The City of Melbourne welcomes all varieties of buskers and street performers to perform on our streets. Musicians, singers, dancers, magicians, mimes, puppeteers, living statues, painters and chalk artists are all eligible. Apply now – we’d love to have you entertain city visitors.
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We’re currently offering free busking permits to keep the city streets humming with local talent.
This offer expires 30 June 2023. The free permit waiver includes all permit types, selling fees, renewals and new applications.
New applicants will need to apply online for a permit through City of Melbourne Services. New applicants and buskers who have not attended a safety and performance review in the past five years may be required to attend a virtual seminar, live audition or safety assessment depending on their performance type.
Before you apply, you will need to:
When you apply, you will need to:
New permits and reapplications (valid for 12 months from date of issue) are $30.60.
To start an application, you'll need to log in with your registered customer account. Find out more about how to register and log in.
Performers under the age of 16 must have parental or legal guardian consent to apply for a permit, and must have parental or legal guardian supervision at all times while performing. Please refer to the FAQs for further information.
The City of Melbourne respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land we govern, the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong / Boon Wurrung peoples of the Kulin and pays respect to their Elders past and present. We acknowledge and honour the unbroken spiritual, cultural and political connection they have maintained to this unique place for more than 2000 generations.
We accept the invitation in the Uluru Statement from the Heart and are committed to walking together to build a better future.