The main Melbourne Cup race is traditionally run at 3:00 pm local time on Melbourne Cup Day, which is held on the first Tuesday in November each year at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne.

Key details

  • Melbourne Cup Day is a public holiday in Victoria and is scheduled for the first Tuesday in November every year.
  • The feature event on the day is the 3,200‑metre Melbourne Cup, commonly referred to as “the race that stops a nation.”
  • The main Melbourne Cup race is customarily scheduled for a 3:00 pm post time (Melbourne time), with coverage and build‑up throughout the afternoon.

Upcoming dates

  • In 2025, Melbourne Cup Day falls on Tuesday, 4 November.
  • In 2026, Melbourne Cup Day falls on Tuesday, 3 November.

So if you are asking “when is the main Melbourne Cup race?” in general, it is at about 3:00 pm on Melbourne Cup Day each year, on the first Tuesday in November at Flemington.