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The Melbourne Cup always approaches fast, with the 2026 edition commencing at 3pm, Tuesday 3rd November. The race that stops a nation is more exciting than ever this year, with a number of celebrations taking place both inside and outside the racecourse. While the $10 million Lexus Melbourne Cup is the centrepiece of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, there are plenty of additional races and social events to keep everyone busy.
There are a total of ten races taking place throughout the day, with varying race distances and prize values on offer. While the 3200 metre Lexus Melbourne Cup is by far the most prestigious event on the Australian racing calendar, the entire Melbourne Cup day spectacle is organised as a complete and enthralling package.
Half Yours wins the 2025 Melbourne Cup
Everyone knows just how much people enjoy getting dressed up and having a bet for this special day, with women wearing their most extravagant hats and most colourful dresses. A number of marquees are set up for VIP guests, with fashion parades and other entertainment also taking place throughout the day. Corporate marquee and dining packages are already available for bookings, with shared marquees also available for hire.
The Melbourne Cup is the second richest prize in Australian sport, contested by horses from all over the world. It is amazing when you think that Australia stops to a standstill to listen to and watch the big event, with a 100,000 plus crowd also expected to witness the race live.
It’s not all about the racing however, with a wide range of fashion, dining, and entertainment also on offer. The Flemington Racecourse will come alive again this November with fashion shows, music, and the best selections of food and beverages that money can buy.
Frequently Searched Questions
What time is the 2026 Melbourne Cup? The 2026 Melbourne Cup will be run at 3:00pm on Tuesday, 3rd November 2026 at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
How many horses are there in the Melbourne Cup? The Melbourne Cup field is made up of 24 horses with no emergencies. Each year hundreds of horses will nominate for the race and based on the balloting system and handicapping it is reduced to 24 after the running of the last race on Derby Day.
Who will win the 2026 Melbourne Cup? This is a hard question to answer but be sure to check back here when the final field is announced to view our free tips and bets for the race.
Melbourne Cup 2026
View our guide to watching the 2026 Melbourne Cup: 2026 Melbourne Cup live Stream
The Melbourne Cup this year will be run on November 3rd 2026 which is the first Tuesday in November. The race will be run at Flemington racecourse and the start time for the race is at 3pm. The final field for the Melbourne Cup 2026 will be decided on Saturday 31st October.
Out of the twenty four runners in the Melbourne Cup Field there is prize money for the first ten horses to cross the finish line in a race with a total prize pool of $10 million dollars. View the amounts given to each position on our Prizemoney page or view the information on the iconic trophy.
We have also compiled replays of the last five Melbourne Cup’s including last years edition in which international runner Twilight Payment won. View our the Melbourne Cup replays.
Melbourne Cup betting
The Melbourne Cup is the biggest race in Australia both for viewer count and for betting turnover. Host by the Victoria Racing Club the Melbourne Cup last year had a turnover of around $80 million dollars with the TAB alone. If you are thinking about having a bet on the Melbourne Cup then we advise you view our Melbourne Cup betting page to get information on the different bet types.
Want to place a bet on the Melbourne Cup? We explain the easiest way to bet on the Melbourne Cup.
The odds
Melbourne Cup betting odds basically goes hand in hand with Melbourne Cup betting although there are some small differences. The term betting refers to the overall market in a race where as the term ‘odds’ refers to each of the horses individual price when betting. Each horse in the race will have different betting odds, the horse with the lowest odds is believed to be the race favourite. Betting odds are determined by whom the bookmaker feels has the best chance of winning and betting moves from punters. Often horses will open up at a certain price and either get backed into lower odds or drift to higher odds.
Betting tips
Melbourne Cup is the largest betting event in Australia each year and it’s common for work and family banter to be around who their Tip is.
Need a bookie to bet on the Melbourne Cup? We review over 80+ online bookmakers in Australia. View the best betting sites here. We also list the Top 10 newest online bookies here.
Melbourne Cup day
Melbourne Cup day is always on the first Tuesday in November every year. The meeting consists of ten races all together with the Cup always being the seventh race of the day at a time slot of 3pm. It is accustom for most businesses and schools to stop work at this time to tune into their tv’s or radios to listen to the race which has been branded ‘the race that stops a nation’.
Melbourne Cup always draws a big attendance to Flemington racecourse view more information on attendances HERE.
We provide as much information about the Melbourne Cup as we can below covering a wide range of topics regarding the Melbourne Cup 2026 including how to get to Flemington on Melbourne Cup day Travel.
Melbourne Cup field
Each year hundreds of horses are nominated by their connections for the Melbourne Cup. Leading up to the race there are different levels of acceptances which connections need to pay a fee to continue with their quest to make the Melbourne Cup Field. The field is determined by horses who have won Group races worldwide over the distance of 2400m+ which has caused some debate to the ease of some international runners making the field. There are currently 67 horses still nominated for the race you can view them on our nominations page.
You can also view our page showing the weights for each of the nominated runners in the 2026 Melbourne Cup.
Melbourne Cup Stats
There are plenty of different factors in picking a winner in the Melbourne Cup with a likely field size of 24 horses it can often come down to the ride of the jockey on the horse, we take a look at the most successful Melbourne Cup jockeys with Damien Oliver and Glen Boss having ridden the most winners at 3 each.
Flemington racecourse
The Melbourne Cup is held annually at Flemington racecourse and has so since its inaugural year in 1864. The Circumference of the racecourse is 2,312 metres. The racecourse and surrounding areas is a total of 1.27km.
Some fun facts
Do you want to learn some interesting facts about the Melbourne Cup? View our Facts page where we list some of the most interesting facts and statistics.
Interested in the history of the Melbourne Cup? Then view our page on the Early Years of the Cup.
Melbourne Cup Carnival
The 2026 Melbourne Cup Carnival goes for a full week and is comprised by four race days. The race days are Victoria Derby day, Melbourne Cup day, Crown Oaks day and the last day of the carnival is Lexus Stakes day which is our recommended day for families. The 2026 Carnival starts on the 31st of October and runs until the 7th of November with the race itself being run on the 3rd of November.
The Fashion
The Melbourne Cup Carnival isn’t all about the horses. A lot of racegoers head to Flemington each year simply for the fashion that is on showcase whether that be Women or Mens fashion with the latter becoming more competitive each year in what use to be a Female dominated focus until recent years. We take a look at the Melbourne Cup Fashion on our fashion page.
Melbourne Cup barrier draw
The barrier draw for the Melbourne Cup takes place on Victoria Derby day which this year is the 3rd of November. The Lexus Hotham Stakes run on Derby day is the last race in which Melbourne Cup hopefuls can get a spot in the final field thus the barrier draw must commence after this time. It is accustom that the VRC announces the final Melbourne Cup Field and barriers at 5.30pm.
Melbourne Cup order of entry
The Melbourne Cup attracts hundreds of nominations each year but the final field is only twenty four runners meaning a majority of nominated horses wont get a start in the race. We take a look at this years current order of entry. We also explain the Melbourne Cup balloting system as well as list the ballot exempt races for the Melbourne Cup.
We have also made a page outlining the Qualification requirements.
Melbourne Cup Sweep
Each year thousands of people across Australia will take part in a Sweep on the Melbourne Cup which provides a cheap and fun way to experience ‘the race that stops a nation’. We provide some information on what a sweep is and how you can organise one for your office. It’s simple to do, fun and exciting so be sure to take part in a Work Sweep this year!
Melbourne Cup International runners
The Melbourne Cup is the most watched horse race in Australian racing, contested by three year old horses and above over a distance of 3200 metres. The Melbourne Cup is held annually at Flemington Racecourse on the first Tuesday in November, and has become known as “the race that stops a nation”. Throughout its long history that stretches back to 1861, a number of international horses have won this prestigious event.
Learn more on our page about International horses that have raced in the Melbourne Cup
The best winners
It takes a very good horse to win a Melbourne Cup and each winner goes into the history books although there are some horses who have won the race on multiple occasions which with increase in weights and conditions takes an exceptional horse to do so.
Makybe Diva has won the Melbourne Cup on three occasions with other notable Melbourne Cup winners being Archer who won the first two editions of the race and arguably Australia’s most well known horse Phar Lap who won the race in 1930.
How do i bet on the Melbourne Cup?
The easiest way to bet on the Melbourne Cup is with an online bookmaker. We recommend the following bookmakers Neds, swiftbet, Unibet and Ladbrokes. Registering with these bookmakers is safe, simple and fast. Once you have signed up simply navigate your way to the correct market and click on the odds of the horse you wish to bet on.
When is the Melbourne Cup?
The Melbourne Cup 2026 will be run on Tuesday, November 3rd at Flemington Racecourse. The scheduled start time for the race is 3:00pm with the average race time around 3minutes and 18seconds.
How to live stream the 2026 Melbourne Cup
Have you backed our Best Bet '24 Shockletz' and want to know how you can watch the 2026 Melbourne Cup?
The Melbourne Cup is scheduled to be run on November 3, 2026 so sign up to any of the compatible online bookmakers below and stream the race for free!
View the table below to work out which online bookmaker will live stream the Melbourne Cup.
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