The Melbourne Fair 2026: Antiques, Art and Vintage Finds at Caulfield Racecourse
One of Melbourne’s best antique and vintage fairs is back — and it’s worth marking in your diary now.
The Melbourne Fair returns to Caulfield Racecourse from Thursday 30 July to Sunday 2 August 2026. Over 60 of Australia’s finest dealers gather under one roof with everything from Georgian furniture and Art Deco glass to vintage couture and fine jewellery. If you love beautiful things with a story behind them, this is a hard day out to beat.
What Is the Melbourne Fair?
The Melbourne Fair brings together dealers presenting furniture, fine art, decorative arts, jewellery, prints and posters, antiquities, rugs, books, vintage fashion, couture, and designer vintage — spanning eras from antique through Art Deco, Mid Century Modern, and contemporary.
It’s held at the Concourse at Caulfield Racecourse — a comfortable, well-lit, undercover space with room to move at your own pace. That matters when you want to stop and look properly rather than being jostled along. This isn’t a general market. The dealers are knowledgeable, the quality is consistently high, and most are genuinely happy to talk about the history of their pieces.
Kathy’s review
A fantastic day out!
At the Melbourne Antiques Fair, I decided to go alone at the very last minute. I spent an entire day talking Australian wood furniture, Japanese block prints and exquisite art deco glassware and jewellery, none of which I knew much about.
Needing to share a table during lunch, a good hour was spent connecting with two “bestie mums” whose “bestie daughters” I had actually taught in secondary school! We ended up having a lot of other things in common as well.
What to expect from the exhibitors
The range on offer is impressive. A few highlights from this year’s exhibitor list:
Jewellery is exceptionally well represented. Dealers include Kaiserman Jewellery (established 1926, specialising in vintage and Art Deco pieces), Trinity Antiques (whose clients include the National Gallery of Australia), Imperial Jewels (coloured gemstones and bespoke work), and Alexa’s Treasures from Ballarat. The National Council of Jewellery Valuers will also be on site if you’d like a professional valuation conversation.
Furniture and decorative arts draw strong dealers including Tim Frankenburg Antiques (Georgian, Regency, and Victorian country furniture), Westbury Antiques (English oak and mahogany from the 17th to early 19th century), Antique and Retro Warehouse (French and English 19th century pieces plus good Art Deco), and Woodshed Antiques (Australian cedar and French/English furniture).
Art glass lovers are particularly well served. Une Belle Chose by Curium brings French and European antiques with an emphasis on French art glass — Gallé, Daum Frères, Lalique, and Schneider are all represented. Prism Original Lighting has pre-1960s lighting across Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods. Waterlily Collectables specialises in Murano, Scandinavian, Czech, and French glass.
Vintage fashion and couture always draws a crowd. Coutura Vintage, Twisting Vintage, Frizzy Vintage, and Pink Elephant Vintage all have devoted followings — these are carefully selected pieces, not racks of charity shop finds.
Fine art is represented by Lauraine Diggins Fine Art, one of Melbourne’s most respected galleries, handling Australian colonial, impressionist, and contemporary works.
For collectors with specific interests, there’s plenty more: Antiquities Australia brings ancient Egyptian, Roman, and Greek pieces; Samurai Gallery Australia focuses on Japanese arms and armour; Eric and Lyn Miles specialise in Japanese Satsuma and woodblock prints; and Australian Digital Radio has beautifully restored classic 1940s sets.
Opening Night — worth the extra spend?
The Opening Night is Thursday 30 July from 5pm to 9pm. Tickets are $30 for Opening Night. The atmosphere is more festive and social, it’s often slightly less crowded than peak daytime sessions, and you get first pick of the stock. If there’s a particular dealer you’re keen on, Opening Night is the time to go.
Plus, all paid ticket holders can come back as many times as they like during the event weekend, and there are free special events such as fashion parades and expert talks to make the most of it.
That said, if $30 feels steep, the daytime sessions are just $10 and offer equally good browsing at a more relaxed pace.
Comfort and accessibility
The Concourse is undercover, which is a genuine bonus in late July. Wear comfortable shoes — there’s a few hours of browsing on your feet — and bring a tote bag for smaller purchases.
Seating is available within the venue and toilet facilities are on site. The main entrance at Gate 23 is accessible, with disabled parking close by. Caulfield has a good range of cafes nearby if you want coffee or lunch before or after.
A few things worth knowing before you go:
- Bring cash as well as your card — some dealers prefer it, especially for smaller items
- Prices are often negotiable if you’re genuinely interested and ask politely
- You don’t need to buy anything to have a wonderful time — the browsing and the conversations with dealers are half the pleasure
Tickets and practical information
Day tickets are $15, with seniors card/concession entry at $10. Children under 16 are free when accompanied by an adult. Opening hours are Friday 31 July 10am–6pm, Saturday 1 August 10am–6pm, and Sunday 2 August 10am–5pm.
Tickets are worth buying online in advance to skip any queue at the door.
Timing tip: Friday morning tends to be the sweet spot. It’s after the Opening Night rush, quieter than the weekend, and there’s a full day to browse without feeling pressed for time. Sunday afternoon is the most relaxed session, though some dealers may have sold their best pieces by then.
Getting there
By train: The venue is directly opposite Caulfield Station. From the city it’s a straightforward trip on the Frankiston, Cranbourne, or Pakenham lines — around 20 minutes from Flinders Street. The walk from the station to Gate 23 is short and mostly flat.
By car: Free parking is available at the Guineas Car Park, Gate 20 on Station Street. Disabled parking is also available. For GPS, enter 23 Station Street Caulfield North for Gate 23, or 20 Normanby Road Caulfield East for the car park.
By taxi or rideshare: There’s a dedicated Uber and taxi zone just outside the racecourse on Station Street.
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