Experience Melbourne Museum after hours on the first Thursday of each month 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.
Enjoy access to ROME: Empire Power, People after-hours with your Nocturnal ticket and explore Ancient Rome’s political, cultural and social worlds in this premier exhibition.
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
Enjoy access to our newest exhibition, ROME: Empire Power, People after-hours included at no extra cost with your Nocturnal ticket and explore Ancient Rome’s political, cultural and social worlds in a more intimate setting free of children.
Date & Time
First Thursday of the month
6 to 9:30pm
Key information
Kick-on to a 9pm screening of the horror classic SUSPIRIA (1977) at IMAX Melbourne. Nocturnal ticketholders are eligible for a 25% discount online or at the Candy Bar.
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
ROME: Empire, Power, People
6 to 9pm | Touring Hall, Lower Ground Level | Exhibition
Featuring original statues, mosaics, frescoes, jewellery and everyday objects from the humblest to the most sumptuous, this Melbourne-exclusive exhibition is a vibrant exploration of Rome’s political, cultural and social life.
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.
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!
Nocturnal Thursday 6 August is dedicated to showcasing the museum's humanities journal, PRISM, ahead of the launch of its second volume on 12 August. Editor Dante Boffa, collection manager Nick Crotty and artist Veisinia Tonga will share some of the journal's research highlights, and senior curator Kate Phillips will lead a special 'Talk to Tour' focused on Melbourne Museum's landmark biodiversity exhibition, Our Wondrous Planet.
Inside Mr. Little’s Cabinet: Silverfish, Kosmos and Silver Death with Nick Crotty
6:30pm | Foyer, Ground Level | Expert Talk
Unravel a museum mystery that connects a local business, toxic compounds and prehistoric bugs, and discover the surprise that collection manager Nick Crotty discovered inside an old wooden cabinet at Scienceworks.
A Story of Repatriation with Veisinia Tonga
7pm | Foyer, Ground Level | Expert Talk
Tongan artist and storyteller Veisinia Tonga shares the powerful journey of ancestral remains returning home to the royal tombs in Malaʻe Kula after decades spent in a museum collection store.
Inspiration for ‘Our Wondrous Planet’ with Kate Phillips
7:30pm | Foyer, Ground Level | Expert Talk
Kate Phillips, Senior Curator of Science Exhibitions, will explain the conceptual foundations for the exhibition. From blue whales to bacteria, she will trace some of the extraordinary living beings and networks that sustain life on the Earth.
ROME: Empire, Power, People Spot Talks
6:30PM, 7:30PM & 8:30pm | Touring Hall, Lower Ground Level | Visitor Engagement Led Talk
Step into the grandeur of Ancient Rome in this Melbourne-exclusive exhibition featuring more than 180 original statues, mosaics, frescoes, jewellery and everyday objects, many displayed in Melbourne for the first time. Journey through the political power, luxury, rituals and daily life of the Roman Empire in an immersive experience brought to life with dramatic scenography and multimedia. These special hourly tours offer intimate access, insights from a museum guide, and the opportunity to continue exploring the exhibition at your own pace afterwards.
Triceratops Tour with Amelia Ingram
8pm | Triceratops, Ground Level | Tour
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 Operations Coordinator.
D. Tyrone
6 to 9pm | Café Bar, Ground Level | Music
D.Tyrone is a queer producer and DJ based in Naarm. After a decade of throwing DIY art exhibitions and dance parties across Aotearoa, Tyrone has found their sound in the local underground club circuit. Operating under the moniker Binaural Audio Telecommunication System (B.A.T.S.), Dirk produces sound design pieces for digital release and physical exhibitions by weaving ultrasonic recordings of microbats and synthesis.
Talks program
Coming soon!
Museum Masterminds Trivia with Alanta Colley
8pm | Foyer, Ground Level | Activity
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!
ROME: Empire, Power, People Spot Talks
6:30pm, 7:30pm, 8:30pm | Touring Hall, Lower Ground Level | Visitor Engagement Led Talk
Step into the grandeur of the Roman Empire and view more than 180 original objects that are being displayed in Melbourne for the first time. These hourly, ten-minute spot talks, held in the exhibition by a Rome exhibition guide, will offer intimate details about the exhibition and Roman life, with the opportunity to continue exploring it at your own pace afterwards.
Triceratops with Amelia Ingram
8pm | Triceratops, Ground Level | Tour
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.
Music by Steely Ann
6pm | Café bar, Ground Level | Music
Steely Ann has been spinning her supremely crafted sounds across Victoria since 2010, always delivering dynamic, high energy sets that transform bars, festivals, and dance floors. Her selections are a blend of synth-pop, funk and disco, soulful classic house and anything with serious groove to create a delectable musical journey. Steely has brought her expert touch to such events as Golden Plains Festival, Hobart’s Dark Mofo Festival, The Beechworth High Hops Festival and more. With her genre-spanning approach and immersive world building, Steely Ann continues to leave an impression long after the music fades.
related events
ACCESSIBILITY
Please view our accessibility page for general information. A sensory map of Melbourne Museum can be found on our Visual Stories page where step-by-step visual and written access guides are available. Contact our team on 13 11 02 or email us at [email protected] to discuss how we can support your visit.
