Melbourne's Affordable Art Fair is about to turn the Royal Exhibition Building into your new favourite Saturday

Melbourne, clear your Saturday. The Affordable Art Fair is back at the Royal Exhibition Building from Thursday 27 to Sunday 30 August, and there is no excuse this year for leaving with an empty wall and a full wallet.

Now in its sixth year, the fair has become a proper fixture on Melbourne's arts calendar rather than a novelty pop-up. More than 70 Australian and international galleries are setting up under that gorgeous heritage dome, with thousands of original works on show. Paintings, sculpture, photography and ceramics, all priced between 100 and 10,000 dollars.

That price bracket is the whole point. This is not a fair where you admire from a respectful distance while a gallerist watches you like you might lick the canvas. You can actually buy something and carry it out the door the same afternoon.

Standouts this year include Melbourne's own In-land Gallery, showing dreamy landscape work from photographic artist Christine Goerner and painter Ben Liney, and Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation, a fully Aboriginal owned art centre from the remote community of Yuendumu in the Northern Territory, bringing vibrant Warlpiri artwork south for the weekend. The Victorian Artists Society, founded in 1870 and still going strong over 150 years later, adds some serious heritage to the mix alongside all that emerging and Young Talent platform work.

Opening hours: Thursday runs First Look from 12pm and Opening Night through to 9pm, Friday goes 10am to 9pm, and Saturday and Sunday are both 10am to 5pm. Tickets are on sale now through the Affordable Art Fair website and Eventbrite, so grab yours before the good stuff gets snapped up.

Whether you are after your first proper piece of art or just want a Saturday that is not another brunch queue, this is the one to lock in. Bring a friend with opinions, bring a tote bag, and budget for at least one impulse purchase you will absolutely not regret.