Fed Square will be the soundtrack to Melbourne’s summer as Open Air at the Square returns from 4 February 2027 with a vibrant program of free live music, outdoor cinema, street dance and cultural celebrations in the heart of the city.
The program brings together an unmissable double bill from Tuareg desert blues pioneers Tinariwen and Dutch psychedelic rock favourites Altın Gün, intimate candlelit concerts by Thelma Plum and Drifting Clouds, Garage Band for its fifth year, and the annual Afro-Caribbean Carnival, headlined by Jamaican reggae and dancehall icons King Yellowman and Queen Ifrica.
Outdoor cinema will also take centre stage with the return of Silent Cinema with Live Scores, Fed Square’s signature experience pairing five consecutive nights of epic fantasy films with original live scores.
“There’s something special about the way Melbourne comes together at Fed Square over summer,” said Fed Square Director and CEO Katrina Sedgwick.
“Open Air transforms the Square into a meeting place for extraordinary music, creativity and culture, bringing people together to discover new sounds, see some of Australia’s most-loved artists live and share unforgettable moments under the stars.”
“This year’s program celebrates the incredible talent and cultural diversity of Melbourne and the world, with experiences for everyone to enjoy – all free, and right in the heart of the city,” said Sedgwick
LIVE MUSIC:
Two internationally acclaimed acts, Tinariwen and Altın Gün, will perform for a free, one-night-only show on 27 February. Bringing together the hypnotic rhythms of Saharan blues with the kaleidoscopic sounds of psychedelic rock, this special night of world music is not to be missed.
Celebrating its fifth anniversary, Garage Band returns to the Square on 13 February, spotlighting the exciting talent emerging from Victoria’s music scene and featuring special guests Frankston garage rockers The Gnomes.
Formed by singer-guitarist Jay Millar out of a prolific Bandcamp bedroom project, the band built its name on Melbourne’s pub circuit before going on to release an album and tour internationally. They’ll be joined by rising Melbourne four-piece Salmon Sisters, whose raucous blend of garage punk, rock ’n’ roll and blues is matched by unpredictable, high-energy live performances.
Created by Melbourne-based artist and musician, JOF, Garage Band champions Victoria’s next generation of musicians through mentorship, workshops and live performance, culminating in a huge multi-performance celebration of rising talent on the Fed Square stage.
As dusk settles, the ever-popular Candlelight Concerts will present two intimate outdoor performances featuring First Nations artists. ARIA Award-winning Australian singer-songwriter Thelma Plum will take to the stage with her soulful vocals and heartfelt sound on 9 February, followed by Arnhem Land’s Drifting Clouds on 10 February whose dreamy synth-pop, feel-good disco grooves and lyrics in the traditional Yolngu language deliver a completely unique experience.
Curated by Stick Mareebo, the popular Afro Caribbean Carnival also returns to Fed Square for a free, day-to-night celebration of Afro-Caribbean music, food and soundsystem culture on 20 February. Jamaican reggae and dancehall legend King Yellowman, who rose to international fame in the 1980s, and Queen Ifrica, known for her powerful vocals and lyrics will lead the line up, alongside Melbourne-based Tribe Soundsystem, bringing the beats of the Caribbean to Melbourne’s CBD.
CINEMA:
Fed Square has curated a program of free outdoor films on its newly upgraded Big Screen – giving audiences an even bigger and more immersive cinematic experience under the summer sky. From Hollywood favourites and Valentine’s Day classics to silent films, the program spans romance, comedy, iconic music moments and epic fantasy, offering something for every kind of film lover.
Kicking off the Open Air program on 4 February, Midsumma Movies: Australian Shorts is presented by Fed Square in partnership with Melbourne Queer Film Festival and Midsumma Festival. Showcasing a selection of short films from Melbourne Queer Film Festival’s 2026 program, the evening celebrates bold queer stories from Australian filmmakers and Victorian talent.
On 14 February, Valentine’s Day brings with it a double feature of In the Mood for Love (2000) and Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011). Whether planning a date night or an evening with friends, audiences can enjoy two very different takes on cinema and love.
From 15 to 19 February, Fed Square’s Silent Cinema with Live Scores sees some of Australia’s leading musicians-composers and DJs perform live scores alongside silent films on the Big Screen.
Audiences are invited to journey through the strange, surreal and fantastical, with highlights including: the 1925 American silent horror The Phantom of the Opera, adapted from Gaston Leroux’s 1910 novel of the same name and screened with a new live DJ score; and a special centenary screening of Fritz Lang’s groundbreaking science-fiction masterpiece Metropolis (1927), accompanied by The New Pollutants.
Brazilian-born composer and multi-instrumentalist Alcides Neto bringing to life one of cinema’s great landmarks, Robert Wiene’s The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari; and W.W. Young’s Alice in Wonderland (1915), with live score by Kasinda and Agaracha Orchestra.
The following week from 22 to 25 February, film lovers can enjoy a cinematic dose of nostalgia as part of the And the Oscar Goes To film series celebrating four films that have stood the test of time. The program spans the gripping racial drama of In the Heat of the Night (1967), the romantic charm of Cher in Moonstruck (1987), the outlaw legend of Bonnie & Clyde (1967), and the irreverent British humour of A Fish Called Wanda (1988).
Rounding out the season’s film offering is six nights of legendary live music documentaries from 1 – 8 March. From the 1985 Live Aid benefit concert to Martin Scorsese’s The Last Waltz, the week celebrates some of the most iconic performances, artists and moments in music history on the Big Screen.
CULTURE & COMMUNITY:
On 5 February, the hit show of Mardi Gras, They Will Be Kings, lands at Fed Square as part of Midsumma Festival, exploring the politics of joy, power and gender. Created by Kaz Therese and The King Coach, Danica Lani, the work unites some of Australia’s most exciting trans activists, Drag King performers and award-winning artists to reimagine queer history in 21st-century Australia.
Returning on 6 February, Nongkrong: Pasar Senja (Twilight Fair) celebrates Australian-Indonesian culture with a free, family-friendly twilight fair featuring live music, dance, food, markets and workshops. Inspired by the Indonesian tradition of gathering at dusk to eat, unwind and nongkrong (hang out); this year’s event celebrates the diversity of Indonesian culture as Lunar New Year and the start of Ramadan fall on the same weekend.
ON&ON: Street Dance Festival comes to Fed Square for six days from 16 to 21 February bringing dancers, artists, DJs and communities celebrating street and club dance culture across Melbourne. Presented by Fed Square and Cypher Culture as part of Open Air at the Square, the festival features the return of City Sessions, Melbourne’s longest-running freestyle dance battle.
Open Air at the Square takes place at Fed Square, Melbourne, from 4 February – 8 March 2027. For more information and full program, visit: www.fedsquare.com for details.
Images: Afro Caribbean Carnival – photo by Cam Cope | The Gnomes – photo by Danysha Harriott | Thelma Plum (supplied) | Baby Talk (film still) | The Phantom of the Opera (film still) | They Will Be Kings – photo by Tanja Bruckner