The Melbourne Cup 2026 time and channel are confirmed: the 166th running jumps at 3pm AEDT today, Tuesday 3 November 2026, and it is free to watch on Channel 9 and the 9Now streaming service across Australia. For viewers in the UK, that is 4am GMT on Tuesday, with live coverage on Sky Sports Racing.
For one afternoon each November, offices fall quiet, schoolrooms tune in and pubs fill up with people who could not name a single horse in the field a week ago. The race that stops a nation is back at Flemington, and the two questions on almost everyone’s lips are the simplest: what time is it on, and where can I watch it?
Here is everything you need to know, checked against the Victoria Racing Club (VRC), the official broadcaster and established news outlets.
What time is the Melbourne Cup?
The Melbourne Cup is scheduled to start at 3pm AEDT (Melbourne time) on Tuesday 3 November 2026. It is Race 7 of 10 on the Flemington programme, run over 3,200 metres. The first race of the day is at 10.45am AEDT and the last, Race 10, at 5.15pm AEDT.
If you are outside Victoria, here is when to put the kettle on:
| Where you are | Local start time |
|---|---|
| Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, ACT | 3pm AEDT, Tuesday |
| South Australia | 2.30pm ACDT, Tuesday |
| Queensland | 2pm AEST, Tuesday |
| Northern Territory | 1.30pm ACST, Tuesday |
| Western Australia | 12pm (noon) AWST, Tuesday |
| New Zealand | 5pm NZDT, Tuesday |
| United Kingdom and Ireland | 4am GMT, Tuesday |
| United States (Eastern) | 11pm EST, Monday 2 November |
| United States (Pacific) | 8pm PST, Monday 2 November |
A word of caution for British readers: the clocks went back on Sunday 25 October, so the UK is on GMT and the race falls at 4am, not 5am. If you are setting an alarm, set it a few minutes early. The horses load into the barriers before the official start, and the build-up is half the theatre.
Start times in racing are scheduled rather than guaranteed. A late scratching, a fractious horse at the gates or a weather delay can push the jump back by a minute or two.
What channel is the Melbourne Cup on?
In Australia, the Melbourne Cup is on Channel 9, free to air, and streams live and free on 9Now. The VRC’s official broadcast guide names Nine as the home of all four days of the Melbourne Cup Carnival. Nine is in the third year of a deal with the VRC that runs until 2029, and all 10 races from Flemington will be shown.
There are several other official ways to follow the day:
- Racing.com: live racing on its website and app, and on free-to-air Channel 78 in metropolitan areas and Channel 68 in regional areas, according to the VRC.
- Sky Racing and the TAB app: both carry the Carnival through Tabcorp’s arrangement with the VRC.
- Radio: Triple M Racing is calling Cup Day, and the VRC also lists RSN (927 AM in Melbourne) and Sky Racing for live audio. ABC listeners can follow the live call on radio, online or via the ABC listen app.
Watching from overseas
In the UK and Ireland, Sky Sports Racing holds the rights to the Melbourne Cup Carnival and is the place to watch live. It requires a subscription.
Elsewhere, the VRC offers a free international live stream, available only outside Australia and the United States. Viewers in New Zealand, Canada and other markets should check local listings, as rights vary by country.
A practical tip: 9Now is restricted to viewers in Australia. If you are travelling, stick to the official broadcaster in the country you are in.
The race itself
A field of up to 24 horses the Group 1 handicap over two miles for prize money of $10.2 million (AUD). The race is traditionally held on the first Tuesday of November, which is also a public holiday across Victoria.
There are stories threaded right through the field. Vauban returns for a fourth crack at the Cup, now trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, after finishing sixth last year. Apprentice jockey Jabez Johnstone is chasing history: no apprentice has won the Melbourne Cup since 1948. English-trained Hopewell Rock has firmed into favourite on race morning, taking over from Point Of Law, the King’s former horse after drawing barrier 9.
They are all chasing the shadow of Half Yours, who won the 2025 Cup by three lengths under Jamie Melham, only the second female jockey to win the race. Whatever happens at 3pm, someone’s office sweep is about to become the most talked-about piece of paper in the building.
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Source: Victoria Racing Club, ABC News
