Melbourne is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria and the second-most populous city in Australia.
Melbourne is culturally diverse. It is a leading financial centre in the Asia-Pacific region, ranking 28th globally in the 2024 Global Financial Centres Index. The city’s eclectic architecture blends Victorian-era structures, such as the World Heritage–listed Royal Exhibition Building, with a large skyline. Landmarks include the Melbourne Cricket Ground and the National Gallery of Victoria. Noted for its cultural heritage, the city gave rise to Australian rules football, Australian impressionism and Australian cinema, and is known for its street art, live music and theatre scenes. It hosts major annual sporting events, such as the Australian Grand Prix and the Australian Open Grand Slam, and also hosted the 1956 Summer Olympics. Melbourne ranked as the world’s most liveable city on The Economist’s measure for much of the 2010s. It was also voted the world’s best city by Time Out in 2026
