Melbourne Cup

Every year, Australians celebrate Melbourne Cup Day, the most popular horse race on the calendar.

Also known as the Lexus Melbourne Cup, the Melbourne Cup is the premier event of the Spring Racing Carnival and is held on the first Tuesday in November each year, which will be on the 5th of November in 2024.

Melbourne Cup Day 2024 Date, Tickets, Dress Code & Race Start Time

At 3pm on that famous first Tuesday in November, the Lexus Melbourne Cup is the centrepiece of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Over 3,200 metres, the Melbourne Cup offers the richest prize in Australian sport: an 18ct solid gold Hardy Brothers trophy valued at $175,000+, a stake of the $8.56 million prize money, and to cement their names in history.

No other event comes close to the boundless energy you can only experience in person on Cup Day. This famous race day will again define the Australian entertainment, fashion and sporting landscape.

Take your place trackside for one of the world’s most renowned tests of thoroughbred greatness.  Held over 3200m, ‘the race that stops a nation’ heralds an honour roll of local, national and international equine superstars.

This is the one everyone has been waiting for, offering something for every kind of racegoer – fashionistas, foodies, die-hard punters, and everyone in between.

Having a bet is very popular on Melbourne Cup Day, with hundreds of millions of dollars spent on one race. Most people place bets through the official TAB or a bookmaker in person, but it’s commonplace that sweepstakes are held at companies around the country.

The Melbourne Cup Day race is a day full of fun and frivolities. Dress up in your Spring finest, and bring a group of friends (and maybe even a picnic) to the most famous day on Australia’s sporting calendar. Food and drinks can be purchased at the racetrack, and ATMs are available inside the racecourse; however, due to the large crowds, lines are often long. Betting is a popular pastime, so bring some extra cash to place a bet on Australia’s biggest races.

General Admission

Your General Admission ticket also includes The Park – where you can enjoy all the live music acts on The Live Stage, Fashions on the Field, Melbourne’s best food trucks, refreshing drinks and relaxed seating areas in front of the big screen.

• Free entry to The Park – enjoy Melbourne’s best pop-up restaurants serving delicious takeaway as the live racing action continues on the big screen.
• Access to the Fashion Garden, home of Flemington’s iconic Fashions on the Field competition.
• Access to The Park Live Stage, with some of Australia’s hottest musicians headlining each day of Carnival.
• The Club Lawn Hotel provides access to the famous Flemington Front Lawn, which features racing action and delicious bites.

The headline acts of the day are:

Empire of the Sun (DJ Set)
Homegrown Electronic music talent, known for their hit ‘Walking on a Dream, ’ light up The Park Live Stage on Lexus Melbourne Cup Day! Catch a vibrant DJ Set filled with iconic tracks.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor (UK)
Pop icon Sophie Ellis-Bextor, known for ‘Murder On The Dancefloor,’ is set to rock Lexus Melbourne Cup Day. Join the crowd racing to The Park Live Stage to catch her live!

Getting There

Public transport to the event is plentiful, with trains that run direct and trams stopping only a short walk away. Special trains run directly to Flemington Racecourse on race days. Trains to Flemington Racecourse depart at Flinders Street Station, Southern Cross Station and North Melbourne Station. You can also catch the #57 Maribyrnong tram from the Elizabeth Street/Flinders Street intersection and alight at Flemington Drive.

Dress Code

The official flower for Melbourne Cup Day is the yellow rose, which can be purchased from flower sellers near the entrances upon arrival to Flemington.

There are no dress regulations for general admission ticket holders. However, wear your favourite casual or race-day attire for a fun day at the races.