a tour of the Triceratops exhibition and meet Horridus, the world's most complete Triceratops fossil. / Source: Museums Victoria

Embark on an insider's journey through Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs and uncover the secrets behind one of the most complete triceratops fossils ever found. Presented by Sydney Shuherk, Visitor Engagement Team Leader at Museums Victoria.

First Peoples Tour

6.30pm | First Peoples, Ground Level | Expert Talk  

Learn behind-the scenes stories about our museum and the history of our amazing collections. / Source: Museums Victoria

Learn about Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre and the First Peoples exhibition

Music by Kovac

6 to 9pm | Cafe Bar, Ground Level | Music

With nearly 20 years behind the decks, Kovac captivates dance floors with her calm energy and precision. Her extensive knowledge of music allows her to move seamlessly across genres, keeping dancers locked in and hanging onto what comes next. As a long-time Late Show (Revolver) resident, she's held down some of the city's most respected dance floors.

Program coming soon!

Gallery

people cheering with drinks in the Dinosaur Walk.

Three women stare at the massive head of a dinosaur in the Dinosaur Walk Exhibition.

Three museum goers take a break and grab a bite and a drink.

A man gives a talk in the Triceratops exhibition.

6 more

Adults listening to a talk about Horridus the triceratops while standing around the imposing 85% complete fossil.

Friends sharing a drink at Nocturnal, Melbourne Museum.

Woman among the crowds at January 2018 Nocturnal event in Melbourne Museum

Museum goers drink wine while learning about the Museum's amazing collections.

Visitors to Nocturnal x The Fashion Edition, speak to the entomology collection museum specialist in front of a table of specimen display cases, with dinosaur skeletons behind them.

Adult visitor in the Bugs Alive! exhibition during Melbourne Museum's November 2017 Nocturnal event.

ACCESSIBILITY

Please view our accessibility page for general information. Contact our team on 13 11 02 or email us at [email protected] to discuss how we can support your visit.