Yarra Valley events 2026
The Yarra Valley's calendar is a year-round mix of wine, food, music and art — summer concerts on the winery lawns, cosy Christmas in July feasting, wildlife nights at Healesville Sanctuary and changing exhibitions at the TarraWarra art museum. Here are the highlights to build a trip around in 2026. Dates can shift, so always confirm with the organiser before you book.
Concerts & Grape Grazing
Summer belongs to live music: the A Day on the Green series brings big-name acts to the lawns at Rochford Wines across the warmer months — picnic, wine and music among the vines, with shows that sell out fast. The long-running Grape Grazing food-and-wine festival traditionally runs around this time too. Book concert tickets early, and let us sort the transfers so you can enjoy the day.
Christmas in July & Wine & Wildlife
Winter has its own warmth. Through July, the valley embraces Christmas in July — festive menus, mulled wine and log fires across the wineries and lodges, a cosy Southern-Hemisphere Yuletide. Over at Healesville Sanctuary, the annual Wine & Wildlife evenings (typically late August) pair local drops with after-dark animal encounters. Both are lovely reasons to visit in the cooler months — book venues and tickets ahead.
Art at TarraWarra
Culture runs all year at the TarraWarra Museum of Art, one of Australia's leading regional galleries, set in a striking building beside TarraWarra Estate. Its 2026 program includes the exhibition Inside the Mirage (25 July–1 November), alongside its permanent collection of Australian art. Pair it with a tasting and lunch next door for an easy, elevated afternoon. Always check current shows and opening days before visiting.
Yarra Valley events: your questions
The valley's calendar blends wine, food, music and wildlife. Highlights include summer outdoor concerts (the A Day on the Green series at Rochford Wines), the beloved winter Christmas in July celebrations across the wineries, Wine & Wildlife nights at Healesville Sanctuary, the Inside the Mirage exhibition at the TarraWarra Museum of Art (25 July–1 November), and the Grape Grazing festival that typically runs in summer. Dates shift year to year, so always confirm before you book.
A Day on the Green is a summer outdoor-concert series held on the lawns at Rochford Wines, usually across the warmer months (roughly December to March), with big-name Australian and international acts. Individual show dates and line-ups are announced through the year and sell out fast, so check the official calendar and book early. It's one of the valley's signature summer experiences — live music, wine and a picnic among the vines.
Very much so — Christmas in July is a Yarra Valley winter tradition. Through July, wineries, restaurants and lodges lay on festive menus, mulled wine and log fires to celebrate the "Yuletide" chill of the Southern Hemisphere winter. It's a wonderfully cosy time to visit, and a great excuse for a fireside winery lunch. Individual venues run their own dates and packages, so book your table ahead.
Yes — beyond the concert series, the valley hosts food-and-wine events through the year, including the long-running Grape Grazing festival (traditionally around summer/February), harvest and vintage celebrations in autumn, and countless individual winery events, long lunches and release days. Because dates and formats change each year, it's best to check the latest calendar or ask us — we keep track of what's on when planning your trip.
The TarraWarra Museum of Art (beside TarraWarra Estate) is one of Australia's leading regional art museums, running changing exhibitions of Australian art in a striking building among the vines. In 2026 its program includes Inside the Mirage, showing from 25 July to 1 November. It pairs beautifully with a cellar-door visit and lunch next door — a cultural highlight of any Yarra Valley trip. Check current shows and opening days before you go.