Minus18 Queer Formal® Melbourne

After delivering our biggest and best Queer Formal EVER at the NGV in 2022, we're back to shine even brighter in 2023.

Join us on Saturday July 2 in the spectacular surroundings of the NATIONAL GALLERY OF VICTORIA (OMG) for a night of live performances, drag, new friends, special guests, and endless ? Q U E E R Y O U T H J O Y ?

Queer Formal is a life-affirming, identity-celebrating night for LGBTQIA+ young people (aged 12 to 19 ONLY) to make friends, connect to community, dance the night away, and be their true selves. Wear what you want, bring the date you want, express yourself the way that YOU want, and celebrate with other beautiful queer folk.

We cannot WAIT to see you all again, and to transform the NGV into the most wonderfully queer party going around.

All the info? It’s below. Keep reading. Keep getting excited.

• Saturday 1 July 2023
• 6:30pm to 10pm
• National Gallery of Victoria,180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne
• Ages 12-19 only
• Tickets are FREE - registrations essential!
• Food, soft drink and good times provided

We'll announce closer to the event!

We'll announce closer to the event!

A LITTLE MORE ABOUT TICKETS

• All tickets are gloriously FREE
• One ticket booking per person – make sure your pals don't miss out!
• If you find out you’re unable to attend, please un-register your spot via Eventbrite so someone else can attend.
• If tickets sell out (and it's pretty likely they will), a waitlist will be activated. Add your name to the waitlist, and when someone un-registers a ticket, it'll go to the next person on the waitlist.
• No allocated seating or tables – the vibes at this formal are casual, and primed for friend-making

I don't know anyone – do people attend Queer Formal on their own?

Definitely! Plenty of folk attend Queer Formal solo. The event is super welcoming, and conducive to making heaps of new friends – expect loads of activities. Everyone's ready to chat, hit the dance floor, and chill together.

What’s the dress code?

This is a Queer Formal so loads of attendees like to dress up for this event, but we know ‘formal’ means different things to different people. Some go full glam, others go more casual. We want you to feel comfortable and fabulous – so dress in whatever makes you feel that way!

What if I find out I can't make it anymore?

Darn! If that's the case, please un-register your ticket via Eventbrite so someone else can attend in your place.

Can I bring a plus one if they don't have a ticket?

No, unfortunately only folks who have a ticket can attend! We know how many of you want to attend, and we have pretty strict capacity limits at the NGV – so if your plus one doesn't have a ticket, they'll need to jump onto the waitlist.

Will I need ID to get in? What happens if my name is different to that on my ID?

We'll only ID attendees who we feel look outside of the 12-19 age bracket. And if we do, we’ll be looking at the person’s photo and listed age. We want attendees to register in a name that is comfortable for them, and we know how stressful this can be for trans and gender diverse people, so we won’t ever be looking at their name on the ticket or ID.

I’m not much of a dancer, will there be things for me to do away from the dance floor?

YES! There’s heaps of activities that you can get involved in away from the dancefloor, including a photobooth, DIY fashion workshop, affirmation wall, temporary tattoo station & visiting the NGV QUEER Exhibition (and heaps more)!

Can I leave the event and come back?

To protect the safety of our attendees, we don’t allow passouts!

I have specific dietary requirements, will these be catered for?

If you registered your dietary requirements with your ticket, we’ve captured this with the caterers. There’ll be a table at the event for folks with specific dietary requirements and we can serve you from there. Please note, there is no trace of nuts in any of the food.

Parents and Carers: We’ve created a handy FAQ list just for you! Find it here: Minus18 Events: A Guide for Parents, Guardians and Carers

• Auslan Interpreted
• Wheelchair accessible
• Youth workers on-site
• Quiet space available
• All gender & accessible bathrooms
• First Aid
• Alcohol, drug, vape and smoke-free event

This event will be held on the lands of the Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung people of the Kulin nation. We acknowledge their continued connection and contribution to land, water and community, and pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty was never ceded; this always was, always will be, Aboriginal land.

Host or Publisher Minus18