Common State

This month is another big one. We’ll be joining you in packed theatres, singing along with the festival crowds and going to town on cheese and wine... Here’s what’s on our May calendar so far: @melbwritersfest wrapped for another year. @revel.global : @mouldxpalooza takes over Brisbane Fri 22–Sun 24 May. @malthousetheatre ’s Game. Set. Match. runs until Fri 23 May & Pride and Prejudice premieres Thu 14 May. @alwayslivevic Victorian Vibes heads to Traralgon on Sat 16 May. @rising.melbourne & @acmionline present Reverb: The Vinyl Factory opens Thu 22 May. And there’s more still to come.

@melbwritersfest turns 40, and the 2026 program reminds us why human storytelling matters more than ever. Already in the diary: 2025 Booker Prize winner David Szalay on his new novel Flesh; Yann Martel back on Australian soil for the first time in a decade; and in a headline double bill at Town Hall, Jacinda Ardern in conversation with Virginia Trioli on leadership in crisis, and R. F. Kuang interviewed by Shelley Parker-Chan. Also on the list: Stephanie Alexander discusses finding joy in the kitchen, plus a timely panel on the rise of independent media featuring Antoinette Lattouf, Amy Remeikis, Antoun Issa and Osman Faruqi. And that’s just the beginning...

Our 6th year with @sydney_festival marked Festival Director Kris Nelson’s first, and the festival’s milestone 50th anniversary. Cover stories, live broadcast crosses, in-depth artist profiles and critical reviews across print, broadcast and online put international debuts and bold Australian work in front of Sydney audiences. Swipe for some of our highlights that helped the city celebrate half a century.

Issue 11 of The Luxury Report has landed, and this edition’s theme—Ascendancy—celebrates those at the pinnacle of their craft. Two-time Archibald Prize winner @delkathrynbarton graces the cover, opening up about the creative process behind her critically acclaimed work ahead of her recent New York solo show. We also meet the designer behind the newly restored @waldorfnyc , before heading to Champagne to meet the custodian driving @champagnesalon_ ‘s collectible status. Elsewhere, we profile visionaries reshaping industries and dive into defining trends in design, property and finance. The Luxury Report is a quarterly print publication proudly produced by Common State for @kayandburton and NAB Private Wealth. From concept development through to print production, the magazine sees Common State’s editorial and design teams flex a broad mix of creative capabilities across the worlds of art, design, culture, business and luxury.

The program has landed for @sydney_festival ’s 50th year! Under the new direction of Kris Nelson, the January 2026 edition unfolds over 18 days of daring performances, vivid public art and celebrations across Sydney. Check out the full program and see how the Festival celebrates its past while boldly stepping into the future.

Earlier this month we partnered with @rialtodistributionau on the theatrical release of epic shark thriller, Beast of War, directed by @krt_director . A campaign with no shortage of (media) bite, take a look at some of the coverage highlights that dominated the waters. 🦈 See Beast of War, in cinemas now.

The Melbourne International Jazz Festival kicks off today with another incredible line-up. Spanning 10 days, the festival gives you the opportunity to see exclusive performances and commissions, major performances on big stages, and some of the world’s best musicians in tiny venues for a truly unique experience. It’s hard to go wrong when choosing what to see, but here are 5 hidden gems of the festival that you can’t miss: 🎺 @ibrahimmaaloufofficial : He sells out stadiums all over Europe, but in true @melbjazzfestival style, you can see him in an intimate and exclusive setting with a 10-piece band, including 6 trumpets. 🪈 @melaniecharlesisdflower + @_whoallgonbethere : A journey through jazz and jazz-adjacent sounds and genres. There’s not much online about WhoAllGonBeThere, so you’re just going to have to trust us. 🌌 Night Crawl: Ok, not really hidden, but if you’re not there tonight, you’re missing out. 🥁🎷🎻🎹 @lvdf_jazz : Another new collaboration you’re going to need to take our word for, but when Giles Peterson says something’s “absolutely crazy good,” you listen. 𝄢 @jazzrefreshed presents: @amy.g.adiaga & @doomcannon : The Jazz re:freshed @steamdown show was one of our favourites from last year’s festival, and we expect no less from this year’s showcase.

Our 8th year partnering with @melbfilmfest was three weeks of cinematic glory, wrangling red carpets and world premieres while landing hundreds of stories connecting international guests with MIFF audiences. A record-breaking 2025 festival made every late night and early morning worth it. Swipe through some of our coverage highlights 👉

When @bolster.group briefed us with just weeks to spare: get @snoopdogg ’s official doppelgänger to Melbourne, we knew this was going to be a ride. @the_ericfinchofficial rolled into town in a lowrider, hitting pubs, bottle shops, and street corners across Melbourne, leaving a trail of bewildered locals in his wake. From unsuspecting shoppers doing double-takes as he stocked up on @19crimesau Cali by Snoop – his own branded wine, to unsuspecting punters at Corner Hotel getting the surprise of their lives during a live radio recording. The stunt captured imaginations (and headlines), proof that sometimes the best ideas come together in the tightest timeframes. Two weeks out, we were still securing visas. By weekend's end, Melbourne couldn't stop talking about their Snoop sightings. #CaliBySnoopSightings

@brisbanefestival 2025 is officially here, and the city is about to become completely unrecognisable, in the best possible way. Events are already happening across Brisbane tonight, the first taste of 23 days that will reimagine what this city can be. Tomorrow night’s Riverfire by Australian Retirement Trust introduces heavy payload pyrotechnic drones for the first time in Queensland, nearly 600 effects creating formations never before seen. @craigandkarl have transformed three major bridges into massive art pieces, while Stephen Page stages a ceremonial work with giant floating whale bones on the river. With 1,069 performances and nearly half of them free, Brisbane will be more exciting than ever. We’ll be sharing brilliant moments as they unfold.

Our friends at @melbjazzfestival have just unveiled their biggest program yet – 150+ performances featuring 500+ artists across 40 venues. The huge and free Night Crawl kicks off the festivities on October 17th: 100+ musicians across 11 CBD venues, transforming the city centre into your personal jazz playground. Then 10 days of exceptional music, featuring legends like Hiromi, Ibrahim Maalouf, Samara Joy, and Gary Bartz, building to a 6-hour showcase at the Bowl headlined by Harry Connick Jr. From intimate venues to grand concert halls, Melbourne is set to become a jazz lover's paradise; it's one we can't wait to be at.

From free fare at Fed Square, a world premiere dance work that ventures into the spirit realm, to the launch of the country’s most celebrated film festival and an immersive gaming exhibition spanning 50 years of video-game history, check out some of the highlights we’ve been working on for August and September: @rising.melbourne : Swingers: The Art of Mini Golf | Until Sun 21 Sept @malthousetheatre presents Pony Cam’s The Orchard | Tues 5 Aug- Sat 16 Aug @wheelercentre : International and local headliners | Wed 6 Aug - Thu 15 Nov @melbfilmfest | Thurs 7 Aug - Sun 24 Aug @chunkymove presents Phantasm | Fri 8 Aug - Sat 16 Aug REVEL: @mouldcheese x @pinotpalooza (Perth) | Fri 8 Aug - Sun 8 Aug @melbfilmfest x @orchestravictoria presents Parasite | Sat 23 Aug @brisbanefestival | Fri 5 Sept - Sat 27 Sept @fed.square : Reset Festival | Mon 1 Sept - Mon 6 Oct @malthousetheatre presents Troy | Thu 4 Sept - Thu 25 Sept @laramsanz season launch | Sat 7 Sept @acmionline presents Game Worlds | Thu 18 Sept - Sun 8 Feb