Melbourne's eagerly awaited winter festival, RISING, is set to return in 2025, and the program is as exciting and diverse as ever. The lineup is headlined by an exclusive Australian debut from British singer-songwriter Suki Waterhouse. She’ll perform two special shows, including an intimate gig at the Athenaeum and a larger-than-life performance at PICA. But that's not all. Spanning two weekends, the program is set to spotlight 327 artists, covering art, music, and performance, all in the heart of Melbourne.
Below, discover the can't-miss inclusions on this year's RISING program.
Highlights from the 2025 RISING lineup
Whether you're into indie, electronic, folk, or experimental sounds, RISING's 2025 program guarantees an unforgettable experience.
Iconic Portishead vocalist Beth Gibbons will grace RISING with songs from her long-awaited solo debut album, LIVES OUTGROWN, bringing her haunting voice to Hamer Hall for a mesmerising one-night-only performance. It marks Gibbons' first Australian performance since 2011.
Also not to be missed is indie-rap duo Black Star, featuring Yasiin Bey and Talib Kweli, making their Melbourne debut at PICA. Their performance promises to be a celebration of the revolutionary spirit that defined their groundbreaking sound.
Also on the bill is Japanese Breakfast, fronted by Michelle Zauner, who will perform her cinematic indie-rock hits at PICA, marking her first Melbourne show in eight years.
In the realm of performance, there are 20 events scheduled to take place, including a take on Hamlet by a neurodiverse cast in association wiht the University of Melbourne, and an Australian exclusive of BLKDOG, an Olivier-Award-winning hip hop production from one of Britain’s most exciting choreographers, Botis Seva.
And when it comes to art, expect to be immersed in everything from laser shows to projection spectacles. There's First Peoples Melbourne Art Trams, a series that honours Ancestral connections, shared histories and First Peoples women as connectors of cultural practice. Six works from Victorian First Peoples artists were selected as part of the initiative, to be displayed on trams across the CBD. Or for something totally immersive, look to Saturate, a unique sonic bathing experience featuring Retallick's original electroacoustic composition, which can only be fully experienced with ears below the water’s surface.
Discover the full festival program on the RISING website.
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When is RISING festival 2025?
This year, RISING will take place across two weekends, from Wednesday 4th to Sunday 15th June.
When are tickets available?
Tickets to specific events are already available to purchase now, or you can subscribe for pre-sale tickets now on the RISING website.
