NOW OR NEVER GUIDE

The best events to catch at Melbourne’s new major festival

POLAR FORCE: SPEAK PERCUSSION

Embark on an auditory journey to Antarctica from the safety of an inflatable shelter.

CHUNKY MOVE STUDIO 30 AUG, 1–2 SEP

Opening Night Party

What better way to kick off 17 days of fun than with a free party at Max Watts? Soju Gang and friends will be curating the vibe, spinning tracks late into the night.

MAX WATTS

Rest Is Resistance

17 AUG

Founder of The Nap Ministry Tricia Hersey will be making her Australian debut with a keynote discussion on rest and its radical use.

ARTS HOUSE 26 AUG

Now Or Never Art Trail

Wander through weird and wonderful displays of multisensory art curated by cutting-edge arts and technology organisation, Experimenta.

VICTORIA HARBOUR PROMENADE 17–20 AUG

This Is Not Your Breaking Point

In this evocative Nina Rajcic piece, a robotic machine will be hard at work writing AI-generated excuses, affirmations and rationalisations.

MELBOURNE TOWN HALL 17 AUG–2 SEP

Neversphere

Settle into the bean bag chairs and stare up into the Neversphere: a pop-up geodesic dome with a 360º screen showing mind-bending works of film.

MELBOURNE MUSEUM PLAZA 18 AUG–1 SEP

Kali Malone X Mess Synthesizer Orchestra

In a fusion of old and new, Stockholm based, American born composer Kali Malone will perform on Melbourne Town Hall’s haunting grand organ with the MESS Synthesizer Orchestra.

MELBOURNE TOWN HALL 19 AUG

DISCUSSIONS WITH DR. DAVID SUZUKI

As part of National Science Week, the world-renowned Canadian environmental conservationist David Suzuki will be beaming onto the IMAX screen.

IMAX MELBOURNE MUSEUM 19 AUG

Between The Cracks

This live event brings together four filmmakers for an adaptive exploration of urban-greening.

RMIT DESIGN HUB GALLERY 19 AUG

Never Permanent

Designed for the curious minds among us, Never Permanent brings together some of the world’s most innovative minds for a series of keynote talks and panel discussions.

ROYAL EXHIBITION BUILDING 24 AUG

Live Music At The Royal Exhibition Building

The stunning venue will host Kelela, serpentwithfeet, Autechre, CC:DISCO!, George FitzGerald and more.

ROYAL EXHIBITION BUILDING 24–27 AUG

NONSTOP WKND

70 industry leading artists. 13 unique shows. Six iconic Melbourne venues—NONSTOP WKND is the choose-your-own-adventure festival within a festival closing Now or Never with a bang.

Body Crysis

Created by Harrison Hall, Sam Mcglip and NAXS FUTURE, this piece brings together live and digital art with a soundtrack by Taipei-based experimental rock group, PrairieWWWW.

ACMI 25–27 AUG

Sarca At The Shrine Of Remembrance

The Shrine will become the backdrop for a luminous display of projection and sound paying tribute to the building’s history and architecture. SHRINE OF REMEMBRANCE 1–2 SEP