4 days until the Melbourne Cup
Tuesday, November 3, 2026Expected dateCounted in Melbourne time. Today is not included.
In weeks, months and sleeps
Weeks and months are counted from today in Melbourne time, the same way as the day count. "Sleeps" is the number of nights before the Melbourne Cup, which is the same as the days if you count tonight.
Keep this countdown on your iPhone.
Countdown shows the same count on your home and lock screens and reminds you as the day gets close.
About this countdown
The Melbourne Cup is run at Flemington on the first Tuesday in November, and the race starts at 3 pm Melbourne time. The day count here is calendar days in Melbourne; the clock counts down to the start of the race.
- The Melbourne Cup 2026 is on Tuesday 3 November.
- Cup Day is a public holiday in most of Victoria, which is how it got called the race that stops a nation. Some country areas swap it for their local show day.
- The race is 3,200 metres, about two miles, and takes a little over three minutes.
Questions people ask
How many days until the Melbourne Cup?
The number at the top of this page. It counts whole days in Melbourne time, and the clock next to it counts down to the 3 pm start.
What time does the Melbourne Cup start?
3 pm in Melbourne and Sydney, 2:30 pm in Adelaide, 2 pm in Brisbane and noon in Perth.
Is Melbourne Cup Day a public holiday?
In most of Victoria, yes. Everywhere else it is a normal working day, although plenty of offices stop for the race.
On your lock screen
Add this date to the Countdown app for iPhone and it reminds you before the day. With Pro, the same count sits under the clock on your Lock Screen, so you see it without unlocking the phone.
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