Royal Exhibition Building

In 2026 Now or Never makes a grand return to the Royal Exhibition Building and Melbourne Museum, with Museums Victoria supporting the transformative festival as Foundation Partner.

This year, in partnership with Museums Victoria, Now or Never will present a range of exciting programs:

✨ Experience the Royal Exhibition Building like never before, with SOMNIA: William Basinski / Bendik Giske - an immersive, overnight sleep concert under the building's mesmerising Dome.

✨Unearth the hidden ecosystem beneath our feet when Melbourne Museum hosts the Secret Life of Soil - with Author and host of Gardening Australia, Hannah Moloney, alongside Museums Victoria’s Collection Manager of Terrestrial Invertebrates, Simon Hinkley.

Also at the Royal Exhibition Building:

✨ Philip Glass: Piano Etudes + In the Upper Room - a transcendent concert event celebrating visionary composer Philip Glass, with euphoric performances by renowned pianist Maki Namekawa and Orchestra Victoria.

✨ The Breath Haus x Now or Never - an introspective guided breathwork experience, alongside a performance by acclaimed musicians Daniel and David Wilfred of Hand to Earth.

🎟️ Get your tickets and delve into the full program here: https://brnw.ch/21x3txt

A wonderful shot of the Royal Exhibition Building captured in the reflection of Melbourne Museum.

Beautifully taken by .

Take a look at this photo taken from the 1880 Melbourne International Exhibition.

Picture galleries of various countries were situated on the first-floor balconies of the main Exhibition Building, however due to the large volume of British works sent out, several of them were hung alongside those by local artists.

What you see here is a photograph taken underneath the dome inside the Royal Exhibition Building at the time of the 1880 Melbourne International Exhibition.

Looking towards the north-west corner of the dome, you can still notice the intricate detail of the murals adorning the walls and ceiling.

Check out the original French Foutain in the eastern forecourt of the Royal Exhibition Building.

Although it is unclear when the fountain was removed, photographs showing the eastern forecourt in the early twentieth century already reveal that the fountain had been replaced by the current design, manufactured by Antoine Durenne.

Did you know that the Royal Exhibition Building was once used to hold a Roman Catholic Service in the Great Hall to celebrate the Centenary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Melbourne in 1948?

It goes to show the many different purposes the Royal Exhibition Building has had over the years.

Explore the history and opulence of a Melbourne architecture icon on a Royal Exhibition Building Dome Promenade Tour.

Wander through the halls of the building before climbing up to the Dome Promenade to experience stunning 360-degree views.

Limited tours available in June.
🎟️ Book now 👉 https://brnw.ch/21x2ZeX

Creative Victoria

A blast from the past!

Taken during the 1880 Melbourne International Exhibition, this is the view from just near the east-west tramway that crossed the avenue, looking back towards the Great Hall with the Victorian Court on the left.

If you look closely, you can even spot exhibits of the British Court on the right, among them a display case of whips from G and J Zair of Birmingham.

In 1940, in the months after the outbreak of WWII, the Exhibition Buildings complex was requisitioned by the Royal Australian Air Force and used as a barracks and training facility. By 1942 more than 2000 men of the RAAF had been stationed at the Exhibition Buildings, alongside members of the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force.

This photograph is from the album of Mrs Jessie Bull, taken during the occupation of the building when she served in the WAAAF as Jessie Haughton. In a letter to Museums Victoria, she describes entries in her diary. On 4 April 1943 (a Sunday) she was Duty Driver and the ‘1st WAAAF to climb ladder to top of dome. She notes "PS: Doubt if any others did".

Discover more history of the beautiful Royal Exhibition Building and the see the view for yourself when you visit the Dome Promenade.

🔗Book tickets https://brnw.ch/21x2NfP

📷: Source Museums Victoria