There’s a special kind of magic that settles over Melbourne in the winter, and for ten days, the city’s streets and iconic venues transform into a playground of art, ideas, and sound. That’s the power of the Now or Never festival.
More than just a collection of events, it’s a bold, boundary-pushing exploration of the future. A place where art, technology, and thought collide. From mesmerizing light installations to groundbreaking music and unforgettable talks, the festival challenges you to look past what’s in front of you and imagine what’s next.
With a city-wide program of over 140 free and ticketed events, it can feel a little overwhelming, so here’s a guide to some of the essential experiences you can’t miss.
For a Gay Old Time
After selling out shows nationwide, Queer PowerPoint is back in Melbourne for what’s billed as its “biggest, gayest show yet.”
This isn’t your average corporate presentation. Hosted at Fed Square, this live, experimental performance series invites queer artists, thinkers, and “glorious weirdos” to share their deepest passions and “most cooked theories” using Microsoft’s most mundane medium.
It’s an evening of surprise, laughter, and star wipes that reclaims and queers the corporate presentation. It’s a perfect example of the festival’s ethos, taking the ordinary and making it extraordinary, with a whole lot of queer joy.
For the Rhythm-Obsessed
For music lovers, the Melbourne Town Hall is the central nervous system of the festival. Across four nights, this historic space is taken over by some of the most innovative names in electronic music.
The lineup is a veritable who’s who of global talent, including techno-pop icon Marie Davidson, Japanese visual and sound artist Ryoji Ikeda with his Australian premiere of ultratronics, New York-based musician DJ Python, and the always-eclectic Logic1000 and Young Marco.
The music here is a sensory journey that blends immersive sound and light, turning the Melbourne Town Hall into an epic, pulsing, and truly transcendent dance floor.
For the art lovers
One of the best things about Now or Never is the opportunity to see monumental art installations for free. These are immersive, often interactive works that fundamentally transform the spaces they inhabit and welcome Melburnians into some of our most stunning public buildings.
Step inside the magnificent Royal Exhibition Building to find it completely transformed by a monumental, monochromatic recycled pink inflatable. This immersive installation dubbed MATRIA is accompanied by an ambient soundscape and is the perfect place to relax with a matching pink pillow.
Einder at Melbourne Town Hall is a towering 20-metre-long kinetic light and sound installation by Dutch artist Boris Acket, this piece features flowing textiles that dance in atmospheric waves overhead. Delivi at State Library Victoria is a large-scale facade projection that uses artificial intelligence to create a mind-bending audio-visual hallucination on the side of the State Library. It’s a hypnotic and free public spectacle that makes braving a cold winters night in the city much more enjoyable.
Whatever you’re into, Now or Never is a festival that encourages you to be curious, to get lost, and to step into the unknown. It’s a true celebration of Melbourne’s creative spirit, offering glimpses into possible futures while celebrating the here and now.
So go, explore, and let the city’s vibrant energy carry you from a quiet art installation to a thumping dance floor. You’ll be glad you did.
– The Plus Ones
