Open House
Latrobe 2026

Who can apply?

Open House Latrobe invites submissions from organisations or individuals including building owners or custodians, architecture and design practices including urban and landscape designers and community groups who wish to engage directly with public audiences to communicate the importance of good design. If

We encourage EOIs from locations across the Latrobe City Council area.

Whether an individual or organisation, successful applicants become our ‘Collaborators’.

What’s the program format?

Open House Latrobe takes places across 10 + 11 October 2026.

Submissions may take the form of open access buildings or building tours, walking  or site tours, workshops, panel discussions or talks, films or exhibitions across Melbourne.

Most programs operate either as Open Access while some require Pre-bookings for limited capacity or timed tours. Some have elements of both and programs typically operate between the hours of 9am and 6pm (see examples below). If you normally charge an entrance fee, you are required to waive it for festival participants for the Weekend. The program aims to be as free and accessible to audiences possible.

Open Access

Open Access buildings and spaces are drop-in style, open for guided or self-guided tours which are free and do not require pre-booking.

Visitors can simply turn up and take part either by popping in to have a look around and engage with knowledgeable representatives on site—see last year’s offering at Artbank Collection Store—or by joining one of many guided tours offered frequently on a rolling basis, or as required—see Hawthorn Tram Depot or Orica House for a great examples of Open Access programming. A minimum open time of 6 hours is required. If you normally charge an entrance fee, you are required to waive it for festival participants for the Weekend.

Open Access and Pre-bookings include an open, drop-in style offering plus pre-bookings for limited capacity tour or event components—see last year’s offerings at Abbotsford Convent and Mission Whitten Oval for excellent examples of this format.

Pre-booked or ticketed programs

Pre-bookings are required for some programs with limited capacity or security considerations like residential homes, construction sites or limited capacity tours—see last year’s offering at Fed Square: Behind-the-scenes. We ask that a minimum capacity allowance of at least 50 people across the weekend is accommodated e.g. 2 x tours of 25 pax each or 3 x 15 pax.

Open House Melbourne will work with you to assess the structure of your program and decide if your program requires pre-bookings.

All ticketing for pre-booked programs will be managed by Open House Melbourne. A small booking/commitment fee will apply to tickets to contribute to the ticketing administration costs and ensure visitor commitment. Bookings fees are non-refundable.

Collaborators are welcome to cover the booking fee costs in advance if they wish to have no charge for the audience.

Why apply?

We are the largest and longest-running Open House program in Australasia with an engaged and passionate audience.

Open House Latrobe provides you the opportunity to:

• take an active role in advocating for the value of good design in our built environment
• provide an accessible and unique experience for audiences
• contribute to broad public discussion around the role of design in creating better futures
• reach a broad cross-section of the community and gain access to new audiences

Open House Melbourne is committed to supporting your involvement in Open House Latrobe so you can focus on engaging with visitors.

Learn more in our 2025 Event Report here.

Open House Melbourne’s Commitment

In the lead up to and during the Weekend, Open House Melbourne will:

• Coordinate and oversee the delivery and marketing of the print and digital program to our audience including providing a marketing and promotional toolkit for your use;
• Promote the festival through our channels;
• Offer logistics and on-the-day event support including administration of pre-bookings, where required;
• Provide signage for Collaborators
• Allocate and oversee Open House Latrobe volunteers to support with queue management, general building enquiries, way-finding, ticketing, assembling signage

Marketing Benefits

Open House Melbourne undertakes comprehensive marketing and PR activities in the lead up to and during the festival. We have an established database of 53k+ email subscribers, 900k+ annual website visits and an audience of 62k+ across social media channels.

For tailored benefits and services, please enquire about partner and sponsorship packages with Katie Evans, Partnerships + Communications Manager via katie.evans@ohm.org.au or +61 3 8648 8612.