Melbourne Cup week 2026: race days, the public holiday and nights out

The Melbourne Cup Carnival runs from Saturday 31 October to Saturday 7 November 2026, and Tuesday 3 November is a public holiday in Melbourne, so at least one club night runs on a weekday afternoon and evening. This post gives the four race-day dates and starting ticket prices, then the club nights and day parties listed on Resident Advisor around them.

For the rest of the city, see the Melbourne nightlife guide and the 10 best clubs in Melbourne. Prices are in Australian dollars unless a listing shows no currency.

Melbourne Cup week 2026 key facts

• Race days: Victoria Derby Day on Saturday 31 October, Melbourne Cup Day on Tuesday 3 November, Crown Oaks Day on Thursday 5 November and Champions Stakes Day on Saturday 7 November.
• Cup start: the Melbourne Cup itself is reported as starting at 3:00pm AEDT.
• Public holiday: Tuesday 3 November, with a Resident Advisor party in Collingwood billed as the Public Holiday Train Party.
• Cheapest race ticket: general admission from A$50, according to the Victoria Racing Club.
• Night-out age limit: 18+ on the Sub Club, Trainscendence and Heide listings below.

Facts checked on 22 October 2026. Line-ups, prices, sold-out status and transport plans change, so confirm on the organiser page before you go.

What are the Melbourne Cup Carnival 2026 dates?

The Victoria Racing Club (VRC) lists four race days at Flemington: Howden Victoria Derby Day on Saturday 31 October, Lexus Melbourne Cup Day on Tuesday 3 November, Crown Oaks Day on Thursday 5 November and TAB Champions Stakes Day on Saturday 7 November. The VRC page does not give gates-open times or age rules.

How much do Melbourne Cup Carnival tickets cost?

The VRC shows these starting prices per person: general admission A$50, Hill Stand reserved seat A$110, Lawn Stand reserved seat A$145, Club Lawn reserved A$190 and Smirnoff Sky Deck A$225. Multi-day options include the Saturday Pass for Derby Day and Champions Stakes Day at A$135, the 2 Day Pass for Melbourne Cup Day and Crown Oaks Day at A$150, and DiDi Mates Rates for a table of six on Oaks Day and Stakes Day at A$150. The page does not say which tiers are sold out.

Which clubs have nights on Derby Day, Saturday 31 October?

• Sub Club: Refuge & Club Well present Elijah Something with A.Well, Amber Ferraro and Jan Kost, 22:00 to 05:00, 18+. The price shows as 20.00 with no currency.
• Solace: Club Elevate’s fifth birthday with the Hotplate Vinyl Fair, 13:00 to 03:00 at 21-25 Croft Alley, A$20. The bill includes Afrodisiac, Blinky Bill, Charlotte Rooney, DJ Earl Grey, Mordi, Ricky Nord and TREY. First Nations attendees can get a free ticket by messaging @club___elevate. The upstairs club levels are reached only by stairs, with two flights of 25 steps between levels.

RA also lists Eden Burns and Nice Girl at 24 Moons, Pearl at Angel Music Bar and an Asylum Halloween Rave at The Third Day for the same date, but those were not checked beyond the titles.

What is on for the Melbourne Cup public holiday on 3 November?

Trainscendence, in a laneway off Budd Street in Collingwood (Unit 6/48 Easey Street, rear entrance), hosts Curio Collective’s Interchange 2 as a Public Holiday Train Party, listed 16:00 to 00:00 (the description says 4pm to 12pm). MOWGLI headlines, with A-Z, BABABLACKSHEEP, BIG SLIME, BIJ DEEPA, KALI, SHAZZOH, XRAY DANCE CLUB and others across three stages on two rooftop trains. It is 18+, and the price field reads 25 with no currency.

Which nights fall in Oaks Day and Stakes Day weekend?

On Thursday 5 November, RA lists LAN presents Idealist Live (CH) at Angel Music Bar, though the details were not checked. On Saturday 7 November, the checked listings are:

• Heide Museum of Modern Art Sculpture Park, Bulleen: Cassian presents Day-To-Night Australia, 14:30 to 22:00 at 7 Templestowe Road, with Nils Hoffmann, Samantha Loveridge and OLIIV, 18+. The price shows as 81.43 with no currency, and the page mentions no shuttle.
• Sub Club: 3 Years of Reasons To Be Cheerful with k2k, Babycino and an unnamed international headliner, 22:00 to 05:00, 18+. The price shows as 30 with no currency.

Other Saturday listings include Richard Sen at Collingwood Basement and a Never Dull night at Glamorama.

Where else can I go out in Melbourne?

Compare areas in the Melbourne nightlife neighbourhoods guide, or see the best bars in Melbourne for earlier in the evening.

Sources

Victoria Racing Club: Melbourne Cup Carnival 2026, My Sports Tourist: 2026 Melbourne Cup, Resident Advisor: Elijah Something at Sub Club, Resident Advisor: Club Elevate 5th Birthday, Resident Advisor: Public Holiday Train Party, Resident Advisor: Cassian at Heide and Resident Advisor: Reasons To Be Cheerful at Sub Club.