Now or Never 2026: 250+ artists, sleep concert, light installations in Melbourne

Now or Never, Melbourne's festival of art, ideas, sound and technology, returns for its fourth edition from 19 to 30 August 2026. The program features over 250 local and international artists and more than 150 events across iconic venues and public spaces, including 20 premieres and festival exclusives. Highlights include SOMNIA, an overnight sleep concert by William Basinski (US) and Bendik Giske (NO) at the Royal Exhibition Building; a tribute to Philip Glass with Orchestra Victoria and Maki Namekawa (JPN); free large-scale light installations along the Yarra River by AKA Chang (TW) and Emily Parsons-Lord; Chunky Move's world premiere 'Time Remaining' at Melbourne Town Hall; and a late-night music program with A.Chal, Octave One, Robin Fox, and others. Other events include Mindy Seu's 'A Sexual History of the Internet' at State Library Victoria, Cory Doctorow's 'Enshittification', and Feng Mengbo's 'Long March: Restart' at ACMI. The festival theme is 'A Whole New World', exploring cultural shifts driven by immersive technologies, AI, and digital storytelling. Tickets go on sale 18 June 2026.