Australian Grand Prix - The must attend festivals and events in Melbourne during the Australian Grand Prix

‍

Home to McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Alpine's Jack Doohan, the Australian Grand Prix is a fan favorite on the Formula 1 calendar. Not just because of the great racing and atmosphere, but also because of all the off track events that take place around Melbourne! Last year, the race weekend was filled with different functions that took place all around the city - read about them all here.

For 2025, here is our list of the best parties and events happening in Melbourne during the Australian Grand Prix.

Attend an AFL Match

The Australian Football League (AFL) will be starting off strong just ahead of the 2025 Australian Grand Prix. Melbourne is known as the 'sporting capital' of Australia as they famously host a variety of sporting events such as the Australian Open, the Australian Grand Prix and even the Melbourne Cup Horse Race.

Over the course of the race weekend, there will be a few different AFL matches taking place that fans can attend when they're not at the track. Richmond will be playing Carlton at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. This match will take place on March 13th, ahead of the match between Hawthorn and Essendon which takes place on Friday, March 14th. There are two matches taking place on the Saturday at the Marvel Stadium in Docklands and at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

If you're interested in purchasing tickets for a game, head over to StubHub to see prices and availability!

The Reserve Drivers Podcast Live

Tim McDonald and Luke Rocca have a comedy podcast where they chat all things Formula 1 and motorsport. The boys will be hosting a live podcast at the Corner Hotel in Richmond on Tuesday March 11th. Attendees can expect some trivia, prizes, laughs and more!

Tickets are available for purchase here.

When: March 11th at 7:00 PM

Where: Corner Hotel (Richmond, VIC)

Cost: $40

Concerts and Live Music

The Australian Grand Prix will be hosting a live music festival over the course of the three day race weekend. Fans who have purchased a ticket for the 2025 Formula 1 Louis Vuitton Australian Grand Prix will have immediate access to any of the concerts lined up with the Lakeside Festival.

Friday

• The Living End
• SpiderBait

Saturday

• Tones and I
• Baker Boy

Sunday

• Fatboy Slim
• Anna Lunoe

Although the Lakeside Festival is associated with the Australian Grand Prix, there are also a variety of other concerts taking place in and around Melbourne during the same dates as the race weekend. On Monday, March 10th, the Irish post-punk band Fontaines D.C. will be performing at Palace Foreshore in St. Kilda. On March 11th to March 12th, Kasabian will be playing two nights at the Forum Melbourne.

Cigarettes After Sex will be bringing their world tour to Melbourne during the Australian Grand Prix. They will be playing two shows at the rod Layer Arena on March 11th and 12th.

The Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria will be hosting numerous concerts, kicking off the race week with Live at the Gardens performances by DJ Groove Armada, Boy & Bear and Lake Street Dive. Lastly, if you're staying in Melbourne for a while after the race weekend has concluded, head over to the Rod Laver Arena to watch Dua Lipa kicking off her 2025 Radical Optimism tour. She will be playing for five nights, starting on March 17th.

Queen Victoria Market

The Queen Victoria Market is the largest open air market in the Southern hemisphere. It is located in the heart of the city and is home to countless small businesses. There are a variety of things to purchase ranging from clothing, art, homewares, jewellery, skincare, pet supplies, flowers and books. There are also numerous stands selling fresh produce, artisan cheeses, baked goods and lastly, the market has many cafes for a mid day pick-me-up coffee!

Hours:

Monday: CLOSED

Tuesday: 6am - 3pm

Wednesday: CLOSED

Thursday: 6am - 3pm

Friday: 6am - 3pm

Saturday: 6am - 4pm

Sunday: 9am - 4pm

Cost: Free to enter

‍

Find out more here.

Phillip Island and Adelaide Motorsport Festivals

If you’re heading to Australia ahead of the 2025 Australian Grand Prix, head down to the Phillip Island Motorsport Festival!‍ The annual Phillip Island Classic - Festival of Motorsport will be taking place on March 7th to 9th. Fans can expect to see a staggering 400 historical cars over the course of the festival. These cars range from different series, to years, to drivers. Tickets range from $30 - $60 for the weekend, giving attendees full access to all the cars, drivers and owners of the cars.

When: March 7th - 9th starting at 5:30 PM

Where: Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit

Cost: $30 - $60

Find out more here.

Similarly to the Phillip Island Festival of Motorsports, the Repco Adelaide Motorsport Festival will also be running from March 8th to 9th at the Victoria Park section of the Adelaide Street Circuit. There will also be a variety of cars on display, showcasing gorgeous vehicles from the 70s, 80s, and 90s, and even featuring cars from earlier decades. Valtteri Bottas, Damon Hill, and Guenther Steiner are among the confirmed attendees for the event. Ticket prices are more expensive in comparison to the Phillip Island Festival, ranging from $20 - $1200, depending on the ticket package purchased. 

When: March 8th - 9th starting at 8:15 AM

Where: Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi (Park 16), on the Victoria Park section of the Adelaide Street Circuit

Cost: $20 - $1,200

For more information, check out the official website here.

Pubs and Bars around Albert Park Circuit

The F1 Australian GP 2025 weekend offers more than just high-speed racing action; it's also an opportunity to experience the Melbourne vibrant nightlife scene. There are plenty of great pubs and bars to visit after the excitement of an F1 race at the Albert Park Circuit.

Here's a list of some of the best options nearby:

• The Imperial Rooftop- The Imperial Hotel Bourke Street offers a Rooftop bar that has one of the best views of the Melbourne Skyline. It includes a short cocktail list and many delicious sharing bites.
• Union Electric Bar - This casual bar in Melbourne serves some of the best cocktails and craft beers. The atmosphere is buzzing and the rooftop bar elevates ambiance of the venue.
• Prince Alfred Hotel Richmond- Prince Albert Hotel is one of the best local pubs with such an exuberant atmosphere and nightly specials every day of the week! Another perk is that visitors can bring their dogs with them as the beer garden now accommodates pets.

Looking for more on the Australian Grand Prix?

If you’re attending the Australian GP now or in the future, we highly recommend starting with our “Know Before You Go” discussion for all the insider tips and tricks you need to maximize your experience.

When you’re finished, jump into the Grand Prix Travel community on FanAmp and Reddit to ask questions and connect with other avid F1 fans.