Blending history and innovation, the Italian Festa & Expo 2025 turned Melbourne into a vibrant stage showcasing Italian culture throughout the weekend.
MELBOURNE – Tens of thousands more visitors than the 100,000 recorded last year filled the Museum Plaza and the Royal Exhibition Building to celebrate authentic Italian food, live music, artisan crafts and new inclusive spaces dedicated to children and seniors.
With over 200 exhibitors and more than 100,000 attendees, the event made a tangible contribution to the local economy, supporting small and medium-sized businesses – the backbone of the Italian Australian community.
The new title, Expo, was no coincidence. It highlights the evolution of the festival, which has grown beyond a simple community celebration to become a true showcase of Italian excellence.
This year’s edition introduced new areas focused on inclusion: Kids Paradise for the little ones and a comfortable space for seniors to rest and recharge.
The Italian Promenade offered a sensory journey through food, crafts, fashion, beauty products and art. Outside, luxury cars, motorcycles and sporting activities animated the urban space, from the Sports Village with a MotoGP theatre and skate park to football matches and outstanding live music performances.
Culinary competitions, a pop-up restaurant in the main gallery, a marketplace and a wine-tasting area added further flavour to the weekend.
The standout innovation was the Jazz Club, Melbourne’s first Italian jazz festival, with five concerts headlined by world-class artists such as Rita Marcotulli, presented in collaboration with the Melbourne International Jazz Festival and supported by the Italian Consulate.
And, as always, the children stole the show, filling the stage with warmth and energy through the songs of Zecchino d’Oro.
An unforgettable wave of culture, music and passion swept through the city, leaving behind the scent of home and the smiles of those who know that, even far away, Italy continues to live on in the hearts, language and shared spaces of Melbourne.
Dining and Cooking