OUTDOOR
Zones B–E
B — Music Piazza / Main Stage · C — Outdoor Food Area · D — Italo Disco Piazza · E — Il Giardino & Kids Sport.
Italian Festa · Melbourne
Plan your weekend
17–18 October 2026 · Royal Exhibition Building & Grounds. Free entry, walk up any time.
The basics, in four icons
Event essentials
Saturday hours
11:00am – 10:30pm
Sunday hours
11:00am – 8:30pm
Venue
Royal Exhibition Building & Grounds.
Free entry
Walk-up across the weekend. Some experiences ticketed separately.
Directory
Plan Your Day
86 shows
Saturday
SatMorning11:00 amStudents Talent Show - Alessio ScalpelliTalent ShowsVerrocchi StageStudents Talent Show - Alessio Scalpelli
SatMorning11:05 amStudents Talent Show - Samanta GibbsTalent ShowsVerrocchi StageStudents Talent Show - Samanta Gibbs
SatMorning11:10 amStudents Talent Show - Flynn Pound and Robin GelsiTalent ShowsVerrocchi StageStudents Talent Show - Flynn Pound and Robin Gelsi
SatMorning11:20 amStudents Talent Show - Emily YuTalent ShowsVerrocchi StageStudents Talent Show - Emily Yu
SatMorning11:25 amStudents Talent Show - Eliana MuscatelloTalent ShowsVerrocchi StageStudents Talent Show - Eliana Muscatello
SatMorning12:00 pmAustralian Children's ChoirItalian ChoirsChildren's ShowsVerrocchi StageAustralian Children's Choir
SatLunchtime1:00 pmSanta TarantaCultural PerformancesDance PerformancesLive BandsVerrocchi StageSanta Taranta
SatLunchtime2:00 pmCiccio Nucera Ensemble Live BandsCultural PerformancesVerrocchi StageCiccio Nucera Ensemble
SatAfternoon3:00 pmAnthems Ceremony with Rebecca GulinelloItalian CultureVerrocchi StageAnthems Ceremony with Rebecca Gulinello
SatEvening8:45 pmDJ Stefano Marciano & Rebecca GulinelloDJsVerrocchi StageDJ Stefano Marciano & Rebecca Gulinello
SatMorning11:30 amPiccole Voci Geniali - CO.AS.IT. GirotondoItalian ChoirsChildren's ShowsUpstairs StagePiccole Voci Geniali - CO.AS.IT. Girotondo
SatMorning11:45 amPiccole Voci Geniali - CO.AS.IT. Doposcuola (Foundation – Grade 2)Italian ChoirsChildren's ShowsUpstairs StagePiccole Voci Geniali - CO.AS.IT. Doposcuola (Foundation – Grade 2)
SatMorning12:00 pmPiccole Voci Geniali - Brunswick North PSItalian ChoirsChildren's ShowsUpstairs StagePiccole Voci Geniali - Brunswick North PS
SatMorning12:15 pmPiccole Voci Geniali - St Martin of ToursItalian ChoirsChildren's ShowsUpstairs StagePiccole Voci Geniali - St Martin of Tours
SatLunchtime12:30 pmPiccole Voci Geniali - Brunswick East PSItalian ChoirsChildren's ShowsUpstairs StagePiccole Voci Geniali - Brunswick East PS
SatLunchtime12:45 pmPiccole Voci Geniali - Pascoe Vale PSItalian ChoirsChildren's ShowsUpstairs StagePiccole Voci Geniali - Pascoe Vale PS
SatLunchtime1:00 pmPiccole Voci Geniali - Footscray PSItalian ChoirsChildren's ShowsUpstairs StagePiccole Voci Geniali - Footscray PS
SatLunchtime2:00 pmCooking Show - Guy Grossi - AntipastoCooking ShowsUpstairs StageCooking Show - Guy Grossi - Antipasto
SatAfternoon3:30 pmCooking Show - Andrea Vignali - PrimoCooking ShowsUpstairs StageCooking Show - Andrea Vignali - Primo
SatEvening6:15 pmCooking Show - Robert Tricklebank - DolceCooking ShowsUpstairs StageCooking Show - Robert Tricklebank - Dolce
SatLunchtime2:00 pmFrom Sicily to Melbourne — A Journey Through the Sicilian Legacy of JazzJazz FestivalLive BandsItalian RegionsHeritageJazz ClubFrom Sicily to Melbourne — A Journey Through the Sicilian Legacy of Jazz
SatEvening6:00 pmChe Belle Corde! Swinging on the Strings Jazz ConcertJazz FestivalLive BandsJazz ClubChe Belle Corde! Swinging on the Strings Jazz Concert
Sunday
SunLunchtime12:50 pmVeneto Club ChoirItalian ChoirsCultural PerformancesVerrocchi StageVeneto Club Choir
SunAfternoon2:30 pmMaritozzi Eating CompetitionCompetitionsVerrocchi StageMaritozzi Eating Competition
SunAfternoon3:00 pmWomen in Music - Gisella CozzoLive BandsItalian ClassicVerrocchi StageWomen in Music - Gisella Cozzo
SunAfternoon3:30 pmWomen in Music - Fabiola Live BandsItalian ClassicVerrocchi StageWomen in Music - Fabiola
SunAfternoon4:00 pmWomen in Music - Alessia LicitraLive BandsItalian ClassicVerrocchi StageWomen in Music - Alessia Licitra
SunAfternoon4:30 pmWomen in Music - Rebecca GulinelloLive BandsItalian ClassicVerrocchi StageWomen in Music - Rebecca Gulinello
SunMorning11:30 amPiccole Voci Geniali - Brunswick KinderItalian ChoirsChildren's ShowsUpstairs StagePiccole Voci Geniali - Brunswick Kinder
SunMorning11:45 amPiccole Voci Geniali - CO.AS.IT. Doposcuola (Grades 3–6)Italian ChoirsChildren's ShowsUpstairs StagePiccole Voci Geniali - CO.AS.IT. Doposcuola (Grades 3–6)
SunMorning12:00 pmPiccole Voci Geniali - Brunswick South PSItalian ChoirsChildren's ShowsUpstairs StagePiccole Voci Geniali - Brunswick South PS
SunMorning12:15 pmPiccole Voci Geniali - Rowville PSItalian ChoirsChildren's ShowsUpstairs StagePiccole Voci Geniali - Rowville PS
SunLunchtime12:30 pmPiccole Voci Geniali - St Louis de MontfortItalian ChoirsChildren's ShowsUpstairs StagePiccole Voci Geniali - St Louis de Montfort
SunLunchtime12:45 pmPiccole Voci Geniali - Kew East PSItalian ChoirsChildren's ShowsUpstairs StagePiccole Voci Geniali - Kew East PS
SunLunchtime1:00 pmPiccole Voci Geniali - Princes HillItalian ChoirsChildren's ShowsUpstairs StagePiccole Voci Geniali - Princes Hill
SunLunchtime2:00 pmCooking Show - Akela Nevelli - AntipastoCooking ShowsUpstairs StageCooking Show - Akela Nevelli - Antipasto
SunAfternoon3:00 pmCooking Show - Alessandro Luppolo - DolceCooking ShowsUpstairs StageCooking Show - Alessandro Luppolo - Dolce
SunAfternoon4:00 pmCooking Show - Luca Ciano - PrimoCooking ShowsUpstairs StageCooking Show - Luca Ciano - Primo
SunEvening5:30 pmCooking Show - Giacomo Guerrieri - SecondoCooking ShowsUpstairs StageCooking Show - Giacomo Guerrieri - Secondo
SunLunchtime2:00 pmCinema Italiano: Jazz Impressions from the Italian ScreenJazz FestivalLive BandsItalian FilmItalian ClassicJazz ClubCinema Italiano: Jazz Impressions from the Italian Screen
Both Days
Sat + SunAll dayKid's Soccer with Kew East FCSoccer ActivationsSports & GamesZone AKid's Soccer with Kew East FC
Sat + SunAll dayBroadcasting with Radio ItalianaBroadcasting & PodcastsZone CBroadcasting with Radio Italiana
Sat + SunAll dayBroadcasting with SBS ItalianBroadcasting & PodcastsZone CBroadcasting with SBS Italian
MAP & ZONES
Where everything lives
Three precinct levels — outdoor, indoor ground floor, gallery level.
INDOOR GROUND
Zones G, H, L, M, N
Market Experience & Retail. The full indoor market hall with food, gourmet goods and artisan stalls.
GALLERY · UPSTAIRS
Zone O
Bar Italia — premium food & drinks lounge.
GALLERY · UPSTAIRS
Zones Q, R, S, T
Q — Art & Design · R — Community / Jazz Club · S — Expo Sapori · T — Indoor Stage & Cooking Demos.
The Royal Exhibition Building & Grounds is well connected — leave the car at home if you can
Getting there
Train
Parliament Station, 10 min walk through the Gardens.
Tram
Routes 86, 96 and free City Circle stop nearby.
Car & parking
Limited on-street parking. Closest paid: Melbourne Museum carpark.
Bike
Multiple Bicycle Network parking points around the precinct.
/ 13 — FAQs
Frequently asked
Tickets, accessibility, kids, logistics — answered.
Parliament Station is about a 10-minute walk through the Carlton Gardens, and Melbourne Central around 15 minutes. Trams 86 and 96 stop at the Royal Exhibition Building / Melbourne Museum, and the free City Circle tram stops nearby. Getting there · Festival map
Paid parking is at the Melbourne Museum underground car park (entry from Rathdowne Street). Street parking nearby is limited, so arrive early if you drive, or come by tram or train. Getting there
Yes. There are Bicycle Network parking points around the precinct. Getting there · Festival map
Yes. The interactive festival map shows every stall, stage, bar and amenity, including toilets and accessibility services, and is updated right up to the weekend, so bookmark it on your phone. Printed maps are available at the info points on the day. Show times: show program.
Both. The market hall, Expo Sapori, the Jazz Club, Bar Italia, the Kids' Area and the Upstairs Stage are inside the Royal Exhibition Building; La Piazza, the Verrocchi Stage, La Discoteca and Il Giardino are outdoors. You can move freely between them. Festival map
Yes. The market hall, the Gallery level and much of the seating are under cover, so there is always somewhere dry. Outdoor programming may be adjusted in heavy weather. Festival map
Yes. There is seating throughout the outdoor precinct, beach-style resting areas in the Birra Moretti Beer Garden (Il Giardino), and plenty of covered space inside the Royal Exhibition Building and on the Gallery level. Festival map
Yes. Toilets, including accessible toilets, are inside and around the Royal Exhibition Building and Museum Plaza, with more amenities across the outdoor zones. Festival map
Yes, there is on-site first aid all weekend. Ask any staff member or volunteer for the nearest First Aid point, or check the festival map.
Yes. Go to the nearest info point, marked on the festival map, and talk to the volunteers. After the event, email mif@coasit.com.au or call (03) 9349 9000.
No, there is no cloakroom or luggage storage, so travel light. Info points can help with directions and lost property but cannot store bags.
Take the stairs or the lifts inside the Royal Exhibition Building. Upstairs are Expo Sapori (Zone S), the Jazz Club (Zone R), Bar Italia (Zone O), the Art & Design exhibition (Zone Q), the Upstairs Stage (Zone T) and the CO.AS.IT. Kids' Area. First Floor guide · Festival map
Ask any staff member or volunteer, or go to an info point, marked on the festival map. Info points have printed maps and handle lost property. For medical help, ask for the nearest First Aid point.
/ Stay connected
Stay in the loop
Schedule updates land first via email. Sign up to be the first to know when programs and timetables drop.