2026 Melbourne Cup: Start Time, Field, and Latest News

The 2026 Melbourne Cup is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m. AEDT on Tuesday, November 3, at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia. The iconic 3,200-meter Group 1 race serves as Race 7 on the Victoria Racing Club's Lexus Melbourne Cup Day card, featuring a total prize pool of $10 million and a $250,000 solid-gold trophy.

For viewers watching across Australia and internationally, the local start times vary by region due to timezone differences. The race starts at 3:00 p.m. AEDT for Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territory; 2:30 p.m. ACDT for South Australia and the Northern Territory; 2:00 p.m. AEST for Queensland; and 12:00 p.m. AWST for Western Australia.

A final field of 24 horses and their barrier draws was announced by the Victoria Racing Club. Defending the title is Knight's Choice, returning after winning the 2024 Melbourne Cup, while Goodie Two Shoes enters as the runner-up from the 2025 race. Among the prominent contenders, Point of Law was highlighted as an early race favorite, and international runners such as Vauban and Middle Earth add depth to the elite field.

Jockey storylines have also dominated pre-race coverage. Popular jockey Harry Coffey faced a race against time to maintain his ride on Shockletz after sustaining a right collarbone injury during a fall at Flemington on Saturday. Following a successful surgical procedure performed by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Andrew Oppy on Sunday, Coffey aimed to secure final medical approvals to race, with Michael Dee standing by on standby.

High stakes off the track matched the intensity on the course. Irish billionaire JP McManus made headlines during Monday's Call of the Card by launching a major betting spree. McManus placed a $1 million wager on English galloper Hopewell Rock to win $9.3 million, alongside substantial bets on rival runners Soul Of Spain and Zakouma, while his own horses, Goodie Two Shoes and Trustyourinstinct, prepared to compete for the Cup's $4.5 million first-place prize.

Fans can watch the Melbourne Cup live through free-to-air racing channels 78 in metropolitan areas and 68 in regional areas, or stream the action online via Racing.com and its official mobile application. Comprehensive news updates and highlights will also be broadcast throughout the day by Channel 7 and 7NEWS.