Now or Never

Now or Never is a major new festival running in Melbourne from Thursday August 17 to Sunday September 2.

Exploring the intersection of art, ideas, sound and technology, here are some of our top picks.

A Specially Curated Menu Featuring Matched Wines and Artworks on a 360-Degree Screen: Welcome to the Neversphere

Food & DrinkAcross four nights this winter, the Neversphere will light up with immersive artwork and a curated menu from Supernormal’s executive chef, Ben Pollard. In partnership with the City of Melbourne, we sit down with Pollard to discuss the menu, the artwork and what diners can expect from the night.

A Seven-Metre Tall Human Head, Bubbles That Burst Into Fog and Eternally High Light Beams: What To Expect From the 1.2-Kilometre Art Trail Coming to Melbourne

EntertainmentA 1.2-kilometre art trail set to debut as part of Now or Never. In partnership with City of Melbourne, we go behind the scenes with curator-at-large Lubi Thomas, to find out what went into building the work and what visitors can expect to see.

Now or Never Festival

Art & DesignA multi-sensory dining experience by Supernormal, music festivals inside the Royal Exhibition Building, a pop-up 360-degree dome cinema, a 1.2-kilometre art trail, Semi Permanent’s new conference and more are taking over the city.

Coming Soon: Four Huge Nights of Live Music at the Royal Exhibition Building, Part of New City-Wide Festival Now or Never

EntertainmentThe World Heritage-listed building is being taken over by the crew behind Pitch and Beyond the Valley for one pulsating club night. Other events include an exclusive conference by Semi Permanent and a set played in total darkness by UK duo Autechre, with more to be announced.

Eight Unmissable Shows From Melbourne’s Cutting-Edge Arts and Technology Festival Now or Never

EntertainmentFor its second year, the festival has curated a dizzying program of live performance and future thinking. Where do you even start? Here are our eight picks for events you shouldn’t miss – from silent symphonies to world-exclusive team-ups.

Actor Bojana Novakovic on Reimagining Shakespeare for the Malthouse Theatre’s Macbeth: An Undoing

EntertainmentShakespeare’s Lady Macbeth is typically seen as a ruthless, manipulative and ultimately tragic figure. But is that a fair interpretation? In partnership with Malthouse Theatre, actor Bojana Novakovic talks about reinterpreting (and reclaiming) one of the canon’s most enduring female characters.

The Trailblazing Artists Taking Over Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building This August

EntertainmentMelbourne’s adventurous new arts and future thinking festival, Now or Never, returns for a second run in 2024. Its flagship venue is again the grand Royal Exhibition Building, which will host four nights of experimental electronic and audio-visual works. Now or Never artistic director Elise Peyronnet talks us through the highlights.

A World-Renowned Artist Is Transforming the Shrine of Remembrance With Light Projections and Soundscapes

Art & DesignFor just two nights, the war memorial will be the canvas for a world premiere commission from Hungarian artist László Bordos, who applies multilayered light projections to global landmarks using sophisticated 3D-mapping tech. In partnership with Now or Never, we find out about his process and how he drew on both history and architecture to create the exclusive new work.

Roman Coppola, Cyberfeminism and Ta-ku: What to Expect from Never Permanent, a New One-Day Event by Semi Permanent as Part of the Inaugural Now or Never Festival

EntertainmentExpect conversations around innovation in creative industries, including the idea that AI is coming for design and arts jobs. In partnership with Now or Never, curator Mitchell Oakley Smith talks us through highlights from the stacked program.

Other Series

Newly Opened

A Specially Curated Menu Featuring Matched Wines and Artworks on a 360-Degree Screen: Welcome to the Neversphere

A Seven-Metre Tall Human Head, Bubbles That Burst Into Fog and Eternally High Light Beams: What To Expect From the 1.2-Kilometre Art Trail Coming to Melbourne

Now or Never Festival

Coming Soon: Four Huge Nights of Live Music at the Royal Exhibition Building, Part of New City-Wide Festival Now or Never

Eight Unmissable Shows From Melbourne’s Cutting-Edge Arts and Technology Festival Now or Never

Actor Bojana Novakovic on Reimagining Shakespeare for the Malthouse Theatre’s Macbeth: An Undoing

The Trailblazing Artists Taking Over Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building This August

A World-Renowned Artist Is Transforming the Shrine of Remembrance With Light Projections and Soundscapes

Roman Coppola, Cyberfeminism and Ta-ku: What to Expect from Never Permanent, a New One-Day Event by Semi Permanent as Part of the Inaugural Now or Never Festival

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