On Tuesday 3 November, Melbourne stops for the race that stops a nation. The 2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup jumps at 3pm at Flemington Racecourse, and for most of the city the day isn’t about a ticket to the track. It’s about a long lunch, an office sweep and a good table to watch the race from. Here’s what you need to know about Cup Day 2026, plus where to book a Melbourne Cup lunch in Melbourne and on the Mornington Peninsula.
Melbourne Cup 2026 at a glance
- Date: Tuesday 3 November 2026
- Race time: 3pm AEDT (Race 7 on the Cup Day card)
- Venue: Flemington Racecourse, 448 Epsom Road, Flemington
- Distance: 3200 metres
- Prize money: $10 million
- Public holiday: Yes, across Victoria (a few regional councils swap it for their own local holiday)
- This year’s running: the 166th Melbourne Cup
Full race-day details and tickets are on the Victoria Racing Club website.
Melbourne Cup Carnival 2026 dates
Cup Day is the centrepiece of four race days at Flemington:
- Derby Day: Saturday 31 October
- Melbourne Cup Day: Tuesday 3 November
- Oaks Day: Thursday 5 November
- Stakes Day: Saturday 7 November
A short history of the race that stops a nation
The first Melbourne Cup was run at Flemington in 1861. Archer, a horse from New South Wales, won by eight lengths, then came back and won again the following year.
In its early years the Cup was raced on a Thursday. It was first run on a Tuesday in 1875, and from 1876 the first Tuesday in November became its permanent home. Melburnians were already shutting up shop for the afternoon to watch, and in 1877 Cup Day became an official public holiday. The four-day Carnival shape still used today, with Derby Day, Cup Day, Oaks Day and a final Saturday, also dates back to 1875.
The race earned its famous nickname in 1925, when radio station 3AR was allowed to broadcast it and listeners across the country tuned in at once. Visiting writer Mark Twain had already noticed the fuss in 1895, saying “The Cup astonishes me.” The Cup even featured in Australia’s first moving film, shot in 1896.
Fashions on the Field arrived in the 1960s, and dressing up has been part of Cup Day ever since. The only real break in tradition came during the Second World War, when the Cup was moved to a Saturday from 1942 to 1944.
Where to have a Melbourne Cup lunch in Melbourne
Cup Day packages have fixed numbers and sell out, so book early. These venues are running Cup Day 2026 events.
Amora Herencia Riverwalk, Richmond
Right on the Yarra, Amora’s Cup Day lunch opens with a welcome cocktail, followed by a shared entrée, a choice of main and a shared dessert. A three-hour beverage package covers house beer, sparkling, white and red wine, soft drinks and juices, and the races play live on three big screens with sweeps and prizes on the day. Adults $167, teens $80, children $45, under-3s free. Changes can be made up to 72 hours before the event.
Ludlow Bar & Dining Room, Southbank
On Riverside Quay, Ludlow’s Cup Day lunch is $115 per person: a glass of Chandon Brut, Chandon Rosé or a beer on arrival, then three courses. Every race is screened, with sweeps and best-dressed prizes. Bookings are essential.
Young & Jackson, Melbourne CBD
For a classic city pub Cup Day, Young & Jackson on the corner of Flinders and Swanston streets is offering a $90 lunch with a shared entrée, choice of main and two hours of bottomless selected drinks. The racing is live throughout, with TAB facilities in the pub.
Temperance Hotel, South Yarra
A more relaxed option on Chapel Street: lunch with sweeps and prizes, the racing on screens throughout the venue, live music once the races finish, and happy hour from 4pm to 7pm.
Want a rooftop instead? See our guide to the best rooftop bars in Melbourne.
Cup Day on the Mornington Peninsula
Because Cup Day lands on a Tuesday, plenty of Melburnians take the Monday off and turn it into a four-day weekend. That makes it a popular time to head down the Peninsula for a winery lunch, a bayside pub meal or a cellar door afternoon. The Peninsula also has its own race day that weekend: the Peninsula Cup is run at Mornington Racecourse on Sunday 1 November. In Mornington, The Royal Hotel on the Esplanade is screening the races on Cup Day with food and drinks.
Planning the rest of the long weekend? Start with our guides to the best wineries on the Mornington Peninsula and the best restaurants in Red Hill.
Tips for Melbourne Cup Day
- Book now. Packaged lunches have set numbers, and many require payment up front.
- Read the fine print. Check cancellation windows, minimum group sizes and dress codes before you book.
- Be seated before 3pm. The Cup itself takes just over three minutes, so don’t get caught at the bar.
- Plan your trip home. Leave the car at home or organise a designated driver.
- Check opening hours. It’s a Victorian public holiday, so some businesses close or trade reduced hours.
Melbourne Cup FAQs
When is the Melbourne Cup 2026?
Tuesday 3 November 2026. The Cup is always run on the first Tuesday in November.
What time does the Melbourne Cup start?
3pm AEDT.
Is Melbourne Cup Day a public holiday?
Yes, in Victoria. Some regional areas observe a different local holiday instead. It is not a public holiday in other states.
Where is the Melbourne Cup held?
Flemington Racecourse, 448 Epsom Road, Flemington.
When is the 2027 Melbourne Cup?
Tuesday 2 November 2027.