Midsumma is Melbourne's premier LGBTQ+ arts and culture festival — a three-week event spanning January and February that showcases queer performance, visual art, comedy, cabaret, and community events. Unlike a traditional Pride event, Midsumma is built around cultural programming first, making it one of the richest queer cultural experiences in the Southern Hemisphere.
The Midsumma Carnival at Alexandra Gardens is the festival's traditional outdoor centrepiece — a free community day with live entertainment, food, and activities that draws tens of thousands of Melburnians. It's one of Melbourne's favourite summer events regardless of sexuality.
The full Midsumma programme spans theatre, visual art, film, cabaret, comedy, dance, and community events across Melbourne's arts venues. Check midsumma.org.au for the full programme — highlights sell out quickly.
Midsumma 2026 ran 16 January – 8 February 2026. The festival presented more than 130 events across Melbourne, culminating in the Midsumma Carnival at Alexandra Gardens on 8 February.
