RISING 2026 at RISING Festival, Melbourne

RISING 2026, Melbourne's flagship festival of new art, music, and performance, runs from May 27 to June 8, expanding its program with city-wide parties, First Peoples-led works, and participatory events across clubs, streets, trams, and civic spaces. Highlights include God Save the Queens, a free Pasifika block party at Fed Square led by The Royal Family Dance Crew and featuring JessB, Lady Shaka, HALFQUEEN, Rubi Du, Kween Kong, and Neo Sun with Pasefika Victoria Choir. Land of 1000 Dances at Flinders Street Station offers mass participation dance classes in voguing, Polyswagg, Bollywood, Ballet, Melbourne Shuffle, K-pop, and more. First Peoples programming includes the return of First Peoples Melbourne Art Trams curated by Kate ten Buuren, new Legacy Tram artist Marlene Gilson OAM, and the large-scale projection work Calling Country: The Land Speaks Back at Hamer Hall.