Next: 3 Nov 2026
Melbourne Cup Day
The race that stops a nation: hats and fascinators, sweepstakes at work and a public holiday in Melbourne.
When is Melbourne Cup Day in 2026?
Melbourne Cup Day 2026 is on Tuesday, 3 November 2026. Other years: 2027, Tuesday, 2 November 2027; 2028, Tuesday, 7 November 2028.
About Melbourne Cup Day
The Melbourne Cup, run at Flemington Racecourse on the first Tuesday of November, is a horse race of 3,200 metres which Australians call the race that stops a nation, and at 3 p.m. Melbourne time workplaces and schools across the country pause to watch it. It has been run since 1861, and is a public holiday in the Melbourne area. People dress in their best, women in hats and fascinators, men in suits, and attend the track, or hold parties, lunches and sweepstakes at work, with the name of a horse drawn from a hat. A tradition is to take a punt, a modest bet, and to eat finger foods and drink sparkling wine. A prize is given for the best-dressed.
Melbourne Cup Day dates: 2026, 2027, 2028
| Year | Melbourne Cup Day date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Tuesday, 3 November 2026 |
| 2027 | Tuesday, 2 November 2027 |
| 2028 | Tuesday, 7 November 2028 |
What is eaten
- finger food
- sparkling wine
- oysters
Also part of it, and being written: Melbourne Cup (The race itself.), Fascinator (The headpiece of Cup Day.), Flemington Racecourse (The track.).
Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Background: "Melbourne Cup" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.