How to Watch Melbourne Cup 2026 - TV Channel, Live Stream and Race Times

John Eastwood

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Last updated: Sat 31 Oct 2026 15:51

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How To Watch The 2026 Melbourne Cup Live On TV

Here's how you can watch the 2026 Melbourne Cup live on television or stream the race on a mobile, tablet or other device.

Australia's most famous horse race takes place at Flemington Racecourse on Tuesday, November 3, as leading stayers from around the world compete for victory in the 2026 Melbourne Cup.

The Group One handicap is run over 3200 metres and is scheduled to start at 4:00am GMT (3:00pm local time) on Tuesday morning. A maximum field of 24 runners will compete in the prestigious contest, which remains one of the highlights of the international Flat racing calendar.

British and Irish racing fans can watch the Melbourne Cup through the official international live stream provided by the Victoria Racing Club.

Melbourne Cup 2026 - Television Schedule

The 2026 Melbourne Cup will be staged at Flemington on Tuesday, November 3, with the main race scheduled for 3:00pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT).

This means that viewers in Britain and Ireland will need to be up early, with the Melbourne Cup starting at 4:00am GMT.

Event	Australian Time (AEDT)	UK Time (GMT)
First race at Flemington	10:45am	11:45pm Monday
Melbourne Cup (Group 1) 2m	3:00pm	4:00am Tuesday
Final race at Flemington	5:15pm	6:15am Tuesday

Australian broadcaster Channel 9 will provide live coverage of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, with the action also available to stream through 9Now.

How To Watch The Melbourne Cup In The UK

British racing fans can watch the 2026 Melbourne Cup live through the official international streaming service provided by the Victoria Racing Club.

The VRC has confirmed that its free international stream will be available to viewers outside Australia and the United States, allowing racing enthusiasts in the UK and Ireland to follow the action from Flemington.

The Melbourne Cup is scheduled to begin at 4:00am GMT on Tuesday, November 3, meaning viewers will need to tune in during the early hours of the morning.

UK viewers can access the stream through the official Victoria Racing Club website.

How To Watch The Melbourne Cup In Australia

Australian racing fans will have several ways to follow the 2026 Melbourne Cup, with Channel 9 providing extensive free-to-air television coverage from Flemington.

The broadcaster will show all four days of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, including Tuesday's feature race. Coverage will also be available online through 9Now, allowing viewers to watch on compatible mobile phones, tablets, computers and smart televisions.

Racing.com will provide further coverage throughout the meeting, including race previews, interviews, analysis and live racing.

Australian viewers can watch Racing.com on Channel 78 in metropolitan areas and Channel 68 in regional locations, or access the broadcaster's website and mobile app.

International Melbourne Cup TV Coverage

The Melbourne Cup attracts interest from racing fans around the world, with international coverage helping to showcase Australia's most famous race to a global audience.

The Victoria Racing Club will provide a free international live stream for viewers outside Australia and the United States, giving racing fans in Britain, Ireland and numerous other countries access to the action from Flemington.

Viewers in the United States should check their local racing broadcaster for coverage, as the official VRC international stream is not available in that territory.

International television arrangements can vary between countries, so racing fans should consult their local listings for additional coverage of the Melbourne Cup.

Melbourne Cup Live Streaming Guide

Viewers in Australia, the UK and around the world will be able to stream the Melbourne Cup live via their bet365 account. 1xBet also provide streams for international races.

Bet365 Melbourne Cup Live Stream

Visit bet365 > live streaming > horse racing
Log-in or register for an account (use the bet365 bonus code NEWBONUS if opening a new account)
Registered depositing users can then watch and bet on live horse racing.

Melbourne Cup Live StreamWatch Via a Mobile Or TabletWATCH HERE

New customers only. 18+ T&Cs and wagering requirements apply.

To watch a bet365 live stream users must be logged in and have a funded account or to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours. 18+, geo-restrictions & terms and conditions apply.

Open Account Offer: Up to £100 in Bet Credits for new customers at bet365. Min deposit £5. Bet Credits available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. The bonus code NEWBONUS can be used during registration but does not change the offer amount in any way.