With new programs premiering, your favourites returning, and a brand new JOY 94.9 app on the Apple App Store and Google Play, JOY 94.9 will connect you more deeply with community than ever.

Download the printable JOY 94.9 Season One 2026 Program Guide here.

Premiering in Season One 2026

Early Birds
7:00am Saturday

Shake off the week with Steve and Alana on Early Birds, the only way to kickstart your Saturday morning on JOY 94.9. We’re delivering a zero-fluff, no-nonsense zone packed with the essential tracks that wake you up and the honest conversation that keeps you tuned in. Your weekend officially starts here – straight talk, great music, and absolutely no filler.

Now Boarding
12:00pm Saturday

Now Boarding is your weekly journey into the world of LGBTIQA+ friendly travel.
Each episode dives into a fresh theme — from romantic getaways and Pride festivals around the globe to solo adventures, queer history tours, and budget-savvy trips.
Join us for practical travel tips, insider advice, and personal stories to make your journeys safer, smoother, and more unforgettable.
Whether you’re a seasoned globetrotter or planning your first queer-friendly escape, Now Boarding offers inspiration, laughs, and guidance for every traveller. Tune in and wander with confidence, curiosity, and pride.

Queerfully Made
10:00pm Tuesday

Queerfully Made tackles faith, gender, sexuality, and the intersection of them all. Ex-evangelical leaders Aaron Kelly and Ben Nicholson, once church insiders, host raw stories from LGBTQ+ Christians, ex-Christians, pastors, ex-pastors and sharp experts. Closeted and scared? Healing from church wounds? An ally ready to stand up but needing insight? We’re here to unpack identity, reforge spirituality, and build a fierce, inclusive community.

Wellness Wednesdays
8:00pm Wednesdays

JOY programs Knowing Me, Knowing You and Talk Therapy To Me will be part of the new Wellness Wednesdays programming block, airing new episodes on alternate weeks.

On Talk Therapy To Me, queer therapists Ashley (she/her) and Maxi (he/they) dive deep into the real stuff, unpacking the mess and the magic of mental health, exploring all kinds of queer relationships and intimacy, and tackling your burning questions in Ask a Queer Therapist.

On Knowing Me, Knowing You, join therapist, friend, and all-around queer guy Trent McWhinney on a new journey of personal discovery. Get to know him, and yourself, as he dives into topics on mental health and self-development in conversation with professionals, experts, and those with lived experience.

Returning in Season One 2026

A bunch of your favourite programs are returning from summer break, and one returns after six years away!

Local Roots
8:00pm Fridays
Dig in to local music

(photo of Beks at JOY Rainbow Sessions by Betty Sujecki)

Game On!
6:00pm Wednesdays
The world of inclusive sport

The I In Us
6:00pm Thursdays
The authentic voices of the intersex community

Backstage Confidential
7:00pm Thursdays
Performers take you behind the scenes of their lives

Living Life Single
4:00pm Saturdays
Celebrate the best of Aussie music

Miss Chatelaine
9:00am Sundays
Celebrate the best of Aussie music

Still Here, Still Queer
6:00pm Sundays
Celebrate the best of Aussie music

The Cabaret Room
9:00pm Sundays
Celebrate the best of Aussie music

Thank yous and farewells

JOY Season One 2026 kicks off Monday, 2 February 2026 and runs until Sunday, 5 July 2026.

Tune in via JOY 94.9FM, DAB+, stream online anywhere in the world. or download the brand new JOY 94.9 app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

About JOY 94.9

JOY 94.9 is Australia’s only LGBTQIA+ community radio station, broadcasting from Melbourne and streaming worldwide. For 32 years, JOY has been a beacon for queer voices, stories, and music.

The post Welcome to JOY Season One 2026 appeared first on JOY Media.

We’ve assembled all our plans across the festival below; read on for the details!

MIDSUMMA CARNIVAL: SUNDAY 18 JANUARY 2026

JOY will be broadcasting live from Midsumma Carnival in a special collaboration with Vision Australia Radio.

Stop by the JOY booth to meet some of your favourite JOY presenters, collect some JOY merch from the JOY Street Stars, make new friends at one of our JOY Community Meetups, and learn more about how to get involved at JOY.

For more about JOY Community Meetups, including the schedule, click here.

MIDSUMMA PRIDE MARCH: SUNDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2026

JOY will be proudly broadcasting live from Midsumma Pride March, bringing all the excitement, community and pride of the day to those who can’t be there with us in person.

If you want to be part of the march, you can register to march with JOY now.
The first 100 people to register to march with JOY will receive a JOY Fan, to help keep you cool (and fabulous!) in the summer sun.

In a special collaboration with the Victorian Pride Centre, the VPC’s Theatrette will be transformed into the Rainbow Recharge Hub, where you can find a seat out of the heat, hang out with the JOY Street Stars, and keep up with JOY’s live broadcast direct to the big screen. With chill-out zones, quiet rooms, and hydration stations to keep you refreshed, it’s your escape from the Midsumma heat!

Head here for more details.

VICTORIA’S PRIDE STREET PARTY: 8 FEBRUARY 2026

JOY will be on location at Victoria’s Pride Street Party, held on the iconic Gertrude and Smith Streets in Fitzroy, to help see off Midsumma season with a bang.
We’ll have more JOY Community Meetups to bring together our communities, and the JOY Street Stars will be back with more JOY merch and good vibes.

Keep up to date right throughout Pride Season by following JOY on Instagram: @joy949

The post JOY is ready for Midsumma Festival 2026 appeared first on JOY Media.

JOY Community Meetups are low-pressure half-hour catch-ups with people who love what you love: from music, to arts and culture, to sport, and more.

It’s a great opportunity to meet with people away from screens, and get connected with the community.

Here’s the schedule for this year’s JOY Community Meetups:

MIDSUMMA CARNIVAL, 18 JANUARY 2026

11:00AM – 11:30AM: Arts and Culture
For fans of arts, cinema, pop culture, and more. If you love shows like Out Takes, Sunday Arts Magazine, Geeks OUT, Checkpoint, or Backstage Confidential, this is for you!

12:00PM – 12:30PM: Sport
For fans of sports, whichever sport you love. If you listen to Game On!, GayFL, or Chicks Talking Footy, these are your people!

1:00PM – 1:30PM: Entertainment
For fans of entertainment in all its forms, including shows like JOY Breakfast.

2:00PM – 2:30PM: Music
For fans of music, whatever genre you love! For fans of shows like JOY Daytimes and Australia’s most uplifting music mix, plus shows like The Sound of Now, Hot Bread, Bent Notes, and more.

3:00PM – 3:30PM: News, Current Affairs and Society
For people asking the big questions. If you’re a fan of Saturday Magazine, Science Queeries, and general news and current affairs, this is a space for you!

VICTORIA’S PRIDE STREET PARTY, 8 FEBRUARY 2026

1:00PM – 1:30PM: JOY Breakfast Get-Together
Breakfast? After midday? Sounds divine. Be at the JOY booth at 1:00pm to catch up with your fave JOY Breakfast presenters, and meet your fellow listeners, for one big get-together!

2:00PM – 2:30PM: JOY Drive Family Reunion
We’re getting the band back together. Join Warren and the JOY Drive team for a big ol’ family reunion.

The post JOY Community Meetups at Midsumma Festival 2026 appeared first on JOY Media.

The first hour, exclusive to Vision Australia Radio from 10:00am, will feature radio reading content, sharing articles from LGBTIQA+ publications, mainstream media and Midsumma’s own materials.

From 11:00am, the simulcast between both stations will begin, during which listeners can enjoy interviews, music and coverage of Carnival festivities until 2:00pm.

JOY Media CEO Paul Scott-Williams is excited at the prospect of the community spirit to be on display on the day.

“We’re proud to partner with Vision Australia Radio in this wonderful community event, and amplify the voices of disability and queer communities through this special simulcast. JOY’s yearly coverage of Midsumma Carnival always seeks to bring the excitement, colour, and pride of the day to those who are unable to attend in person, and our hope is that through this collaboration with Vision Australia Radio, we may open up new conversations and opportunities for involvement in our diverse shared communities.”

Vision Australia Radio and Audio Services Manager Conrad Browne says the opportunity to bring together community radio stations like this is a powerful way to showcase the power of community broadcasting.

“The opportunity to collaborate with JOY Media at Midsumma Carnival 2026 on an outside broadcast is not only a great example of the way that community broadcasting works together in such a positive way but is also an incredible way for us to collectively highlight and celebrate the intersectionality of queerness and disability at this major Melbourne event. We look forward to bringing our audiences and communities together for this fantastic broadcast and laying the foundations for more collaborations in the future.”

Midsumma Festival is Melbourne’s biggest yearly queer arts festival, spanning 22 days and drawing more than a hundred thousand attendees across key events Carnival, Pride March, and Victoria’s Pride Street Party.

Visit the JOY and Vision Australia booths at Midsumma Carnival to see the broadcast take place, and tune in across Vision Australia Radio and JOY 94.9.

10:00am: Reading content on VAR

11:00am: Simulcast on JOY 94.9 and VAR

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Get your free mpox vaccination at Midsumma Festival 2026

Keep yourself, your partners, and your community healthy and safe this Midsumma!

Protecting yourself and the community at Midsumma

Vaccine to prevent mpox is available. Vaccination is free, safe, and effective. Two doses are required for optimal protection.

You can get your free mpox vaccine with the support of Midsumma Festival organisers and the Melbourne City Council immunisation team.

The council’s outreach van will be at the below festival events, offering first and second doses – and if it’s your first, you can book your second right there.:

• Midsumma Carnival: Sunday, 18 January, from 11am to 4pm
• Victoria’s Pride Street Party: Sunday, 8 February, from 11am to 4pm.

If you’ve already had your first dose, you can get your second dose here. Even if it’s been a while, you don’t need to restart your course of vaccine.

Bookings are available. Walk-ins are welcome!

Book your spot at the Carnival or Street Party using this link or scan the QR code on your phone.

https://melbourneworkplaces.book.vitavo.com.au/workplace/mpoxmidsummafestival19thjanuary-E4KYHe

What is mpox?

Mpox is an infection caused by the monkeypox virus. It mostly spreads through direct physical or intimate contact with someone who has mpox. Most people have a mild illness and recover within a few weeks, but some people may become very unwell and need to be admitted to hospital. Mpox can be serious, especially for those at greater risk of severe disease, such as people living with HIV.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms usually include rashes, pimple-like lesions, or ulcers that can affect any part of the body including the genitals, anus, buttocks, mouth, face, and limbs. Some people get muscle aches or pains, pain in or around the anus, or pain on passing urine. Other symptoms can include fever, headache, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes and tiredness.

Symptoms can occur up to 21 days after being exposed to the infection. If you get symptoms, visit your GP or local sexual health clinic to get tested.

Who is at risk?

While anyone can be exposed to and affected by mpox, those most at risk of infection are:

• gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men
• travellers to countries with mpox outbreaks
• people with multiple sexual partners or who attend large sex positive parties or sex on premises venues.

For more information about mpox, please visit the Better Health Channel: Mpox (Monkeypox) symptoms, treatment and immunisation

The post Get your free mpox vaccination at Midsumma Festival 2026 appeared first on JOY Media.

Midsumma Festival 2026: Time & Place

As the world faces growing division and a retreat from progress, the need to connect through shared humanity has never been more urgent. We are living at a pivotal moment, where community cohesion is under pressure and human rights and social connection are increasingly challenged.

The 2026 Midsumma Festival theme, Time & Place, responds to this moment by centring connection—to land, culture, and each other. It invites reflection on where we are now, shaped by histories of queer resistance and resilience, and asks how we move toward a future where everyone belongs and every voice is valued.

Time speaks to both urgency and history, acknowledging the present moment while honouring the ongoing evolution of queer rights and culture. Place reflects physical and metaphorical spaces of belonging, safety, and identity, and the importance of gathering in person in an increasingly digital world.

Together, Time & Place celebrate intersectional queer identities and imagine a more connected, inclusive future.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Garabari | Sat 30–Sun 31 Jan

A reimagined corroboree blending Wiradjuri song and electronic sound. This participatory dance gathering invites audiences to move together and experience cultural connection through rhythm, storytelling and shared space.

More info + tickets

The Placeholder | Tue 27 Jan–Sun 8 Feb

A sharp, funny and deeply human ensemble work exploring friendship, feminism and chosen family in a small town. A moving story about truth, change and courage from playwright Ben MacEllan.

More info + tickets

Hot & Heavy | Thu 22-Fri 23 & Thu 23-30 Jan

An immersive performance and dance floor uprising blending sound design, striking visuals, aerial artistry and performance art into a sensory future-world that urges you to get lost, go deep and let go.

More info + tickets

Kiki House of Furia Presents: The Fantasy Ball | Sat 24 Jan

Tap in, darling—the first official Midsumma Ball is here. From Harlem to Naarm, Oceania’s houses light up the floor, battling across electrifying categories, all for the Grand Prize on this historic night of Ballroom culture.

More info + tickets

Freak Out! The Afterparty | Sat 7 Feb

A wild fusion of dance, circus, burlesque and live acts set to a pumping 90s house soundtrack with bold performances, fierce choreography and nostalgic beats.

More info + tickets

Milo Hartill: Black, Fat and F*ggy | Wed 4–Thu 5

Milo Hartill delivers a fierce, funny and soulful new cabaret exploring identity, body, culture and influence. A powerhouse voice, bold storytelling and sharp commentary make Black, Fat and F**gy unmissable

 Sunday 23 November, from 6pm – Melbourne Town Hall 

More info + tickets

Check out the full Midsumma program, with more than 200 events across 22 days, at midsumma.org.au.

The post Midsumma Festival 2026: Time & Place appeared first on JOY Media.

It’s summer, and with that comes more time spent in the car travelling to events, epic roadtrips, and of course Pride Season. With that in mind, we’ve assembled a lineup of programs to be your escape, your friend, and your soundtrack all summer long.

Download the printable JOY 94.9 Summer Season 2025-26 Program Guide here.

Premiering on JOY this summer

GayFL
6:00pm Wednesday
GayFL is a radio show and podcast that showcases the game we love from a uniquely queer perspective. Hosted by Brendan and Chris, GayFL celebrates AFL and AFLW news, culture, events and social media and off-field antics and mixes our deep and serious love for the game with fun, topical and sometimes irreverent commentary. 

There will be interviews, match highlights, season and ladder discussion, news and current events and more, all mixed in with a pro-inclusion message for the whole LGBTQIA+ community.

If you feel like mainstream footy commentary doesn’t include you, then this is the show for you.

Talk Therapy To Me
8:00pm Wednesday
Talk therapy, but make it gay!
Each week, queer therapists Ashley (she/her) and Maxi (he/they) dive deep into the real stuff, unpacking the mess and the magic of mental health, exploring all kinds of queer relationships and intimacy, and tackling your burning questions in Ask a Queer Therapist. Thoughtful, cheeky, and full of heart – it’s the conversation you didn’t know you needed. 

Verbena Radio
6:00pm Thursday
In Latin America and Spain, a verbena is a nighttime festival full of music, dancing, colour, movement, food, and community.

Inspired by that vibrant energy, Verbena Radio celebrates Latin American LGBTQIA+ voices through stories, candid interviews, and DJ sets infused with Afro-Latin and global sounds.

Each episode explores a different theme from Latin American LGBTQIA+ life in Melbourne — from community groups, Latin American and Hispanic drag artists, and Latin Americans in sports to Latin art and activism, Latinx experiences with sexual and mental health, Latin Americans and professional networking, Latinos in film, and the Verbena Party.

Follow Verbena Radio on Instagram.

PrideFinder
6:00pm Sunday
Revisiting Pridefinder Season 2, this special summer broadcast brings listeners back into the vibrant world of LGBTQIA+ people living across regional Victoria. Originally produced by award-winning audio storyteller Helene Thomas, Season 2 continues the project’s mission to illuminate the richness, resilience, and nuance of queer life beyond metropolitan centres, reflecting the diversity and pride found throughout regional Victoria.

Pridefinder was originally commissioned through the 2023–2024 Regional Activation Program (RAP), as part of Victoria’s Pride, a state government initiative presented by Midsumma.

Returning to JOY this summer

Four of your favourite programs are returning from hiatus:

For One Night Only
7:00pm Thursday
Guests explore the soundtracks of their lives.

Take Me To Your Reader
4:00pm Saturday
A space for emerging, established, and interested writers

Beatz Radio
10:00pm Saturday
Your home of harder trance and EDM

D.I. Hard
9:00pm Wednesday
Diversity and inclusion through the lens of disability and identity 

Special events you’ll love

‘Tis the season for special events with community:

Christmas Magazine
Live to air on Christmas morning
Saturday Magazine, JOY’s long-running weekly news, current affairs and opinion program, returns for their annual Christmas Magazine special on Christmas Day in 2025.

A yearly tradition, the Saturday Magazine team join together in the JOY studio on Christmas morning to provide valuable community connection, ensuring those in the LGBTQIA+ community and allies don’t have to feel alone on Christmas.

Previous years’ specials have featured conversations with Victorian Commissioner of LGBTQIA+ Communities Joe Ball, Minister for Equality Harriet Shing, Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp, and allies from across politics and the media.

Midsumma Carnival
Sunday 18 January 2026
Come and visit the JOY booth for the opportunity to hang out with the JOY Street Stars, record some on-air station IDs, meet your favourite JOY presenters, connect with community, and learn more about opportunities to get involved at JOY.

Midsumma Pride March
Sunday 1 February
Can’t make Midsumma Pride March in-person? Or just lining the march route and looking for some live commentary? Tune into JOY wherever you are for the celebration, advocacy, and community from the annual Midsumma Pride March.
If you’re a JOY Member or volunteer, you can register to march with JOY at Midsumma Pride March 2026 here.  

Victoria’s Pride Street Party
Sunday 8 February
Come and visit the JOY booth for the opportunity to hang out with the JOY Street Stars, record some on-air station IDs, meet your favourite JOY presenters, connect with community, and learn more about opportunities to get involved at JOY.

Come celebrate with us!

We’re wrapping up the year and turning up the volume for JOY’s Summer Season Launch!

Get ready for an afternoon of feel-good tunes, from Latin heat to disco grooves, trance energy and the iconic Turn the Beat Around channel – all soundtracked by the Melbourne skyline and sunshine vibes.

Rally your mates and dance your way through the afternoon at the Victorian Pride Centre rooftop in St Kilda. Whether you’re spinning to your favourite DJ or sampling both channels, you’re in for a full-colour soundtrack like no other.

Performing live:

Tim Little from Beatz Radio and JOY Breakfast
Robbie Molinari from Turn The Beat Around
Matt Warne from Soul Provider
and introducing
Miguel Angel from Verbena Radio

Book your ticket here — we’ll see you on the rooftop!

A number of JOY shows will be taking a break over summer: Game On!, Knowing Me Knowing You, The I In Us, Backstage Confidential, Living Life Single, Miss Chatelaine, Still Here Still Queer, and The Cabaret Room. Enjoy the rest, soak up some sun, and we’ll see you in the new year!

We’re also bidding a fond farewell to Brisbane’s Jess and Lauren from Just Gay Stuff, who have been simulcasting their podcast with us since 2024. Thank you for all the good vibes and deep conversation you’ve brought to JOY!
You can keep with new episodes of Just Gay Stuff at their YouTube channel and their podcast feed. 

JOY Summer Season kicks off Monday, 8 December 2025 and runs until Sunday, 1 February 2026.. Tune in via JOY 94.9FM, DAB+, or stream online anywhere in the world.

About JOY 94.9

JOY 94.9 is Australia’s only LGBTQIA+ community radio station, broadcasting from Melbourne and streaming worldwide. For 32 years, JOY has been a beacon for queer voices, stories, and music.

The post Welcome to JOY’s Summer Season 2025-26 appeared first on JOY Media.

Curated from the ranks of artists interviewed over the years on JOY’s Sunday Arts Magazine, the show’s all-star lineup includes predominantly queer and queer-friendly talent, each bringing their distinctive voice to one dynamic group exhibition.

From November 6 through November 30, art lovers can discover and purchase original works across a range of media, with 20% of each sale directly supporting JOY 94.9.

The exhibition officially launches with an opening night celebration on Thursday 6 November at 6pm, inviting everyone to mingle with artists, supporters, and the creative team behind the scenes.

The exhibition features the work of:

• Dave Behrens
• Enza Benincasa
• Peter Berzanskis
• Gavin Brown
• Ande K
• Jo Lane
• Brent Lukey
• Paul Meehan
• Gerard O’Connor
• Chris Orr
• John Pastoriza-Pinol
• Arthur Tedd Powell

Each Saturday afternoon throughout November, Sunday Arts Magazine’s David Hunt will host informal chats with artists at the venue, inviting the public to learn more about each creator’s story, inspiration and process in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.

Featured Works: A Closer Look

Discover a selection of standout pieces from the Sunday Arts Magazine Art Exhibition, each accompanied by a brief story or reflection from the artist. These works capture the spirit, talent and diversity of our featured creators, offering a glimpse into the vibrant practice of Melbourne’s queer and queer-friendly artists.

Ande Kempnich

Internationally known First Nations artist whose paintings have been exhibited in the United Nations buildings in New York, Paris, and other countries. Ande’s last solo exhibition sold out in two days, showcasing his powerful connection to heritage and culture.

Dave Behrens – The Pill of Hope

Art & Designer Toys. Incorporates bold symbolism & pattern in his distinctive signature portfolio. At once perplexing and intoxicating, Dave art and designer toys combine in Dave’s work, incorporating bold symbolism and signature patterns. His paintings whisk viewers into an exhilarating, fantastical world of pattern, shape, and colour that is both perplexing and intoxicating.

Arthur “Ted” Powell – Melbourne Yarra 2 print

British-born advertising art director turned landscape and cityscape artist and printmaker living in Melbourne. Ted’s work blends his agency experience with his lifelong passion for painting and printmaking, especially capturing Melbourne’s iconic scenes.

Discover more of the paintings being exhibited on The Sunday Arts magazine Facebook page

Details at a Glance

• Exhibition dates: 6–30 November
• Opening night: Thursday 6 November, 6pm
• Location: Dawn & Mable’s Wine Bar, 83 Acland St, St Kilda
• All art for sale, with 20% of proceeds donated to JOY 94.9
• Saturday artist talks with David Hunt

Experience the vibrant energy of Melbourne’s arts scene and celebrate the creativity that fuels our community. Come along, support local artists, and maybe even take home a new piece of art — all while helping fund Australia’s LGBTIQA+ community radio station.

The post Sunday Arts Magazine Art Exhibition Brings Queer Creativity to St Kilda appeared first on JOY Media.

The Melbourne Queer Film Festival (MQFF) returns for its 35th Anniversary from 13–23 November, inviting audiences to join the search for Queer Utopias. 

Queer Utopia is a multiplicity of spaces, happenings, collectives, and imaginings as diverse as the peoples that make up the rainbow. Often fleeting — lasting the length of a party, a film, a summer romance, or a protest — these are the spaces where queer communities can finally exhale. They are moments where acceptance reigns true, sovereignty over our bodies and our love is sacrosanct, and bigotry is mythologised. 

These utopias pulse with colour, play, truth‑telling and collective liberation. They exist on dancefloors, in cinemas, in the intimacy of bedrooms, and across communities — formed not from fantasy, but from courage and connection. Through the films and events of MQFF 2025, audiences are invited to imagine what queer utopia feels like, looks like, and how we might build it — together. 

MQFF 2025 Program Highlights 

Opening Night: Queens of the Dead

The festival opens with the Victorian Premiere of Queens of the Dead, a dazzling queer zombie comedy starring Margaret Cho, Katy O’Brian, Dominique Jackson and Nina West. Join MQFF’s red‑carpet celebration at Palace Kino, with open bar, catering, and an in‑person tribute to Pose star Dominique Jackson. 

Thursday 13 November, 6pm – Palace Kino, Collins Place 

More Info 

Centrepiece Gala: The Crowd

The Centrepiece event presents The Crowd, a moving drama by Azazel Jacobs exploring love, chosen family and resilience. This intimate reflection on queer connection reminds us that utopia begins with empathy, belonging, and shared humanity. 

Thursday 20 November, 6:15 pm – The Capitol, Melbourne 

More Info

An Audience with Dominique Jackson

Beloved actor and activist Dominique Jackson offers a powerful in‑conversation event, discussing her journey from Pose to international advocacy and the global evolution of trans representation on screen. 

 Friday 14 November, 6:30 pm – The Capitol, Melbourne 

More Info

Jimpa Premiere and Keynote

The world premiere of Jimpa merges documentary and narrative filmmaking to explore queerness, kinship and Indigenous identity. A post‑screening keynote with its creative team explores truth‑telling and cultural representation in Australian cinema. 

 Saturday 15 November, 6:00pm – The Capitol, Melbourne 

More Info

Special Event: Indigiqueer Voices

A celebration of First Nations queer artistry, Indigiqueer Voices features films from Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and Canada, honouring Two‑Spirit, Takatāpui and Pasifika creators who reimagine cinema through Indigenous worldviews. 

Friday 21 November, 6:30pm – The Capitol, Melbourne

More Info

Closing Night Gala: Plainclothes

MQFF closes with the Victorian Premiere of Plainclothes — a Sundance‑honoured romantic thriller from Carmen Emmi starring Tom Blyth and Russell Tovey. The screening is followed by live performances, the premiere of Welcome to the Cyber Rodeo, and a closing celebration at Melbourne Town Hall. 

 Sunday 23 November, from 6pm – Melbourne Town Hall 

More Info

How to Buy Tickets 

Buy tickets online at mqff.com.au, where you can browse sessions, accessibility details, and content warnings. Online booking is strongly encouraged as sessions may sell out. Check the website for updated session times before attending. 

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