Linguas New to Melbourne Newsletter

Welcome to the September edition of the Linguas New to Melbourne Newsletter.

September is where the rest of 2026 starts getting louder. Our regular Tuesday and Thursday language exchanges continue every week, Saturday Night Social Club returns to Alfie’s on Saturday 26 September, Thought Experiment gets darker, and we are beginning to ramp up the countdown to our International Halloween Party at The Carlton on 31 October.

We are also adding something completely new: trips and tours with Discover Victoria 888, giving the Linguas community more ways to explore beyond the CBD, meet people and see more of Victoria.

Here’s what is happening this month:

For weekly events, entry is $5 or purchase food/drink at the venue. Visit reception first for your wristband. For the latest updates, check @linguas.au.

William Guardado, organiser of Linguas and Intermingle

A message from William

September is about doing more than one kind of social event

Linguas started with language exchange, and that is still the centre of what we do. But as the community has grown, we have been able to build more ways for people to connect depending on what they actually enjoy.

This month that means our regular Tuesday and Thursday events, another Saturday Night Social Club at Alfie’s on 26 September, two Respawn tournament Sundays, darker Thought Experiment sessions, and the launch of trips and tours with Discover Victoria 888. The goal is simple: you should be able to meet people at Linguas one week and then actually go somewhere, play something, or argue over an impossible decision with them the next.

We are also getting much closer to Halloween. During September you will see a lot more of it across our socials as we build towards the International Halloween Party at The Carlton on 31 October. If you already know you are coming, tickets are live now.

Thank you to everyone who attends, volunteers, shares our events and brings someone new into the community.

William Guardado Founder & Organiser, Linguas and Intermingle

Halloween countdown Saturday 31 October 2026

International Halloween Party at The Carlton

September is when the Halloween campaign really starts. Expect more teasers, more costumes, more collaborations and significantly more reminders that 31 October is getting closer.

31 October 2026 The Carlton Club International crowd Costumes

Linguas is joining forces with WinxWin and Melborn for our biggest themed event of the year.

Get Halloween tickets

Saturday 26 September

Saturday Night Social Club at Alfie’s

Alfie’s is back in September for another bigger Saturday social. Come for the socialising, stay for the games, karaoke, music and the point in the night where somebody becomes unexpectedly competitive at beer pong.

26 September Alfie’s Bar 167 Franklin Street Social + activities

The night is designed for people who want something more energetic than our regular language exchange while still making it easy to meet new people.

View September events

Respawn tournaments this September

Sunday 13 September

Respawn: Pokémon Stadium Tournament

Respawn is heading back to Pokémon Stadium for a Sunday tournament. Pick your team, remember how an N64 controller works, and see who makes it through the bracket.

Follow Respawn updates

Sunday 27 September

Respawn: Yu-Gi-Oh! Tournament

Later in the month, Respawn switches to Yu-Gi-Oh! for another Sunday tournament. Tournament details and updates will be posted through Respawn.

Follow Respawn updates

Thought Experiment Saturdays · 3:00–5:00 PM

This month, the scenarios get darker

Thought Experiment is our small-group series built around impossible choices, uncomfortable consequences and scenarios where there is usually no clean way out.

We were recently asked to move to a new venue because the events were apparently too dark for the venue. We are choosing to treat this as the best review Thought Experiment has received so far.

Small groups Impossible choices Darker scenarios No clean way out

September continues with new scenarios and a new home. Venue details and each week’s theme will be posted with the event updates.

Find the next Thought Experiment

New in September

Trips & tours with Discover Victoria 888

We are expanding beyond Melbourne nightlife. Through our new collaboration with Discover Victoria 888, the Linguas community will have access to trips and tours designed to help people explore more of Victoria while meeting others along the way.

We will share individual destinations, dates and booking details as each trip is announced.

See current trips and tours

Our regular September events

Linguas continues every Tuesday at Father’s Office QV from 6:00–9:30 PM and every Thursday at Asian Beer Café from 6:00–10:30 PM. Entry is $5 or purchase food/drink at the venue. Visit reception first for your wristband.

View all Linguas events

Our partnerships are increasingly about giving people something useful beyond a single night out. This month that includes accommodation with Drifter and a new way to explore Victoria with Discover Victoria 888.

Trips & tours partner

Discover Victoria 888

We are working with Discover Victoria 888 to introduce trips and tours for the Linguas community. It is a natural next step for people who meet through our events and want to explore more of Victoria together.

Destinations, dates and booking details will be announced as each trip goes live.

Check current trips

Accommodation partner

Drifter 15% discount for Linguas guests

Drifter offers the Linguas community 15% off direct bookings across participating properties.

Promo code: LINGUAS

Valid for direct bookings through Drifter from 26 June 2026 until 27 June 2027.

Visit Drifter

Linguas Melbourne language exchange event

September: more ways to meet, explore and go out

September brings together our weekly language exchanges, Saturday Night Social Club at Alfie’s on 26 September, Respawn tournaments on 13 and 27 September, darker Thought Experiment sessions, new trips and tours with Discover Victoria 888, and a much bigger push towards our International Halloween Party at The Carlton on 31 October.

You do not need to attend everything. Pick the event that feels most natural to you and start there.

View all September events

Fun activities and places to visit around Melbourne

Our top picks for a fun Melbourne week

Looking for something different to do with friends, a date or someone you recently met? Here are some of our favourite easy Melbourne outings to try this month.

Go ice skating at O’Brien Icehouse

Head to Docklands for a public ice-skating session at O’Brien Icehouse. Beginners are welcome, skate hire is available and the venue operates public skating sessions throughout the year.

Location: The District Docklands
Good for: Friends, dates and small groups
Tip: Check the session timetable before visiting. Discounted Tight Tuesdays may also be available outside school holidays.

View public skating sessions

Watch something different at Cinema Nova

Cinema Nova in Carlton is a great alternative to a standard multiplex, with independent films, international cinema, documentaries, festivals and special screenings.

Location: 380 Lygon Street, Carlton
Good for: Film lovers, relaxed dates and rainy days
Tip: Discount Monday tickets are currently $8 before 4pm and $11 after 4pm, excluding public holidays.

See films and session times

These are all easy activities to suggest when you want to catch up with someone but do not want another standard café or bar meetup.

Event spotlight: language exchange nights

A language exchange is still one of the easiest social events to join because there is already a reason to talk. You can practise English, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Chinese or simply meet people from different parts of Melbourne.

Come alone, bring a friend, or invite someone who has just arrived in the city.

Learn more about Linguas

Our events are designed to be friendly, social and safe. Most people come to meet new people, practise languages, make friends, or enjoy a relaxed night out in Melbourne.

Be respectful

Treat everyone with respect. Harassment, intimidation, aggressive behaviour, or repeated unwanted attention is not welcome.

This is not a dating event

Linguas is a friend-making and language exchange community. Do not treat the event as a place to pressure people romantically.

Let people move around

People are free to change tables, leave a conversation, join another group, or take a break at any time.

Follow host and venue instructions

Please respect our hosts, volunteers, venue staff, wristband/check-in system, and any venue-specific rules.

Photos and content

We sometimes take photos or short videos at events. If you do not want to be included, please let the host know.

Keep it welcoming

Help new people feel included. A simple hello can make someone’s first night in Melbourne much easier.

Anyone who makes others feel unsafe, uncomfortable or repeatedly ignores boundaries may be asked to leave or removed from future events.

Linguas and the wider Intermingle community is built with the support of venues, schools, social groups, travel partners, community friends and people who help make Melbourne feel more connected.

Asian Beer Café
Father’s Office QV
La Di Da
The Carlton Club
Yankees Restaurant & Bar
Drifter
ILSC
Melborn
Discover Victoria 888
WinxWin
Respawn Gaming Social Club
Thought Experiment
Sugar & Spice Nights
SocialHikesAU
Melbourne Tennis Socials
Alfies Bar
Elite Supplements Melbourne City
Hilltops App

This list will keep growing as we continue building partnerships across Melbourne.

Want to be included in the October Linguas newsletter?

If you run an event, venue, community group, student activity, food spot, travel offer, cultural night or social experience that would suit people new to Melbourne, we may be able to feature it in a future edition.

Please email us by the 24th of each month for consideration in the next month’s newsletter.

hello@intermingle.au

Include the event name, date, location, short description, image or poster, links, and any discount code if relevant.

Submit something for next month

Coming in future editions

Each month we will add more event picks, food recommendations, nightlife ideas, partner updates, volunteer opportunities, community stories and downloadable mini-guides for people new to Melbourne. We will also keep adding Halloween updates as the October event gets closer.

We are also planning more featured sections, including affordable food, hidden Melbourne spots, international student-friendly events, weekend ideas and community interviews.

Got an event, venue or local tip that would suit international students, travellers or young adults in Melbourne? Send it through before the 24th of the month.

Submit a newsletter feature