At a glance
- When
- Tuesday 3 November 2026; first race 10:45am, last race 5:15pm
- Where
- Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne
- General Admission
- Adult $60, concession $45, junior (12 to 17) $18, booked through Ticketmaster
- Not allowed in
- Alcohol, glass, large umbrellas, bicycles, scooters, balls and flags bigger than 1 metre by 1 metre
- Dress code
- None in General Public areas; Members Enclosure rules apply in the Members areas
- Who it’s for
- Anyone going to Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day with a General Admission ticket
- What to do now
- Check the ticket page, then pack for the gate rules below
- Last checked
- Monday 26 October 2026, against the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) pages
- Not yet confirmed
- Gate opening time and whether General Admission is still on sale (neither is on the pages we read)
Melbourne Cup Day is on Tuesday 3 November 2026, the first race at Flemington is at 10:45am, and General Admission is listed at $60 for an adult. Flemington has its own list of what you cannot carry through the turnstiles, and it includes alcohol, glass and large umbrellas. This guide covers tickets, the gate rules, re-entry and the dress rules for each part of the course. For trains, trams and buses, read our Melbourne Cup Carnival transport guide.
Everything here comes from the VRC’s own pages, read on 26 October 2026. Melbourne is on daylight saving time in November (AEDT, UTC+11), and all times below are Melbourne times.
How much is a Melbourne Cup Day ticket?
The VRC’s Lexus Melbourne Cup Day page lists a General Admission adult ticket at $60. The VRC’s General Admission page gives the full set, and says bookings are made through Ticketmaster with a credit card:
| Ticket | Standard | Value ticket (adds $50 food and drink credit) |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | $60 | $100 |
| Concession | $45 | $85 |
| Junior, 12 to 17 | $18 | $58 |
The VRC says a General Admission ticket covers race day entry and access to all public areas of the course, including the live music on The Elms Live Stage each day after the last race, Fashions on the Field, pop-up restaurants and bars, and chill-out zones with seating and shade. It says details for redeeming the $50 value credit will be sent by email in October.
The page does not say whether General Admission is still on sale for Cup Day. The VRC’s Cup Day page marks some other products for the day as sold out, so check the VRC ticket page for 3 November before you plan around it. Higher-priced options are listed too, such as the Smirnoff Sky Deck at $745 per person and the Lawn Stand Reserved Seat from $350 per person.
What time does the day start, and who is performing?
The VRC lists Cup Day racing as first race 10:45am and last race 5:15pm, with the Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup over 3200 metres as the feature. The pages we read do not give a gate opening time, so it is not confirmed here. Leave time for bag checks, which the VRC says security carries out at the points of entry.
Robbie Williams is the headline act. The VRC’s Cup Day page says he plays twice: a pre-Cup performance in the Mounting Yard before the Melbourne Cup, then a set of more than 75 minutes on The Elms Live Stage after the last race. It says entry to The Elms Live Stage is free with a General Admission ticket.
What can I not bring into Flemington?
The VRC’s race day FAQ sets out the Conditions of Entry. The list of things you may not bring in, or have in your possession, without the VRC’s written consent includes:
- Alcoholic drinks, glass containers and open beverage containers. The FAQ says no alcohol can be brought through the turnstiles; the one exception is the Members’ Reserved Car Parks, The Nursery and The Rails, with conditions.
- Anything that could be used to build a shelter, such as market or beach umbrellas, large umbrellas, portable shade structures and gazebos. Chairs, lounges, benches and stools are also out, other than a folding fabric chair or folding fabric stool.
- Animals, other than a guide dog for a person who is blind, deaf or has another disability.
- Flags larger than 1 metre by 1 metre, flags with handles longer than 1 metre, and any banner.
- Drones and laser pointers.
- Whistles, loud hailers, public address systems and similar devices, plus fireworks, flares and distress signals.
- Bicycles, scooters, skateboards, roller skates and roller blades on the course. The exceptions are wheelchairs and similar aids that you need because of a disability.
- Balls and other sports equipment.
- Confetti, rice, streamers, and torn-up or shredded paper.
- Spray paint and permanent markers, and dangerous goods including knives.
- Anything you plan to sell or hand out.
- Clothing, posters or signs with text or images that are indecent, discriminatory, obscene, insulting or threatening.
What food you can bring depends on the area. The VRC says BYO food is not permitted in The Club Stand, except on the Members Lawn and in the Members Betting Ring, and is permitted in The Grandstand except in The Atrium Dining and The Peak. For General Admission, read the terms and conditions on your ticket, because the FAQ says what you can bring depends on the areas your ticket allows you into.
Can I leave and come back in?
Yes. The VRC says you can leave the racecourse and come back, as long as you scan your ticket to exit at the turnstiles. Keep the ticket with you.
What do I wear to Melbourne Cup Day?
It depends on where your ticket puts you. The VRC’s What to wear page says there are no dress regulations for General Public ticket holders, though it encourages racegoers to dress suitably and be comfortable. General Public areas include the Front Lawn (with DiDi Mates Rates and Club Lawn Reserved), TAB Saintly Place Sports Bar, The Park and The Hill Stand.
For the day itself, the VRC describes Lexus Melbourne Cup Day style as “bright, bold and beautiful”: vivid tones, daring prints and statement hats. Its official flower for the day is the yellow rose.
If you are heading into the Members Enclosure, the Members Dress Regulations apply. The VRC says that area includes The Club Stand, The Grandstand, the Members Lawn, the Members Betting Ring, the Members Car Parks and The Birdcage, and that the Club can deny entry to or remove anyone it considers inappropriately dressed.
| Area | What the VRC says |
|---|---|
| General Public (Front Lawn, The Park, The Hill Stand) | No dress regulations; dress suitably and comfortably |
| Members Enclosure, gentlemen and children 12 and over | Suit or tailored pants, sports coat or blazer, collared dress shirt, tie or bow tie, and dress shoes |
| Members Enclosure, ladies and children 12 and over | A suitable dress standard in keeping with the Members Enclosure |
| Corporate hospitality and dining | Gentlemen in a suit or tailored slacks, sports coat or blazer, tie and dress shoes; ladies in suitable racewear |
The VRC’s list of what is not acceptable in the Members Enclosure includes shorts above the knee, short jumpsuits and playsuits, garments that show the belly button, bralettes and bandeau crop tops, jeans and denim, tracksuits, leggings worn as pants, torn or ripped clothing, and joggers, sports shoes, runners, slippers, gumboots and thongs. Overseas visitors are welcome to wear their national attire. The responsibility for guests’ dress sits with whoever books the tickets.
What is Fashions on the Field?
The VRC says Fashions on the Field was founded at Flemington in 1962. The 2026 competition page says it began on TAB Turnbull Stakes Day (3 October) and ends with the Grand Final on Crown Oaks Day, Thursday 5 November. The categories listed are Best Dressed, Best Suited, Emerging Designer presented by Vogue and the Lillian Frank AM MBE Millinery award, with a new section for 2026 called Fashions on the Field: The Remix. The VRC’s Cup Day page also lists Fashions on the Field on the Front Lawn.
Where are the cloakrooms, chargers and parenting rooms?
The FAQ lists these services for the Carnival:
| What | What the VRC says |
|---|---|
| Cloakrooms | Public and members’ cloakrooms on all race days of the Carnival, no charge |
| Phone charging, public areas | Saintly Place; Hill Stand ground level (near The Terrace entrance) and Level 1; Race Day and Ticketing Office; Hyperno Walk near the TAB/Tote area; The Park near the Fashions Gardens |
| Parenting facilities, public areas | Eastern end of the Betting Ring next to the Race Day and Ticketing Office; western end of the Betting Ring; The Hill Stand Level 1; the Furphy Deck |
| Racebooks | Select bars, racebook booths, roving sellers and the Merchandise Store at the Heritage Centre |
| Help | Event staff in purple, at all the turnstiles and around the course |
The VRC also offers a free Flemington iOS race day app and says free wifi is available to all guests. On smoking and vaping, it says the grandstands, including balconies, and the area within 10 metres of food vendors are smoke free, with designated smoking areas signed on the course.
What if I live nearby, or I am driving through the area?
The VRC’s local residents page lists Cup Carnival dates for Saturday 31 October, Tuesday 2 November, Thursday 4 November and Saturday 7 November 2026. Those dates differ from the days on the Carnival ticket pages, which give Tuesday 3 November for Cup Day, so use the ticket pages for race dates. The same residents page says event area parking restrictions apply on all race days and refers readers to the Moonee Valley City Council website. It also gives a Resident Response Hotline, (03) 8378 0623, for noise, anti-social behaviour and cleaning issues during major events with amplified music.
Sources
- VRC — Lexus Melbourne Cup Day (race times, Robbie Williams, General Admission price; checked 26 October 2026)
- VRC — General Admission (ticket types and value tickets)
- VRC — Race day FAQs (Conditions of Entry, re-entry, facilities)
- VRC — What to wear (dress regulations)
- VRC — Fashions on the Field
- VRC — Local residents event information
- VRC — Race day and event tickets
Featured image: Fashions on the Field at the 2013 Melbourne Cup Carnival (photo: Chris Phutully from Australia / CC BY 2.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with the Victoria Racing Club, Flemington Racecourse or Ticketmaster. Ticket prices, rules and times can change; check the VRC’s pages before you go.