Calling all book buffs and zine fiends! The countdown to Melbourne Art Book Fair is on.
This time next week, we’ll kick off 11 days of page-turning celebrations with great books, art, workshops, talks and events across Victoria from 14–24 May.
The beloved Stallholder Fair is back with a pop-up International Poster Biennale of Mexico display where you can snag a free poster, plus a chance to take home your very own custom hand-drawn bookmark and more…
📒 Start planning your Melbourne Art Book Fair here: artbookfair.melbourne
With thanks to Presenting Partners @Creative_Vic , @MelCityOfLit and @UNESCO and Futures Partner @RMITUniversity
Melbourne Art Book Fair is presented as part of Melbourne Design Week, an initiative of the Victorian Government through @Creative_Vic
Melbourne Design Week 2026 kicks off this time next week!
For 11 days, the city – and venues across Victoria – will buzz with exhibitions, talks, tours and events that explore how design influences the way we live, think and connect.
Whether you’re a design devotee or a festival first-timer, there’s something for everyone.
Explore cycling and walking tours of your local design neighbourhood, meet some of Melbourne’s creative community, try your hand at making something and join in conversations that will leave you with new perspectives and inspiration to design the world you want.
Dive in from 14–24 May.
Plan your week: designweek.melbourne
Presented by @NGVMelbourne and @Creative_Vic , with thanks to Major Partners @MercedesBenzAU and @Telstra , Futures Partner @RMITUniversity and Media Partners @Dezeen , @Broadsheet_Melb , @Rock_Posters and @Architecture_AU
MDW is an initiative of the Victorian Government through @Creative_Vic
Caesar Li knows fonts matter.
It’s not just what you see but how you see it – right down to the font.
For Melbourne Art Book Fair, artist @caesarxinyuan ’s three-channel video work ‘ORIENT & REORIENT’ shines a light on the ‘chop suey’ style of letterforms – often found on materials that aim to create a visual impression of something 'Chinese', like fortune cookie packaging – and the impact of imitating ‘Chineseness’ without authentic connection to the place or culture.
We caught up with the artist in Melbourne’s Chinatown for a chat about his work and where he finds inspiration.
Come and see ORIENT & REORIENT on display at NGV International, all weekend – free.
👏 Over to you, Caesar!
Scratch your weekend plans: Melbourne Art Book Fair is here!
Kicking off tomorrow at NGV International, Melbourne’s own Blinkerfluid will be hand-drawing custom bookmarks at the Stallholder Fair, all weekend – free.
Come and get between the covers with artist books, zines, magazines, photobooks and small press publishing from across Australia and the world ready for you to explore, plus a pop-up poster exhibition and more.
Come for the books, stay for the atmosphere.
📕 The Stallholder Fair opens tomorrow–Sunday, 10am–5pm. Entry is free.
🧢 Catch Blinkerfluid 11am–12pm every day of the Fair – until stocks last.
It’s official: Melbourne Design Week and Melbourne Art Book Fair are here!
Whether you’re devoted to design or just love a chance to get out and explore what’s good in your neighbourhood – this one’s for you.
From food to furniture, fitness to film, Melbourne Design Week has something for everyone.
Plus, discover incredible art and design publishing at Melbourne Art Book Fair, including the beloved Stallholder Fair this weekend in the Great Hall.
Melbourne Design Week 2026 runs from 14–24 May at locations across Victoria.
Plan ahead at designweek.melbourne and artbookfair.melbourne
Presented by @NGVMelbourne and @Creative_Vic , with thanks to Major Partners @MercedesBenzAU and @Telstra , Futures Partner @RMITUniversity and Media Partners @Dezeen , @Broadsheet_Melb , @Rock_Posters and @Architecture_AU
Melbourne Art Book Fair is brought to you with thanks to Presenting Partners @Creative_Vic , @MelCityOfLit and @UNESCO and Futures Partner @RMITUniversity
MDW is an initiative of the Victorian Government through @creative_vic . Melbourne Art Book Fair is presented as part of Melbourne Design Week, an initiative of the Victorian Government
Mary Featherston AM: a life lived by design.
From managing the interior design and fit-out of NGV in the 1960s; to producing some of Australia’s most significant modernist works; and her pioneering leadership in reimagining learning environments for children, Featherston’s practice has profoundly shaped the landscape of Australian design.
So, what inspires one of our great creative minds?
Watch on for a glimpse inside the wonderful world of @mary.featherston
Then, join her at NGV International alongside @anthony_burke__ of @granddesignsau for an exclusive after-hours conversation for Melbourne Design Week. 6:30–7:30pm next Wednesday 20 May.
🤍 Tap the link in our bio to learn more.
Hold onto your Mykis, this one’s a ride…
For Melbourne Design Week, local legend @LouisHanson hit the tracks, asking some of our city’s designers and creatives your burning questions.
Watch on as his first passenger – @adele_winteridge , designer and founder of @foolscapstudio – tells us what inspires her and Melbourne’s best date spots are revealed…
Come on the journey, then hop on the next tram to see Adele’s work in Foolscap x @songforthemute : The Souffle Reimagined next Tuesday, 19 May – free.
Click the link in bio for the details.
See you there!
❤️ Special mentions: @carnationcanteen@balambalamplace@supernormal_180@pcoffeebrewers
As we get ready to throw open the doors to Melbourne Design Week, who better to do it than some of our city’s brilliant design community (and their dogs)?
👋 Meet Georgie & Alex Cleary from @alpha60thelabel , local legends Brad & Shannon Kerr of @winsorkerr , the wonderful @deannorton , Helen Claire Davies of @femmebrutale.co and Ben Mooney of @mahousesupplystore and @georgiasmedley at @florianhome.florianhome
They’re just some of the faces behind Melbourne’s creative community and they’re ready to invite you in to Melbourne Design Week.
It’s all kicking off this Thursday in a neighbourhood near you, 14–24 May.
Check out the full program and plan your visits via the link in our bio. See you there! 📸 by @SelinaOu.Photo
🧡 Motor and child.
Australian artist @Patricia.Piccinini ’s work Nest, on display in MOTHER, presents a futuristic vision of a family of motor scooters.
The scene, showing a mother scooter watching over her baby, is both strange and familiar…
See Nest in MOTHER: Stories from the NGV Collection at NGV Australia.
We’re open 10am–5pm today (and every day) for your visits – free.
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1 Installation view of MOTHER: Stories from the NGV Collection, on display from 27 March — 12 July 2026 at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Melbourne. Photography: Phoebe Powell
2 Patricia Piccinini, Nest, 2006. National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. Purchased, Victorian Foundation for Living Australian Artists, 2006
