Beat the heat – explore playable exhibitions and cool gallery spaces this summer
With three art galleries and museums of culture, and a range of great (airconditioned!) restaurants and bars – it’s easy to escape the summer heat at Fed Square. Remember, there are hydration stations throughout the Square, so BYO water bottle and make sure you slip, slop, slap!
Stay cool this summer, Melbourne.
Explore the 13th Koorie Art Show at KHT. Free entry, open daily 10am–5pm.
- Installation view of 13th Koorie Art Show, on display until 22 February 2026, Koorie Heritage Trust (KHT), Birrarung Building, Fed Square. Photo: Christian Capurro.
The 13th Koorie Art Show is an annual open-entry exhibition at Koorie Heritage Trust (KHT), which showcases First Peoples artistic talent from around Victoria.
Featuring work by emerging and established artists, all works in the exhibition are for sale – so while you’re exploring, you might just find something you’d like to take home.
The 13th Koorie Art Show 2025 is on until 22 February 2026 at Koorie Heritage Trust (KHT). Level 2 of the Birrarung Building at Fed Square.
Dive into ACMI’s playable exhibition, Game Worlds. Open daily, with extended hours until 26 January.
- Installation view of Game Worlds, a playable exhibition open at ACMI until 29 March 2026. Photo: Matto Lucas.
ACMI’s Game Worlds exhibition has extended opening hours this month, so even more time in the day to play.
You can check out micro games created just for the exhibition, explore major titles like Minecraft or the Elder Scrolls online, nerd-out in nostalgic bliss with old faves like Sims, Neopets or Stardew Valley – or try out new games by local indie developers, like Hollow Knight: Silksong.
The exhibition spans 50 years of play, and features 44 playable moments – providing plenty of opportunity to chill out this summer. Nice!
If you’re merch-inclined, you can also check out the ACMI Shop afterwards, to kit yourself out in some limited-edition exclusive Game Worlds apparel, or bring a piece of your favourite game world into your real world, by picking up a Neopets official cookbook or your own D&D Amulet of Health.
Games Worlds is open until Sunday 29 March 2026. Summer extended hours run until 26 January, open 10am–6pm daily. Tickets $17–$30. Check out the range of ACMI Shop Game Worlds exclusives online or in-store.
Explore free exhibitions at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia. Open daily, 10am–5pm.
- Installation view of Rigg Design Prize 2025, on display until 1 February 2026 at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia. Photo: Madeleine Burke.
On until 1 February, you can explore ambitious works by emerging designers as part of the Rigg Design Prize 2025 – Next in Design. The triennial exhibition is free to visit, and showcases some of the work of Australia’s most exciting early-career designers, across ceramics, woodwork, lighting, textiles, metalwork and more.
It’s also a great opportunity to check out ongoing free exhibitions such as Wurrdha Marra, where you can explore First Nations art (we’d highly recommend a visit to Bark Salon), and Australian art from the NGV Collection, where you can find some of Australia’s most best-known paintings, such as Frederick McCubbin’s famous triptych, The Pioneer (1904).
The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia is open daily, 10am–5pm.
Time for some R&R… pop by a bar for a cool drink.
- Spritzes at Transport Hotel.
All this walking around, you’ll need a wee sit and a cool bevvie, we think.
Drop by Transport Hotel for a spritz, a soft drink or one of their many beers on tap, head up to Transit Rooftop Bar if you’re after an outdoor breeze and views over the arts precinct and Birrarung with a mocktail or cocktail in hand – or pop into Beer Deluxe for a brew or two.
At Riverland, you’ll get the benefit of riverside breezes under the shade of umbrellas as you cool down with a glass of chilled rosé or a beer, or at Chocolate Buddha you’ll find a great range of chilled sake and delicious Japanese soft drinks.
At Time Out, come early for an iced latte, or cool down quick-smart with a frozen mango daiquiri. Yum!
Check out Fed Square’s bars + restaurants. You can drop in, or secure your table by booking online.
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