Nocturnal: Museum After Dark

ROME: Empire, Power, People

6 to 9pm | Touring Hall, Lower Ground Level | Exhibition 

Portrait of Augustus from the late reign of Augustus (27 BCE – 14CE) / Source: Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Firenze

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

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.

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!

Special performances by Harpist Genevieve Fry

6pm, 7pm & 8pm | Bath House, ROME: Empire, Power, People exhibition | 30-minute Live musical Performance 

Genevieve Fry is a Narrm-based interdisciplinary artist whose exploratory music and improvisational soundscapes draw inspiration from the natural world, encouraging an inward journey through deep time, memory, and sense of place.

ROME: Empire, Power, People Spot Talks

Source: Museums Victoria / Photo: Eugene Hyland

6:30, 7:30 & 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.

Antarctica with Dr. Joanna Sumner 

Joanna Sumner

6:30pm | Foyer, Ground Level | Expert Talk 

Dr Joanna Sumner is the Senior Manager of Genetic Resources at Museums Victoria Research Institute.  She was chosen as one of 80 women from around the globe who voyaged to Antarctica in November 2023 as part of the Homeward Bound Women in STEMM leadership programme. This program aims to inspire women to lead in their STEMM fields, to hone their leadership and communication skills, and contribute positively to a more sustainable future.  At Nocturnal, Jo will mostly talk about how cool penguins are and show pictures of icebergs.

Museum Masterminds with Alanta Colley

Take a break from the big questions and provide some answers at our trivia sessions. / Source: Museums Victoria

7:30pm | 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! 

Music by Ryan Powderly

Ryan Powderly

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

Ryan Powderly is a Naarm-based electronic musician, DJ and educator whose work brings together performance, teaching and community-building through music. After transitioning from student to teacher at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, he has released internationally with projects including Retiree, Transit State and Pelvis. Alongside performing, he founded electronic music school Big Racket, runs Ableton User Group Naarm and heads the label Pelvis Records. His DJ sets blend outsider dance music, local discoveries and a high-energy approach shaped by two decades in the electronic music community.

Triceratops Tour with Sydney Shuherk

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

Triceratops, Ground Level | 8pm | 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. 

Silent Disco Sound Bath in the Learning Lab Studio

6pm to 9pm | Learning Lab Studio, Ground Level | Tour

Slip on a pair of wireless headphones and sink into the Learning Lab Studio sound bath, a meditative experience where you can listen ambient beats while watching curated content within the Studio. Moving between stillness and rhythm, guests are invited to tune out the noise and reconnect through sound, sensation and shared atmosphere..