ACMI Melbourne (2026): Visitor Guide to the Moving Image Museum

ACMI Melbourne — the Australian Centre for the Moving Image — is Australia’s national museum of film, television, video games, and digital culture, sitting inside Federation Square in Melbourne’s CBD. ACMI is one of those Melbourne attractions that punches above its weight: the permanent Story of the Moving Image exhibition is free, interactive, and globally significant; the temporary blockbusters (Disney, Studio Ghibli, Wes Anderson, Marvel) regularly sell out weeks in advance; and ACMI Cinemas screen curated programmes that no other Australian venue does. This 2026 visitor guide covers everything you need to plan an ACMI visit: tickets, what’s on, the free permanent gallery, blockbusters, ACMI Cinemas, the Mel Lab makerspace, and how to combine with nearby attractions.

ACMI Melbourne quick facts

• Address: Federation Square, Flinders Street, Melbourne VIC 3000.
• Hours: Daily 10 am to 5 pm.
• Closed: Christmas Day, Good Friday.
• Permanent admission: Free (Story of the Moving Image, Mel Lab, lower-level workshops).
• Ticketed exhibitions: A$25–A$30 typically.
• ACMI Cinemas tickets: A$12–A$22 per session.
• Founded: 1946 (originally the State Film Centre); rebadged as ACMI in 2002 and relocated to Federation Square.
• Wheelchair accessible: entire facility.

The Story of the Moving Image (free permanent exhibition)

The Story of the Moving Image is ACMI’s flagship permanent exhibition — a 2,000-square-metre interactive journey through 200 years of moving-image history, from the earliest magic lanterns through television, cinema, video games, internet, and immersive digital culture. It’s free, hands-on, and one of the most ambitious museum exhibits in Australia.

• Hands-on stations — try out historical optical illusions, animation tools, sound effects.
• Cinema collection — historic film equipment, original costumes, props, and posters.
• Video game gallery — playable historic games from Pong to recent Australian indie titles.
• VR and immersive experiences — rotating immersive media installations.
• Australian moving image history — Mad Max props, Picnic at Hanging Rock costumes, 1980s television sets.
• The Lens — personalised digital companion that tracks what you’ve engaged with.
• Allow 2 to 3 hours for a thorough visit.

ACMI ticketed blockbuster exhibitions

ACMI hosts major ticketed temporary blockbuster exhibitions throughout the year. Past blockbusters have included:

• Disney: The Magic of Animation — 200+ original Disney sketches, costumes, and animations.
• Studio Ghibli — Hayao Miyazaki’s animation studio retrospective, including My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away.
• Wes Anderson: The Archives — costumes and props from The Grand Budapest Hotel and other Anderson films.
• Marvel: Earth’s Mightiest Exhibition — original costumes and props from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
• Game Worlds — major touring video game exhibition.
• Tim Burton — sketches, models, and original artwork.
• The Goblin Mode of Cinema — internet-culture and meme-themed exhibition.

Tickets for blockbusters are typically A$25–A$30 adult, with concession and family discounts. Major shows sell out 2+ weeks in advance — book online via the ACMI website. Members get advance access.

ACMI Cinemas

ACMI Cinemas (two boutique theatres inside the museum) screen curated film programmes you won’t find at a multiplex:

• Director retrospectives — entire-career screenings of Stanley Kubrick, Hayao Miyazaki, Wes Anderson, Agnès Varda.
• Restored classics — 4K restorations of historic films.
• International film festivals — French Film Festival, Italian Film Festival, Israeli Film Festival, etc.
• Australian premieres — Sundance, Cannes, Venice festival films before wider release.
• Late-night programming — cult classics, midnight movies.
• School holiday family films — themed screenings for kids.
• Tickets — A$12–A$22 per session.
• Members — A$10–A$16 per session.

Mel Lab makerspace

Mel Lab on the lower level is ACMI’s free drop-in digital creation space. Visitors of all ages can use the studio’s animation tools, green-screen booths, audio recording, and digital media equipment to create short films, podcasts, or animations. Free Saturday and Sunday drop-in sessions; weekday workshops (some paid). Best for kids 8+ and digital-curious adults.

ACMI for families with kids

• Free entry for kids and the permanent exhibition.
• Hands-on stations in the Story of the Moving Image are well-suited to ages 6+.
• Playable retro video games — Pong, Space Invaders, Super Mario.
• Mel Lab for digital making (best for ages 8+).
• School holiday programming — extra workshops, kids’ film screenings, free face painting.
• Family blockbuster shows — Disney, Studio Ghibli, and Marvel exhibitions are blockbuster-priced but family-popular.
• Strollers welcome; lifts and accessible bathrooms throughout.
• ACMI shop has excellent kids’ merchandise and toys.

How to get to ACMI Melbourne

• Train — Flinders Street Station is across the road.
• Tram — every CBD tram passes through Federation Square (Stop 13). Inside the Free Tram Zone — free.
• Walk — 5 minutes from any central CBD location.
• Drive — paid parking at Federation Square; nearby Russell Street and Flinders Street car parks.
• Bike — bike racks at Federation Square.

What to combine with an ACMI visit

• NGV Australia — directly next door at Federation Square. Free permanent admission.
• Koorie Heritage Trust — also at Federation Square, free Indigenous gallery.
• Hosier Lane — across Flinders Street, 1-minute walk.
• Princes Bridge and Yarra River walk — 2 minutes south.
• State Library of Victoria — 7-minute walk north up Swanston Street.
• Lunch on Flinders Lane — Cumulus Inc., MoVida, or Tipo 00.
• Coffee on Degraves Street — 5-minute walk.
• NGV International — 5-minute walk across Princes Bridge.

ACMI gaming and digital culture

ACMI is unusual among national art and culture museums in taking video games and digital culture seriously. The Story of the Moving Image has a substantial video game gallery — visitors can play games from across 50 years of gaming history. Major ticketed exhibitions like Game Worlds bring playable installations of contemporary AAA games. ACMI is also a key venue for the Australian Game Developers Association’s annual conferences and indie game showcases.

ACMI shop

• Best film-and-design bookstore in Melbourne.
• Director-themed merchandise (Studio Ghibli, Wes Anderson, etc.) during major exhibitions.
• Australian-design film posters and prints.
• Kids’ toys, retro arcade keyrings, and stationery.
• Open during museum hours; some online ordering available.

ACMI dining

• ACMI Cafe — coffee, light meals, and pastries inside the museum.
• Federation Square restaurants — multiple options at Fed Square within 2 minutes’ walk.
• Flinders Lane (5 minutes’ walk) — laneway dining including Cumulus Inc., MoVida, and Tipo 00.
• Degraves Street and Centre Place — laneway cafes 5 minutes’ walk.

ACMI tickets and memberships

• Permanent gallery — free, no ticket required, walk in any time.
• Blockbuster exhibitions — A$25–A$30 adult, A$15–A$20 child, family pass available.
• ACMI Cinemas tickets — A$12–A$22 per session.
• Membership — A$120 per year; includes free entry to all blockbuster exhibitions, member previews, and 10% off shop and cafe.
• Family membership — A$185 per year for two adults and dependent children.
• Online booking — recommended for blockbusters; walk-up tickets sometimes available.

ACMI accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible throughout, including all galleries and cinemas.
• Free wheelchair loans at the entrance.
• Auslan tours bookable in advance.
• Audio described tours for vision-impaired visitors.
• Sensory-friendly mornings on selected weekends.
• Companion card pricing for ticketed exhibitions.
• Service animals welcome.
• Audio loop for cinema sessions.

Best time to visit ACMI

• Weekday mornings — quietest. Tuesday or Wednesday 10–11 am.
• Weekday afternoons — moderate crowds.
• Weekends — busy, especially family-targeted blockbusters.
• School holidays — extra family programming, but busier.
• Friday and Saturday evenings — ACMI Cinemas have late screenings; the museum is otherwise quiet.
• NGV Triennial period (when running) — Federation Square area is unusually busy.

The Story of the Moving Image: gallery-by-gallery walk-through

• Origins of the moving image — magic lanterns, zoetropes, early animation. Hands-on stations let visitors try optical illusions.
• Birth of cinema — Lumière brothers, Edison’s kinetoscope, early Australian filmmakers.
• Hollywood and the studio era — original costumes from Casablanca and other classics.
• Australian moving image history — Mad Max props, Picnic at Hanging Rock costumes, 1980s Australian TV sets.
• Television history — interactive recreations of classic Australian TV programmes.
• Computer animation and visual effects — Pixar, Dreamworks, Australian VFX studios.
• Video games — playable historic and contemporary games. Pong to Cuphead.
• VR and immersive media — rotating immersive installations.
• Internet and digital culture — meme history, viral videos, TikTok.
• The Lens — personalised digital companion for the visit.
• Future of moving images — AI-generated content, deepfakes, ethical questions.

Past blockbuster ACMI exhibitions

• Disney: The Magic of Animation — original Disney sketches, costumes, animations.
• Studio Ghibli: The Art of — Hayao Miyazaki retrospective.
• Wes Anderson: The Archives — costumes and props from The Grand Budapest Hotel.
• Marvel: Earth’s Mightiest Exhibition — Marvel Cinematic Universe.
• Game Worlds — major touring video game exhibition.
• Tim Burton — sketches, models, original artwork.
• The Goblin Mode of Cinema — internet-culture and meme exhibition.
• Heath Ledger: A Life in Pictures — celebration of the late Australian actor.
• Pulp Fiction: A Cinematic Journey — Tarantino retrospective.
• Buster Keaton: Silent Cinema Pioneer — silent-film master.

ACMI Cinemas programming

• Director retrospectives — Stanley Kubrick, Hayao Miyazaki, Wes Anderson, Agnès Varda, Akira Kurosawa.
• Restored classics — 4K restorations of historic films.
• International film festivals — French Film Festival, Italian Film Festival, Israeli Film Festival, Greek Film Festival.
• Australian premieres — Sundance, Cannes, Venice festival films before wider release.
• Late-night programming — cult classics, midnight movies.
• School holiday family films — themed screenings for kids.
• Special-event screenings — original-format silent films with live piano accompaniment.
• Tickets — A$12–A$22 per session. Members A$10–A$16.
• Multi-pass — bulk-discount cinema passes available.
• Recurring weekly series — ACMI Cinema Club for film nerds.

Mel Lab makerspace deep dive

• Free drop-in sessions Saturday and Sunday. Use animation tools, green-screen booths, audio recording, digital media equipment.
• Weekday workshops — some paid, some free. Topics include stop-motion animation, podcast recording, music video production.
• Best for ages 8+ — younger kids may need parental help.
• Equipment includes — DSLR cameras, motion-capture rigs, audio interfaces, video editing stations.
• Drop-in sessions typically 2 hours. Bring an idea or just experiment.
• Mentors on hand — ACMI staff guide visitors through the equipment.
• Project showcases — best Mel Lab projects featured on the ACMI YouTube channel.
• Free Wi-Fi and power outlets.

ACMI gaming exhibits

• Permanent gaming gallery in The Story of the Moving Image — 20+ playable historic games.
• Major touring shows — Game Worlds, Magic of Animation Disney, etc.
• Australian indie games — Australian developers showcased prominently.
• Retro gaming nights — periodic special events with classic console gameplay.
• VR experiences — rotating, often included in ticketed exhibitions.
• eSports events — ACMI hosts occasional tournaments.
• Gaming for special needs — accessible gaming sessions.

ACMI for school groups and educators

• Free education programs aligned with Victorian curriculum.
• Curated Story of the Moving Image educator-led tours.
• School holiday programming with hands-on workshops.
• Mel Lab classes for school groups.
• Virtual tours and online learning resources for remote education.
• Teacher resources free via ACMI website.

ACMI photography and filming

• Personal photography allowed in Story of the Moving Image (no flash).
• Special ticketed exhibitions vary; check signage.
• Tripods and selfie sticks not permitted in galleries.
• Commercial photography requires a permit.
• Filming requires advance application.
• Wedding and engagement shoots are allowed but require booking.

ACMI Membership benefits

• Single adult — A$120/year. Free entry to all blockbuster exhibitions, members previews.
• Family — A$185/year, two adults and dependent children.
• Concession — A$80/year.
• Pays for itself after 2–3 blockbuster visits.
• Cinema discounts — A$10–A$16 ACMI Cinemas tickets vs A$12–A$22 standard.
• 10% off shop and cafe.
• Reciprocal benefits at NGV and Melbourne Museum.
• Member-only events — preview nights, curator talks.

ACMI for international visitors

• Story of the Moving Image is fully bilingual signage (English/Mandarin).
• Audio guides in multiple languages (English, Mandarin, Japanese, French, Spanish).
• Most blockbuster exhibitions have English signage with translation cards available.
• ACMI shop sells globally export-friendly merchandise.
• Cinema films include subtitled foreign-language options.
• Wheelchair accessible throughout.

ACMI Wednesday late nights and special events

• ACMI runs occasional late-night opening (until 9 pm) on Wednesdays.
• Wine and beer bar available during late nights.
• Curator talks during late nights.
• Live music in the foyer some nights.
• Member-only late nights more frequent than public.
• Date-night atmosphere during these events.

Combining ACMI with other Federation Square attractions

• Half-day Federation Square — NGV Australia (90 min) + ACMI (90 min) + Koorie Heritage Trust (30 min). All free.
• Full cultural day — start at NGV International (10 min walk), cross to NGV Australia, finish at ACMI.
• Lunch — Persimmon at NGV Australia or Hardware Lane (5 min walk).
• Sunset — Princes Bridge over the Yarra (2 min from ACMI).
• Dinner — MoVida (Hosier Lane, 1 min walk) or Cumulus Inc. (Flinders Lane, 5 min).
• Evening — ACMI Cinemas late screening or rooftop bar at Curtin House.

ACMI by traveller type

• First-time visitors — 2-hour walk through Story of the Moving Image. Free.
• Film fans — combine permanent gallery with an ACMI Cinema session and a blockbuster.
• Families with kids — Story of the Moving Image hands-on stations, Mel Lab Saturday session, family screening at ACMI Cinemas.
• Solo travellers — late Wednesday night with wine bar.
• Couples — date night via late screening at ACMI Cinemas.
• Educators — book a curator-led tour for groups.
• Gamers — gaming gallery + any current Game Worlds-style blockbuster.
• International visitors — audio guide + ACMI shop for export-friendly souvenirs.

ACMI cafe and dining

• ACMI Cafe — coffee, light meals, pastries inside the museum.
• Federation Square restaurants — multiple options within 2 minutes’ walk.
• Flinders Lane (5 minutes’ walk) — laneway dining including Cumulus Inc., MoVida, and Tipo 00.
• Degraves Street and Centre Place — laneway cafes 5 minutes’ walk.
• Persimmon at NGV Australia — modern Australian cafe (next door).

ACMI accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible throughout, including all galleries and cinemas.
• Free wheelchair loans at the entrance.
• Auslan tours bookable in advance.
• Audio described tours for vision-impaired visitors.
• Sensory-friendly mornings on selected weekends.
• Companion card pricing for ticketed exhibitions.
• Service animals welcome.
• Audio loop for cinema sessions.
• Calm room available for visitors with sensory needs.
• Subtitles on most cinema films when available.

Frequently asked questions about ACMI Melbourne

Is ACMI free?

The permanent Story of the Moving Image exhibition is completely free. Mel Lab is free. Only ticketed temporary blockbuster exhibitions cost money (typically A$25–A$30).

What does ACMI stand for?

Australian Centre for the Moving Image. It is Australia’s national museum of film, television, video games, and digital culture.

How long should I spend at ACMI?

2 to 3 hours for the permanent exhibition. Add 1–2 hours for a blockbuster. Add a film at ACMI Cinemas for a 4–6 hour visit total.

Where is ACMI located?

Inside Federation Square, opposite Flinders Street Station. Inside the Free Tram Zone — every CBD tram passes Federation Square.

Is ACMI good for kids?

Yes — the permanent exhibition is interactive and hands-on. Best for ages 6+. School holiday programming adds family-targeted workshops.

What’s on at ACMI right now?

Check the ACMI website for current and upcoming blockbuster exhibitions. The Story of the Moving Image is permanent and free; ticketed shows rotate every few months.

Do you need to book ACMI tickets?

Free entry to the permanent gallery doesn’t require booking. Blockbuster exhibitions sell out 2+ weeks in advance during major shows; book online via the ACMI website.

What’s the difference between ACMI and the NGV?

ACMI is film, television, video games, and digital culture. NGV is fine art (paintings, sculpture, design, photography). Both are at Federation Square — directly adjacent — and both are free for general admission.

Final word: ACMI is unique in Australia

ACMI is one of those Melbourne attractions that punches above its weight — Australia’s only national museum dedicated to moving images, with a free permanent exhibition that holds up to international comparison. Time a Melbourne trip around an ACMI blockbuster and the city’s cultural scene gets a serious headline event. For broader cultural context, see our Melbourne arts and culture pillar.