How to watch the 2026 Melbourne Cup, plus odds and everything you need to know about the $10 million race

The 2026 Melbourne Cup has arrived with Flemington Racecourse ready to host Australian racing’s showpiece event.

A $10 million prize pool is up for grabs in the 3200m classic on Tuesday, as is a $250,000 solid-gold trophy.

Scroll down for all the details on the 2026 Melbourne Cup, including how to watch and latest odds.

What time is the Melbourne Cup?

The Melbourne Cup will take place from 3pm AEDT on Tuesday, November 4.

Local times as below:

• 3pm AEDT - Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania and ACT
• 2.30pm ACDT - South Australia, Northern Territory
• 2pm AEST - Queensland
• 12pm AWST - Western Australia

How to watch and listen to the Melbourne Cup

Watch the race live through free-to-air racing channels 78 (metropolitan) and 68 (regional) or stream it online at Racing.com or on the Racing.com app.

Head here to listen to Triple M’s coverage of the Melbourne Cup live from Flemington.

Channel 7 will have all the action from the Big Dance at Randwick live and free, and 7NEWS will also have all the highlights from the races, including the Melbourne Cup and the Big Dance, throughout the day with news updates. 

Head here to watch the news and races from Sydney live on 7plus.

Melbourne Cup odds

Win/place, all odds correct as at 8.45am, November 3

Hopewell Rock $7 / $2.80

Point Of Law $8.50 / $3.20

Trustyourinstict $9 / $3.40

Shockletz $10 / $3.60

So You Are $12 / $3.90

Juja Kibo $13 / $4.20

Middle Earth $17 / $5

Sons And Lovers $21 / $6

Goodie Two Shoes $21 / $7

James J Braddock $21 / $7

Enfjaar $23 / $7

Soul Of Spain $26 / $7

Mr Monaco $26 / $7

Zakouma $26 / $7

Zahrann $34 / $9

Knight’s Choice $41 / $12

Wine Dark Sea $41 / $10

Kizlyar $41 / $10

Vauban $51 / $14

Royal Supremacy $51 / $14

Asterix $51 / $14

Future History $51 / $14

Onesmoothoperator $61 / $17

Strictly Business $61 / $17

Melbourne Cup horses, barriers, trainers and jockeys

1. SONS AND LOVERS

Barrier: 3

Trainer: Joseph O’Brien

Jockey: Dylan Browne McMonagle

2. TRUSTYOURINSTINCT

Barrier: 18

Trainer: Joseph O’Brien

Jockey: James McDonald

3. KNIGHT’S CHOICE

Barrier: 2

Trainer: John Symons and Sheila Laxon

Jockey: Robbie Dolan

4. MIDDLE EARTH

Barrier: 1

Trainer: Ciaron Maher

Jockey: Mark Zahra

5. VAUBAN

Barrier: 22

Trainer: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott

Jockey: Jordan Childs

6. ENFJAAR

Barrier: 8

Trainer: Roger Varian

Jockey: Ray Dawson

7. ROYAL SUPREMACY

Barrier: 21

Trainer: Ciaron Maher

Jockey: Ben Allen

8. WINE DARK SEA

Barrier: 23

Trainer: Harry Charlton

Jockey: Damian Lane

9. ASTERIX

Barrier: 6

Trainer: Chris Waller

Jockey: Jye McNeil

10. GOODIE TWO SHOES

Barrier: 19

Trainer: Joseph O’Brien

Jockey: Wayne Lordan

11. JUJA KIBO

Barrier: 14

Trainer: Ciaron Maher

Jockey: Sam Clipperton

12. HOPEWELL ROCK

Barrier: 15

Trainer: George Boughey

Jockey: Zac Lloyd

13. ONESMOOTHOPERATOR

Barrier: 13

Trainer: Tim Fitzsimmons

Jockey: Declan Bates

14. SOUL OF SPAIN

Barrier: 5

Trainer: Chris Waller

Jockey: Tommy Berry

15. ZAHRANN

Barrier: 11

Trainer: Ciaron Maher

Jockey: Ben Melham

16. SO YOU ARE

Barrier: 7

Trainer: Bjorn Baker

Jockey: Rachel King

17. FUTURE HISTORY

Barrier: 12

Trainer: Gregory Hickman

Jockey: Jamie Melham

18. JAMES J BRADDOCK

Barrier: 24

Trainer: Joseph O’Brien

Jockey: Craig Williams

19. KIZLYAR

Barrier: 20

Trainer: Joseph O’Brien

Jockey: Beau Mertens

20. POINT OF LAW

Barrier: 9

Trainer: Ciaron Maher

Jockey: Ethan Brown

21. STRICTLY BUSINESS

Barrier: 4

Trainer: Thomas Carberry

Jockey: Dean Yendall

22. MR MONACO

Barrier: 16

Trainer: Ciaron Maher

Jockey: Jabez Johnstone

23. ZAKOUMA

Barrier: 10

Trainer: Grahame Begg

Jockey: William Pike

24. SHOCKLETZ

Barrier: 10

Trainer: Ciaron Maher

Jockey: Harry Coffey

Melbourne Cup prize money breakdown

More than $10m is up for grabs in total.

The winning connections will receive $4.5m, as well as an 18-carat solid-gold trophy worth around $250,000.

Of the victor’s monetary prize, 10 per cent ($450,000) goes to the trainer and the jockey claims five per cent ($225,000).

The trainer and the jockey are also awarded a replica trophy valued at $10,000.

The runner-up takes home $1,100,000, with $560,000 to the third-place runner.

Fourth snares $360,000 while fifth secures $240,000, and sixth through 12th all receive $160,000, while 13th-24th get $100,000.

Watch the Big Dance at Royal Randwick live and free on Seven and 7plus Sport from 12pm AEDT on Tuesday, November 3.

If you’re concerned about your gambling or the gambling of a friend or family member, log on to Gambling Help Online or make contact via phone on 1800 858 858.

You can access online counselling as well as services in your state or territory and support for family and friends.