The 166th running of the Melbourne Cup, Australia's most famous horse race, will take place on Tuesday, 3 November 2026 at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria. The race is a Group 1 handicap over 3200 metres with total prize money of $10.2 million. It is part of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, which runs from 31 October to 7 November 2026, including Derby Day, Oaks Day, and Stakes Day, featuring 30 feature races and 8 Group 1 events