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When Is the Melbourne Cup 2026?

The 2026 Melbourne Cup is on Tuesday 3 November 2026, jumping at 3:00pm AEDT at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne. Here's the full Cup-week schedule and everything around the big day.

Quick answer

Tuesday 3 November 2026

Race 7 at Flemington Β· approximately 3:00pm AEDT Β· 3200m Β· $10 million

Public holiday in metropolitan Melbourne. First Tuesday of November, as tradition demands.

Melbourne Cup week 2026: day by day

  1. Saturday 31 October 2026

    Victoria Derby Day β€” four Group 1s at Flemington, plus the Melbourne Cup barrier draw after the last race.

  2. Tuesday 3 November 2026

    MELBOURNE CUP DAY β€” Race 7 at 3:00pm AEDT, $10 million, 3200m at Flemington. A public holiday in metropolitan Melbourne.

  3. Thursday 5 November 2026

    VRC Oaks Day β€” the 'ladies day' of the carnival, headlined by the Group 1 VRC Oaks over 2500m.

  4. Saturday 7 November 2026

    Stakes Day (Champions Day) β€” the carnival finale, featuring the Group 1 Champions Stakes.

How to watch the 2026 Cup

The Cup is broadcast free-to-air in Australia, with full coverage on racing radio (Sky Sports Radio, RSN) and streaming through the networks' apps. Our racing on TV guide lists every channel and stream carrying the day's meetings.

Go deeper for Cup Day

Frequently asked questions

When is the Melbourne Cup 2026?β€Ί

Tuesday 3 November 2026 at Flemington, jumping at approximately 3:00pm AEDT β€” the first Tuesday of November, per tradition.

Is Melbourne Cup Day a public holiday?β€Ί

Yes, across metropolitan Melbourne and parts of regional Victoria. Elsewhere it's a work day that famously stops for three minutes at 3:00pm.

When is the Cup barrier draw?β€Ί

Saturday 31 October 2026, after the last race on Victoria Derby Day at Flemington.

When does Cup week finish?β€Ί

Champions Stakes Day on Saturday 7 November 2026 closes the four-day Flemington carnival.

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