The event, in partnership with Tourism Australia, will be held in the city's Royal Exhibition Building where world-leading chefs, restaurateurs, sommeliers and media will gather to celebrate the world's top restaurants.
It will be the second time in its 15 year history that the awards ceremony will be held outside London, with Melbourne hoping to replicate the success of this year's event in New York.
The World's 50 Best Restaurants group editor William Drew said: "After 14 years hosting the awards event in London, we decided to take The World’s 50 Best Restaurants on a global tour, kicking off in New York in June 2016. Now we could not be more thrilled to be moving to Melbourne, one of the great food cities of the world, in 2017.
"Come April next year, Australia will undoubtedly be the place to be for those passionate about great food and inspired restaurants. In partnership with Tourism Australia, we will also take the opportunity to highlight the country’s unique produce, brilliant wines and dynamic dining scene.”
The World’s 50 Best Restaurants’ move to Australia coincides with the country’s ongoing drive to highlight its food and wine credentials to the world. Since the start of Tourism Australia’s Restaurant Australia campaign in December 2013, international incremental spending on food and wine has increased by more than $1 billion with one in five dollars spent by international visitors in Australia now going towards food and wine experiences.
The awards will form part of a week's long program to showcase Australia's food and wine culture with the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival aligning its dates (31 March to 9 April) to coincide with the event. The Chefs' Feast - the annual private gathering of the world's top chefs will take place on 4 April.