The Open House Melbourne 2026 weekend program has been announced, with over 180 tours, talks and unique experiences at Melbourne’s most exciting places and spaces scheduled to take place from Friday 24 July–Sunday 26 July.
The annual festival provides a rare chance for the public to peek behind the closed doors of the city’s most intriguing buildings and private residences. Expecting 70,000 attendees over the three days, the 2026 weekend is themed “Generous City,” exploring “how design, creativity and architecture can foster a culture of openness, offering space, care and possibility for all the people who live, work and play here,” said Open House Melbourne’s executive director and chief curator, Tania Davidge.
“Our mission is to connect people to good design and inspire public conversations about the future of our city,” Davidge added. “The Open House Melbourne weekend is the ideal time to explore and celebrate the places and spaces that make our city the best in the world and to learn about how we are making it a more generous place for all Melburnians.”
This year’s program includes first looks at recently completed projects such as Footscray Hospital by Cox Architecture, Billard Leece Partnership and Tract Consultants; Melbourne Quarter by FK; Denton Corker Marshall, Woods Bagot, Aspect Studios and Oculus; Melbourne Metro by Hassell, Weston Williamson and Partners and Roger Stirk Harbour and Partners; Nightingale Umarkoo Wayi by Kennedy Nolan and Amanda Oliver Gardens; Swift Walk by Kerstin Thompson Architects, Hayball, Lian Architects, SBLA Studio and DKO; Piccolo House Gore Street by Woods Bagot, Hecker Guthrie and Acre; BVIA on Bank by Agius Scorpo Architects; Gate 8 by Rothelowman; Social Housing at Northumberland Road, Pascoe Vale, by Caleb Smith Architect and John Patrick Landscape Architects; Melbourne Airport’s new Drop Off and Pick Up Zones by Grimshaw; the Invicta House refurbishment by Plus Studio; the Potter Museum of Art refurbishment by Wood Marsh; and the refurbished Ian Potter State Theatre by NH Architecture and Snøhetta, among many more.
In terms of residential projects on offer, attendees can visit 10 private homes, including Two Sisters by Breathe Architecture; Stables House by Rob Kennon Architects; Materia: A St Kilda Passivhaus by Obsessive Architecture; Light Well House by Ian James Smith, with interiors by Simone Haag; and Lola’s House by Maggie Edmond in association with Claire Sisson.
A highlight of the program also includes the ability to stop by the offices of leading architecture and design studios, such as ARM, Bates Smart, Wardle, Hassell and Snøhetta.
The full program and process for booking tickets can be accessed on the Open House Melbourne website.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
