Concerts and entertainment
Wow your audience with cutting-edge tech and custom food and beverage options. From intimate evenings to concerts for 10,000, we provide the space, expertise, and event planning know-how. Stand out from the crowd with breathtaking experiences using the latest lighting, audio, and visual technology. At MCEC, we know how to entertain. Got questions or ready to book? Scroll down to the bottom and fill out the enquiry form.
Explore our floor plans and space capacities guideMeet in Melbourne
Looking for the perfect destination for your next concert? Choose Melbourne/Narrm, a city bursting with culture, creativity, exciting sports, and cutting-edge ideas. A place of unmatched energy and unforgettable moments. Known globally for its festivals and beloved by locals as a foodie paradise and Australia's coffee capital.
Our iconic venue in the bustling South Wharf precinct is surrounded by outlet shopping, trendy bars and eateries, historic sites, and exclusive partner hotels. Melbourne's lively city centre is just a short walk or tram ride away with convenient public transport options at our doorstep.
Melbourne's year-round events calendar promises endless entertainment and cultural experiences. Beyond the city, Victoria's treasures await, from the Great Ocean Road to charming wineries.
Technology
We partner with some of the best minds in the entertainment industry to deliver electrifying experiences for both the people on stage and in the seats.
Our in-house technology team can provide innovative creative solutions to extend your event experience, showcasing your onstage performers to your audience.
We can also collaborate directly with your suppliers to increase your opportunities.
From sourcing the latest technical innovations to stage, lighting and AV design, we’re all about elevating your guests’ experiences.
Technology
We partner with some of the best minds in the entertainment industry to deliver electrifying experiences for both the people on stage and in the seats.
Our in-house technology team can provide innovative creative solutions to extend your event experience, showcasing your onstage performers to your audience.
We can also collaborate directly with your suppliers to increase your opportunities.
From sourcing the latest technical innovations to stage, lighting and AV design, we’re all about elevating your guests’ experiences.
Technology planner
Your technology planner will work with you to make the most of your event with the space and technology available.
They’ll assist you in planning the technical elements of your event and provide you with a range of options to enhance the attendee experience.
Your technology planner can also provide advice on supplier inductions, test and tagging and cable management. They can provide onsite equipment such as boom lifts and elevated work platforms to access hard-to-reach ceiling points.
Technology services employees
We value a safe working environment for all employees, guests and visitors to the venue.
Consequently, regulations exist regarding hours of work and methodology including minimum staff numbers for certain tasks.
We will work with you to determine the final number of MCEC system/duty technicians required for your event.
We are always very conscious of event organiser costs, so we monitor technician usage during events and sign‑off technicians if applicable to help with cost savings.
Technology services manager
The technology services manager will be your contact while you are on-site.
They will monitor all technical staff and oversee the technical activities associated with your event.
Duty technicians
Duty technicians monitor all technical contractor activities and help contractors with facility and system enquiries while on-site.
Duty technicians oversee:
Induction cards
Mobile plant licences and operating standards (EWPs)
Venue system integration (internal patching)
Access to restricted areas
Front of house and back of house standards and procedures
Room resets to standard MCEC configurations post‑event, and
Pre and post facility and system checks and sign‑offs.
Your dedicated technology planner will work with you to find exciting ways to incorporate the latest trends and technologies into your event, enhancing your audience’s experience and elevating the impact of your performers.
From the moment you come onsite, the tech delivery team will look after all related technical services. They'll work closely with you to ensure everything goes smoothly with 24/7 onsite technical support.
Pre-installed equipment is also included as part of your venue hire.
This includes a high-definition projector and screen, presentation computer with internet access, sound system and intelligent lectern with attached microphones.
Plenary and Goldfields Theatre include state-of-the art rigging for your audio, lighting and production elements.
Let’s bring your event to life
Our toolkit is state-of-the-art, we invest so you don't have to. We have the latest technology, the expertise and the imagination to make your event smooth, successful and spectacular.
We've got the kit to support your setup, and we know our venue inside out. From audio, vision, network systems and multimedia to rigging, lighting and production management, we cover it all.
Audio
Because we’re experts in the unique acoustics of our spaces, we can provide the perfect audio solution for any application.
We offer a selection of digital audio sound system packages and speaker accessories to boost audio and add impact to your show.
Options are available for single speakers, intimate soloists, concerts and large-scale productions.
Vision
There is no better way to impress and engage your online audience than through high-quality visual imagery.
And as our spaces are designed with maximum flexibility, we can accommodate a range of screen sizes and layouts ensuring unobstructed sight lines for your audience.
We also offer vision switching solutions, ensuring presenter and video content displays seamlessly on screen.
Lighting
Enhance your audience experience with a custom high impact lighting design for your show.
Our talented technicians use light, colour, texture and movement for truly spectacular effects.
We’ll illuminate the space to create memorable and highly photographic moments.
Staging and production
Whether you’re organising a speaker, panel or live performance, we offer a range of presentation platforms to meet your requirements.
Our accredited rigging team can install your production equipment and assist with elements such as stages, drapes and cloths.
Rigging
As rigging is a high-risk activity, organisers, production companies and exhibitors are required to select a rigger from a list of MCEC accredited rigging companies.
Your technology planner will provide you with a list of accredited riggers.
Your rigger will be required to submit detailed plans to MCEC no later than 10 business days prior to the commencement of rigging works.
Digital signage and door cards
Digital way finding signage is located throughout the venue to guide your audience to the correct event space.
Digital door cards at the entrance of your event space display your event branding and session information.
Banners
There are options available for hanging banners in most meeting spaces and foyers.
Online
Event attendees can easily see your upcoming event on our website listing, monthly What’s On enewsletter and social media channels for a higher engagement. Ask your MCEC event planner for more information.
Partnership support
Let Melbournians know about your event by reaching out to our local partners. We’d be happy to provide you with a list to start with.
For more info, see our promotional and marketing support guides below.
Virtual and hybrid
Whether your event is in person or hybrid, our expert team uses future-proof technology to make it come alive.
Live to screen cameras
Add impact to your event and improve sight lines by broadcasting your presenter on the main screen.
Video recording
Produce video recordings before your event or ahead of a scheduled release time. Videos may be published on your website or made available to attendees through other methods.
Main screen recording - A main screen record provides you with a high-definition recording of the screen content of your event. This option is enhanced when your content includes multiple vision sources such as camera, presentations and video.
Synchronised content recording - Capture your screen content and performer using a broadcast camera with perfectly synchronised audio, video and presentation slides.
Audio recording - Turn your show into a podcast or keep an audio recording to listen to later. There are several options available to ensure you capture the best sound.
Broadcast camera recording
A broadcast camera provides you with a high-quality recording of your event with multiple file types available.
Streaming
Reach and engage with a wider audience by streaming your show online with perfectly synchronised audio, video and on-screen content. There are a range of services available.
Virtual and hybrid
Whether your event is in person or hybrid, our expert team uses future-proof technology to make it come alive.
Live to screen cameras
Add impact to your event and improve sight lines by broadcasting your presenter on the main screen.
Video recording
Produce video recordings before your event or ahead of a scheduled release time. Videos may be published on your website or made available to attendees through other methods.
Main screen recording - A main screen record provides you with a high-definition recording of the screen content of your event. This option is enhanced when your content includes multiple vision sources such as camera, presentations and video.
Synchronised content recording - Capture your screen content and performer using a broadcast camera with perfectly synchronised audio, video and presentation slides.
Audio recording - Turn your show into a podcast or keep an audio recording to listen to later. There are several options available to ensure you capture the best sound.
Broadcast camera recording
A broadcast camera provides you with a high-quality recording of your event with multiple file types available.
Streaming
Reach and engage with a wider audience by streaming your show online with perfectly synchronised audio, video and on-screen content. There are a range of services available.
Our live streaming platform is the perfect solution for the remote attendee experience. They can enjoy an exceptional video stream much like those attending in person.
The platform's multi-streaming feature lets you broadcast full HD via several platforms simultaneously. You can reach even more people on desktop, mobile and tablet all at once - which is a step up from popular alternatives.
There are awesome features for performers, too, like a teleprompter tool that displays live chats and comments in a single feed.
The chat function can be embedded in your HTML5 video player or as a separate function that both virtual and in-person audiences can access online.
Organising your live and on-demand content is a breeze via channels and playlists on your personalised landing page.
You can generate instant video archives of your live stream and create highlight clips to share with attendees or embed independently.
Customise your channels with your own logos, images and fonts to match your event, sponsor or company branding.
And with real-time insights and stats, you can track how viewers are engaging with your content.
Finally, our privacy rules engine gives you full control over who can access your content. You can protect your streams with passwords, embed and geo locations plus IP addresses and email verification.
If you're looking for a way to hold an unforgettable large-scale event that's a mix of in-person and online, then you need our digital event platform. Your digital event manager can help set this up and run it.
The future-proof solution is perfect for making your online audience feel like they're right there with you, even if they're watching from a beach in Bali.
Our platform is super easy to use - no tech jargon or installations required. And if you need help, our tech team is there to support you every step of the way.
With our platform, attendees can book sessions, create schedules, participate in polls and quizzes and they can even visit virtual sponsor booths.
Plus, everything is in one place, which makes things super convenient.
There are tons of cool features. You can create custom event agendas, get real-time data analysis and switch any in-person speakers to online at the last minute.
We also have a marketing suite, which lets you create custom landing pages and mobile apps for in-person attendees. Plus, we've got tons of live engagement features like polling, gamification and file sharing.
And the best part? Our platform has accessibility features like audio transcripts and sign language channels, so everyone can join in.
Food and beverage
Take a delicious adventure and explore our 2024 menus, designed to celebrate the simplicity, inclusivity, and vibrant culture that defines our magnificent state, Victoria.
Our new menus mirror global trends, offering sustainability, inclusivity, and a taste of the local scene with diverse dietary options and local supplier showcases.
Beyond serving food, we celebrate local traditions, aiming to create memorable dining moments. Our support extends outside the kitchen, actively partnering with local producers to foster connections within the community.
Food and beverage
Take a delicious adventure and explore our 2024 menus, designed to celebrate the simplicity, inclusivity, and vibrant culture that defines our magnificent state, Victoria.
Our new menus mirror global trends, offering sustainability, inclusivity, and a taste of the local scene with diverse dietary options and local supplier showcases.
Beyond serving food, we celebrate local traditions, aiming to create memorable dining moments. Our support extends outside the kitchen, actively partnering with local producers to foster connections within the community.
We turn food scraps into nutrient-rich soil on-site and use it to make electricity. We are working towards making all event packaging fully recyclable, reusable, or compostable by 2025, starting with our ban on single-use plastics.
We're also tackling disposable coffee cups by offering reusable metal cups and setting up Drop Pod collection points outside meeting rooms and catering areas.
We're here to meet your dietary needs and special requests. Our diverse menus include options for various preferences, like vegan-friendly and gluten-free options. Safety is crucial, so please let us know about any allergies for a secure dining experience.
Our team are ready to accommodate allergies beyond the usual 11 or any other special requirements—just give us a heads-up, and we'll take care of everything.
Enquire now
Interested in hosting your next event at MCEC? Find out more about how we can bring your event to life.