MELBOURNE.- Expressions of interest are now open for the ninth iteration of Australia’s largest and leading annual design festival, Melbourne Design Week, taking place across Melbourne and Victoria from 15 to 25 May 2025.

Designers, studios and collectives are invited to submit innovative and ground-breaking ideas for events, talks, exhibitions, workshops and more for the festival’s state-wide program, including the Melbourne Art Book Fair. Expressions of interest are now open and close Monday 20 January 2025.

The annual 11-day festival is an important national platform for designers, industry and enthusiasts to come together and share bold ideas, show new work, connect with industry and imbed themselves within Victoria’s rich design community. The state-wide program features events held at the National Gallery of Victoria, alongside ateliers, studios, retail spaces, universities, galleries, gardens and public spaces throughout Melbourne and regional Victoria.

Melbourne Design Week is an initiative of the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria and delivered by the NGV. Since its inception, the program has grown in scope and scale – from just under 100 programs in 2017 to over 350 in 2024. Over 100,000 people attended the 2024 festival, making it Australia’s largest design event.

Expressions of interest are also open for the Melbourne Art Book Fair 2025, now in its 11th year and held alongside Melbourne Design Week from 16 to 18 May 2025. Since launching in 2015, the Melbourne Art Book Fair has brought together publishers, writers and designers to showcase and launch some of the region’s best publications at venues across Melbourne and Victoria, including the National Gallery of Victoria, bookshops, galleries, libraries, community centres and public gardens.

Celebrating Melbourne’s status as a UNESCO City of Literature, the first weekend of the Melbourne Art Book Fair features the popular Stallholder Fair, housed under Leonard French’s cut glass ceiling in NGV’s Great Hall. The Stallholder Fair gives visitors the opportunity to explore and buy unique printed matter from the best local and international publishers and designers.

Colin Brooks MP, Minister for Creative Industries said: ‘The Allan Labor Government is proud to support Melbourne Design Week 2025, delivered by the NGV, which will explore the vital role design plays in all of our lives now and into the future. We encourage Victorian designers, design businesses and anyone interested in the power of good design to get involved.’

Tony Ellwood AM, Director, NGV said: ‘In 2025 we are delighted to present Melbourne Design Week, an important national platform that celebrates our rich and diverse Australian design community. Our sector has enthusiastically embraced the festival since its inception, and we can’t wait to share another thought-provoking program in 2025.’