What's open on the Melbourne Cup Day public holiday

Find free events, pop-ups, theatre shows and the best spots open to eat and drink.

A busy floating bar on the river at night with the city skyline lights in the background.

When is the Melbourne Cup Day public holiday this year?

This year, the Melbourne Cup Day public holiday falls on Tuesday 3 November, 2026. Taking an extra day? Kicking on late into Cup Day-eve? Find fun events to make the most of your public holiday.

Free on the public holiday

Portrait of a woman with her face painted blue and embellished with gold stars, wearing a colourful, fan-like headdress.
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Passage: The Art of Atong Atem

NGV presents the first-ever major solo exhibition of contemporary artist Atong Atem.

A contemporary Indigenous artwork featuring a black cockatoo against a vibrant pink and marbled background.
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Future Dreaming

Explore 217 original small artworks by First Nations artists in Victoria’s prisons.

An egg-shaped figuring with a brown cowboy hat and a pistol.
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NEW26

The return of the much-loved NEW exhibition series at ACCA.

A gallery space with paintings displayed on one white and one yellow wall, plus a series of totems or tree trunks displayed in a white stand in the middle.
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Ngarn Wa'ngal: Art of the Gum Tree

Discover how the iconic gum tree has inspired centuries of Australian art and culture.

Two people seated below a neon sign.
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The Story of the Moving Image

A permanent exhibition that journeys through the past, present and future of the moving image.

Comedian holding a microphone, standing under a spotlight in a bar with plants and bar stools.
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Laugh Lab

Come watch some of Melbourne's best comedians perform in the cosiest cocktail bar in town.

Looking over a blurred shoulder at a table with books displayed.
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World of the Book

Experience the rare, the sacred and the iconic in this one-of-a-kind exibition.

People looking at a gallery wall of small white square embroidered handkerchiefs.
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Sparks in the Dark: 260 Weeks of Resilience

Celebrating the resilience of women living with the enduring impacts of the War in Afghanistan.

Best events and attractions to book

Artwork by Margaret Preston depicting Banksia flowers in a pot.
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Margaret Preston

NGV's new retrospective exhibition on Margaret Preston.

Singers and dancers on a theatre stage in a scene from A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical, with spotlights and stage sets.
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A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical

An inspiring, exhilarating, energetic musical memoir.

A group seated inside a cafe, interacting, and sampling coffee from small cups with a tour guide standing near them.
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Coffee Culture Tour

Discover the cafés, laneways and stories behind Melbourne's famous coffee culture with a barista.

A tiered High Tea plate of savoury and sweet food served at Hello Kitty and Friends cafe.
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Hello Kitty and Friends High Tea

Enjoy a charming daily high tea, made for sharing little moments of joy with friends.

Comedian Lloyd Langford holding a microphone in his hand and performing stand-up comedy on a stage against a red curtain.
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Cheap Tuesday Stand-Up Comedy

Enjoy the best comedians doing their new, and new comedians doing their best.

Four hot air balloons floating in front of the Melbourne city skyline during sunrise, with skyscrapers visible in the background.
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Melbourne Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Flight

Float over Melbourne's iconic landmarks in a sunrise hot air balloon flight.

Three long narrow boats with people seated in them and a guide standing at the rear of each boat, punting on the lake at Royal Botanic Gardens.
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Punting on the Lake

Glide between the bays and islands of Ornamental Lake on a guided boat cruise.

Smiling vendor selling a range of pastries, dips and spreads at Queen Victoria Market.

Queen Victoria Market

This beloved Melbourne landmark is the largest open air market in the southern hemisphere.

Tranquil scene of trees and lawn surrounding a lake.

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria

A picturesque haven for recreation and a key botanical resource for research and conservation.

Gold-plated Eureka Tower skyscraper and cityscape against the city skyline and blue sky with clouds.

Melbourne Skydeck

This 300m high public observation deck captures everything that is special about Melbourne.

Water wall installation at the entrance to NGV International on St Kilda Road.

NGV International

NGV International houses a whole world of international art.

Child looking over right shoulder with delighted smile, dark dinosaur model behind.

Melbourne Museum

Explore history, culture, science and nature at this popular Melbourne attraction.

Koala in a gum tree at Melbourne Zoo.

Melbourne Zoo

Journey through a world of wildlife in the heart of Melbourne.

People lining up outside a retro photobooth at night.

Flinders Street Photobooth

Have your photo taken at a vintage black and white photobooth.

People seated at desks arranged in an octagonal pattern inside the La Trobe Reading Room of State Library Victoria.

State Library Victoria

Australia's oldest public library and one of the first free public libraries in the world.

People skating in an indoor ice rink with disco lighting.

O'Brien Icehouse

An ice arena for public skating and ice sports events, located in Docklands.

Dark silhouetted figures in a space with red and blue lighting.

ACMI

Museum dedicated to the moving image through events, film screenings and exhibitions.

Family in a glass tunnel looking up at a very large stingray.

SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium

Discover thousands of aquatic animals in four enchanting worlds at this top Melbourne attraction.

What's on over the weekend and Cup Day eve

Hands opposite each other bringing two tulip cocktail glasses together in a celebratory clinking motion.
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Spring Sunset Cocktails at Walsh Street

Open the door to Robin Boyd’s iconic Walsh Street residence after-hours for spring sunset cocktails.

Participants on the State Library Victoria Unlocked guided morning tour inside the iconic dome at State Library Victoria in Melbourne.
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State Library Victoria Unlocked

Join an exclusive guided tour and experience State Library Victoria before the doors open.

Oktoberfest-themed illustration with man wearing a Tyrolean hat holding steins of beer, pretzel and meat, with a Melbourne tram.
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Oktoberfest at Hofbrauhaus

Celebrate German bier, food and music as the Hofbräuhaus Oktoberfest turns 58.

Aerial view of an outdoor market on Southbank promenade, showing the Yarra River with boats on the right, market umbrellas and stalls on the concourse and city buildings in the background.
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Southbank Makers Market

Explore the Southbank Makers Market every Sunday on the promenade at Southgate.

Three ice hockey players on the ice during a game.
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Ice Hockey Victoria Premier A Grand Finals Series

Melbourne’s Premier A Grand Finals hit O’Brien Icehouse for fast, high-level ice hockey.

Hands of a person presenting a single donut in a box.
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Melbourne Donut Festival

Enjoy a delectable array of sweet treats, playful entertainment and plenty of sugary delights.

Performer on stage doing circus tricks, acrobats hanging in the air.
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Fijian Flying Circus

A world-first fusion of Fijian storytelling and contemporary circus.

A circus performer in red satin shorts and a red bandana holding two silver hoops behind his back.
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La Ronde

The best circus performers from across the globe up close and personal.

A young girl stands on stage with fallen ballerinas all around her in a production of The Nutcracker.
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The Australian Ballet: The Nutcracker

Rediscover the childlike joys of the holiday season with the magic of The Nutcracker ballet.

Japanese actors Takako Matsu and Hokuto Matsumura standing side by side outdoors against a green leafy backdrop, in a still from the romantic drama film 1st Kiss.
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Japanese Film Festival

Celebrate three decades of Japanese cinema on Australian screens at the Japanese Film Festival.

A movie poster of Edward Scissorhands showing Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder in a garden setting.
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Edward Scissorhands in Concert

The MSO performs Danny Elfman's ethereal and emotive score live to picture.

Three children in neon-lit Halloween costumes in a creepy Halloween scene lit up with purple and green neon lights.

Halloween at the Museum: Family Event

Dress up in your favourite costume and explore the museum after dark as galleries come alive.

Angled view of people in a theatre setting listening to a lecture, a plant on a table.

Friday Night Social: Radio Climate

Enjoy Science Gallery Melbourne’s free Friday night parties with their latest exhibition.

An event setup inside the historic cell block of the Old Melbourne Gaol showing a view of the ground floor with people socialising, as seen from the balcony level of the cell block.

Halloween at the Old Melbourne Gaol

Step inside of Old Melbourne Gaol this Halloween and experience the haunted location after dark.

People in Halloween costumes dancing.

Halloween at the Museum: The Haunted Gala

The ultimate adults-only after-dark Halloween celebration for spooky style-makers and night owls.

A group of dancers performing a lively, synchronised choreography outdoors in traditional-inspired performance attire.

Melbourne Diwali

Celebrate this cultural festival with music, dance and food at Marvel Stadium Square.

Dance participants on a stage at a festival, dressed in vibrant traditional Indian costumes representing characters and classic dance forms.

Victorian Festival of Diwali

Showcasing India’s ancient and modern culture through music, dance, craft, food and a bazaar.

Last updated on Thu 8 Oct 2026

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Inside a bustling market hall

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A family of four standing in a grand library with antique desks, large white walls and a dome ceiling.

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Multiple plates on a white table cloth.

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Smiling woman seated at a table in a venue, pointing at a buzzer.
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Person lying on a bed of blue plastic balls, holding two balls up to her eyes.
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Interior of Rockpool Bar & Grill restaurant showing dining tables covered in white linen and set for a meal service.

Celebrating 20 Years in Melbourne

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Grilled cheese toastie on a plate.
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Vego Toastie Hunt

Elevate your vego sandwich with celebrity chef Darren Purchese.