A Super Full Moon rising for Melbourne’s nocturnal winter festival

Image credit: Luke Jerram, Museum of the Moon

When the moon rises above the horizon from 26 May to 6 June, the city of Melbourne will come alive after dark with a new festival called Rising, involving 750 Victorian artists. Here are our top picks.

A Miracle Constantly Repeated

Opens 26 May

The ballroom on the top floor of Flinders Street Station has been idle for 40 years but is now being re-opened, along with its surrounding hidden rooms, to accommodate hyper-real silicone sculptures, huge dioramas and a foliage canopy in a world premiere by award-winning Melbourne artist, Patricia Piccinini.

Artwork - A Miracle Constantly Repeated


Wandering Stars

26 May to 6 June

Check out an undulating 200-metre-long glowing eel skeleton and hundreds of illuminated floating lanterns on the Yarra River at Birrarung Marr, while grazing on fire-roasted snacks. The eel installation depicts the creature’s journey from our inland waterways all the way to the deep, dark depths of the Coral Sea.

Wandering Stars piece on the Yarra river


The Rivers Sing

26 to 31 May

The ancient meeting place of Birrarung Marr comes alive to the sound of singing with this epic sonic artwork, composed by the great Deborah Cheetham AO, with artists Thomas Supple and Byron J. Scullin. In the weeks preceding the Rising festival, this event will wind its way along the Birrarung (Yarra) and Maribyrnong rivers.

Image of the yarra river


The Wilds

27 May to 6 June

Sidney Myer Music Bowl

An ice-skating rink, DJ beats, a bamboo forest, video art, tunnels through mirrored fields and large fires all feature in this family-friendly outdoor event. Rug up and get amongst it!

Dome shaped structures lit up

More Information

Please note that many events require tickets.

For more information, visit the Rising website.