Asia TOPA has been recognised with the 2025 Melbourne Award for Arts and Events, marking a major moment for the festival and the wider arts community. The announcement was made at a gala event at Melbourne Town Hall, where the award acknowledged the festival’s contribution to the cultural life of the city.
Creative Director Jeff Khan accepted the award on behalf of Asia TOPA, joined by Creative Producer Nisha Madhan and senior leaders from Arts Centre Melbourne. Khan said the recognition comes at a time when people are looking to the arts for connection and perspective, adding that the award motivates the team to continue expanding their work across the city.
Asia TOPA returned in 2025 after a five year break, bringing artists and collectives from across the Asia Pacific to Melbourne’s stages, galleries, public spaces, nightlife venues and campuses. The festival ran across 20 venues and featured 410 artists from 17 countries. Attendance passed 750,000, which organisers say reflects a strong appetite for diverse cultural experiences and opportunities for communities to come together.
This year’s festival highlighted Australia’s place in the Asia Pacific region and presented work that spanned generations and cultural backgrounds. After the success of the 2025 program, preparations are already underway for the 2026 to 2028 cycle, including the return of Asia TOPA Radar. The showcase series begins on Wednesday 19 November with a new line up of Asia Pacific artists.
Running since 2002, the Melbourne Awards recognise people and organisations that help shape the city’s character and creative direction. Khan offered congratulations to all finalists and winners recognised this year, noting the shared commitment to making Melbourne an engaging and welcoming place for residents and visitors.
Asia TOPA, established through a partnership between Arts Centre Melbourne and the Sidney Myer Fund, focuses on celebrating artists and cultural expression from across the Asia Pacific. Its earlier editions in 2017 and 2020 helped cement its position as a key fixture in Australia’s arts calendar, presenting almost two thousand artists and more than six hundred events across both triennials.
The festival continues to be supported by Creative Victoria, the Playking Foundation and the Australian Government, reinforcing its place as one of Melbourne’s major cultural initiatives.
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