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

Nocturnal: Museum After Dark

First Thursday of the month

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

Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre at Melbourne Museum.
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

A person viewing the large mural artworks in Birrarung Gallery
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

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

Museum goers exploring Dinosaur Walk after night.
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!

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!

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.

Music by Mr Weir

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

Mr Weir in a white linen shirt peeking from behind a fan that says ' I'm your fan'.
Mr Weir

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 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 [email protected] to discuss how we can support your visit.