Four days at Flemington: the 2026 Melbourne Cup Carnival
Derby Day on 31 October, the Cup on 3 November, Oaks Day on the 5th and Stakes Day to close.
The Melbourne Cup Carnival runs from Saturday 31 October to Saturday 7 November, with 30 races over four days and eight Group 1 races.
Derby Day, Saturday 31 October. The Victoria Derby over 2500 metres and the Coolmore Stud Stakes over 1200 metres are each worth $2 million, with the $1 million Empire Rose Stakes on the same card. It is traditionally the black-and-white day of the carnival.
Melbourne Cup Day, Tuesday 3 November. The 3200-metre handicap that stops the nation, worth more than $10 million, where every horse from 13th to 24th now collects $100,000.
Oaks Day, Thursday 5 November. The VRC Crown Oaks for three-year-old fillies, worth $1 million. Stakes Day, Saturday 7 November, closes the carnival.
Book hospitality early: the best marquees on the Birdcage lawn sell out well before Derby Day.
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