Looking for fun things to do with the kids?
Explore our kid-friendly directory
Melbourne Design Week: Family-Friendly Events & Activities for Kids in Melbourne
Melbourne Design Week returns from 14 – 24 May 2026, bringing Australia’s largest design event to venues across Melbourne/Naarm.
Now in its tenth year, Melbourne Design Week showcases how design influences the way we live, learn, play and connect. Across 11 days, more than 400 events and 100 exhibitions explore everything from furniture and architecture to technology, fashion, food and future innovation.
Alongside the major exhibitions and industry talks, the 2026 program includes a selection of family-friendly activities, creative workshops and interactive experiences for children. Kids can experiment with design thinking, create their own artworks, explore typography through play, and learn about First Nations culture through hands-on sessions and online programs.
For families, Melbourne Design Week offers an opportunity to introduce children to creativity beyond the classroom while enjoying accessible events held across galleries, community spaces and cultural venues throughout the city.
Advertisement
Family-Friendly Events at Melbourne Design Week 2026
Game On! Typotronic Revisited
A standout free family activity during Melbourne Design Week, Game On! Typotronic Revisited brings back a playful electronic game originally created in 1998. Children can watch and play Typotronic, an interactive game that encourages players to explore Melbourne’s streets through typography, spotting famous signage and learning how design appears in everyday city life.
Created by Melbourne designer Stephen Banham and revived by RMIT’s Born Digital Cultural Heritage Lab, the installation blends gaming, history and design in an accessible format perfect for curious kids.
Great for: primary school kids, design lovers, free city outings.
Date: 14 – 24 May 2026
Location: RMIT Design Archives Gallery Window, Carlton
Price: FREE | No bookings required
Illuminated Stories: Kids Lantern Painting Workshop
This beautiful hands-on workshop invites families to slow down and create together. Led by First Nations artist Peter Hood, children design and decorate paper lanterns while sharing stories about family, imagination and belonging.
Supported by IKEA, the session explores storytelling through design while encouraging creativity and collaboration between children and caregivers.
Great for: preschool and early primary ages.
Date: Saturday 16 May 2026
Location: The Park House – Riverbank, Abbotsford
Price: $27.78
Ages 3+ with parent/guardian
Advertisement
Make Your Own Monster: Kids Weaving Workshop
Design meets imagination in this joyful textile workshop presented with the Australian Tapestry Workshop. Kids experiment with colour, texture and weaving techniques to create their own textile monster to take home. Along the way, they learn about Australia’s rich tapestry traditions and the creative possibilities of fibre art.
Great for: crafty kids who love making and building.
Date: Sunday 17 May 2026
Location: The Park House – Riverbank, Abbotsford
Price: $27.78
Ages 5+ with parent/guardian
OPEN Play: Art and Craft Workshop
Presented by Open House Melbourne, OPEN Play introduces children to design thinking through fun art challenges.
Kids use colourful felt shapes to solve creative problems, explore colour and pattern, and develop fine motor skills — all in a relaxed drop-in environment.
Great for: all ages and spontaneous weekend outings.
Date: Sunday 17 May 2026
Time: 1 – 3pm
Location: Victorian Trades Hall Council, Carlton
Price: FREE | No bookings required
Advertisement
Design & Technologies Week in Schools 2026 (Online)
Delivered by DATTA Victoria, this statewide initiative encourages students to explore design, engineering and innovation through classroom activities and school-led challenges.
Schools can run exhibitions, quizzes, design projects or assemblies celebrating future-focused learning.
Great for: teachers, homeschool families and STEM-focused students.
Date: 18 – 22 May 2026
Location: Online program
Price: FREE
Under 5s Possum-Skin Cloaks – First Nations Art Program
This gentle online session from the National Gallery of Victoria introduces young children to First Nations culture through storytelling and art.
Children learn about traditional possum-skin cloaks, worn by First Nations peoples of south-east Australia for thousands of years, followed by storytime and a simple creative activity.
Great for: toddlers and preschool learners.
Date: Tuesday 19 May 2026
Location: Online via NGV
Price: FREE | Bookings required
Advertisement
Designing the Everyday with Daniel Emma Studio (Online)
Meet designers Daniel Emma Studio in this interactive online session exploring how everyday objects are imagined and created.
Students participate in guided drawing activities that encourage collaboration, creativity and design thinking.
Great for: primary and early secondary students interested in design careers.
Date: Tuesday 19 May 2026
Location: Online via NGV
Price: FREE | Bookings required
Possum Skin Cloaks with Maree Clarke: Kids Activity
Families are invited to explore First Nations culture, storytelling and design through this hands-on creative activity at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia.
Created by renowned First Nations artist Maree Clarke, this drop-in workshop introduces children to the cultural significance of traditional possum-skin cloaks, garments used by First Nations peoples of south-east Australia for warmth, identity and storytelling.
Children will discover how Maree Clarke designed and created her own possum-skin cloak and learn how symbols and patterns can represent important places, memories and journeys. Kids can then create their own design inspired by meaningful places or experiences from their lives.
Dates: Fri 22 May 2026
Time: 11 am – 3 pm
Location: Foyer, Ground Level, The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Russell Street
Price: FREE | No bookings required
Advertisement
Melbourne Design Week 2026
Dates: 14 – 24 May 2026
Location: Various venues across Melbourne/Naarm
Events: 400+ exhibitions, talks, workshops and installations
Recent Posts
- Dream Swamp Review – Family Fiesta, Alexander Theatre, Melbourne
- Disney On Ice Presents Magic in the Stars Review – Melbourne 2026
- Losing Face Review: Melbourne Theatre Company’s Hilarious New Comedy
- Best Libraries in Melbourne CBD for Families: Free Things to Do with Kids
- Winter School Holidays Melbourne 2026 Guide
- Lightscape Melbourne: A Magical Winter Light Experience at the Royal Botanic Gardens
- Winter Wonderlights Sovereign Hill Guide: Tickets, Dates & Experiences
- Review: Retrograde, Melbourne Theatre Company
- FROSTED – A Winter Spectacular Melbourne 2026
- Melbourne Design Week: Family-Friendly Events & Activities for Kids in Melbourne
We try our best to provide accurate information on kid-friendly events around Victoria but do recommend parents check details directly to confirm dates, times, prices as some details may be subject to change.
Recent Posts
- Dream Swamp Review – Family Fiesta, Alexander Theatre, Melbourne
- Disney On Ice Presents Magic in the Stars Review – Melbourne 2026
- Losing Face Review: Melbourne Theatre Company’s Hilarious New Comedy
- Best Libraries in Melbourne CBD for Families: Free Things to Do with Kids
- Winter School Holidays Melbourne 2026 Guide
- Lightscape Melbourne: A Magical Winter Light Experience at the Royal Botanic Gardens
- Winter Wonderlights Sovereign Hill Guide: Tickets, Dates & Experiences
- Review: Retrograde, Melbourne Theatre Company
- FROSTED – A Winter Spectacular Melbourne 2026
- Melbourne Design Week: Family-Friendly Events & Activities for Kids in Melbourne
We try our best to provide accurate information on kid-friendly events around Victoria but do recommend parents check details directly to confirm dates, times, prices as some details may be subject to change.
Looking for fun things to do with the kids?
Explore our kid-friendly directory
