Hobsons Bay set to sparkle with pride this Midsumma Westside

Midsumma Westside returns in 2026 with a fun and inclusive program celebrating LGBTIQA+ communities in Hobsons Bay and across Melbourne's west.  

Taking place from 18 January to 8 February, Midsumma Westside is a partnership between councils in Melbourne’s west, presented as part of Midsumma Festival, Victoria's premier LGBTIQA+ arts and cultural festival. 

This is the 16th year of this collaboration.  

The 2026 program in Hobsons Bay offers a range of workshops, social events, exhibitions and more, produced or supported by Council. These include: 

• Stand Out exhibition by Tara Mathews at Airtime flags at Altona Meadows Skate Park (December to February) 

• Queer Reading List with curated reading LGBTIQA+ recommendations online and in libraries (8 January to 8 February) 

• '2099: Messages to our queer future' (17 January to 4 February) exhibition and A Comfort Message Quilt Workshop (31 January) at Louis Joel Arts & Community Centre in Altona 

• Customised Clothing Workshop in South Kingsville (22 January) 

• Morning Movie Club: Gayby Baby at Newport Community Hub (28 January)  

• Mapping LGBTQIA+ history with Jonathan Butler at Newport Community Hub (28 January) 

• Fluid Beauty make-up and photography workshop at Woods Street Arts Space in Laverton (31 January) 

• Midsumma Silent Disco (21 January) and Queer Westside Studios Session (5 February) 

• A 50th anniversary singalong screening of Rocky Horror Picture Show at Altona Theatre, featuring trivia by Rainbow Popcorn Trivia (7 February) 

In consultation with local Pride community members, Council supported a stall at Midsumma Carnival day at Alexandra Gardens on 18 January 2026, as a way to enable community members to build up local contacts and connections, promoting initiatives like Hobsons Bay Pride Facebook and Hobsons Bay Rainbow Businesses.  

Find out more on the Midsumma Westside webpage hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/midsumma