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.

Artwork showing a composite of illustrations of heads and portraits with wooden planks.
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5/6: A Celebration of Friendship Through Art

Five individuals working in different ways, showing their distinct views of the world through art.

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.

Store mannequins displaying layered winter fashion and handbags.
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Shop and the City Walking Tour

Experience the magical boutiques of Melbourne.

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.

Picnic table set for dining with cushions, umbrella and dining settings, in a garden location.
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Laneways Mystery Picnic with Luxury End Location Setup

Follow clues to secret foodie stops and end at a luxury picnic location.

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 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.

Melbourne Star Observation Wheel at dusk

Melbourne Star Observation Wheel

See Melbourne from a whole new perspective.

A family seated at an outdoor table in a grassy park, eating takeaway food from the food van parked behind them, the Skyline Ferris wheel in the background.

Skyline Melbourne

See Melbourne's unbeatable city view from the Skyline Melbourne Ferris wheel.

A giant ball pit with brightly coloured geometric patterns and neon shapes on the walls.

Hijinx Hotel

No beds here. Just ball pits, bold colours, brain-teasing challenges and a lot of laughter.

What's on over the weekend and Cup Day eve

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.

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.

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.

A man seated at a grand piano plays while a woman in a white spotted evening dress sings in a hotel lobby.

The Grand Jazz Dinner Show: A Halloween Special

A live jazz dinner-and-show, with a Halloween twist.

A large, orange inflatable Halloween jack-o'-lantern with a textured surface, a brown stem on top, and sharp, purple facial features of triangular eyes and a jagged mouth.

Melbourne’s Biggest Halloween: Free Trick or Treat Trail

Free Halloween fun, with trick or treat, giant pumpkin, prizes and a free Melbourne Star ride.

An outdoor space at Harbour Esplanade Docklands, featuring a large overhead hanging sign that reads THE STREET SOCIAL, a white picket fence, DJ equipment and a view of the harbour and city buildings.
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The Street Social: Halloween

A festive Docklands waterfront Halloween event for families and friends.

Egg yolk pouring out of a long sub sandwich with cheese and salad.
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Gourmet Sandwich Hunt

Elevate your sandwich style with celebrity chef Darren Purchese.

Venues open on Melbourne Cup Day

Vintage wood-panelled bar with shelves for bottles and signage.

Disuko

A day-to-night Japanese rooftop, restaurant and vinyl-backed cocktail bar, inspired by 1980s Tokyo.

The outdoor rooftop of Cleo, with terrace style round tables and chairs, large sofas, low coffee tables and city skyline views.

Cleo

Cleo brings old-world cooking techniques and bold flavours from the Eastern Mediterranean.

Airy dining space at Taxi Kitchen, at night, with the dining space filled with patrons seated at tables eating and drinking.

Taxi Kitchen

Taxi Kitchen offers Australian Asian meals in a light-filled room with panoramic views.

Array of dishes including bread and dips, salads and meat.

Stalactites Restaurant

One of Melbourne’s longest established and best-known Greek restaurants.

Souvlakis and chips wrapped in paper, a Greek salad and blue bottles on a marble table

Hella Good

A souvlaki shop from the owners of one of Melbourne's best-known Greek restaurant, Stalactites.

The external facade of the Waterside Hotel, with a vertical garden on the building behind it, seen from the corner.

The Waterside Hotel

A Melbourne CBD destination for a pub, Southeast Asian dining and a rooftop experience.

Restaurant dining tables and long bar with soft lighting.

Past / Port Dining Room & Rooftop Bar

From express lunch to late nights, enjoy South-East Asian dining upstairs at the Waterside Hotel.

Diners seated at tables at an outdoor rooftop bar in the fading evening sunlight.

Johnny's Green Room

A rooftop bar above King & Godfree with great views, tunes and Italian inspired food and drinks.

The view into a restaurant from the Yarra Riverwalk, showing a large central bar with staff, the words Marmont in cursive font displayed high on an external glass wall.

Marmont

Californian-inspired but uniquely Melbourne with good food, great music, and unbeatable views.

Customers dining outside under an awning at a pizzeria.

Garfield Pizzeria

Serving simple, ingredient-led pizzas with seasonal toppings.

Ice cream cornet with red and white scoops of gelati.

Pidapipo Gelateria

Authentic, artisanal Italian-style gelato in the heart of Carlton's Lygon Street.

Berry-red coloured gelato.

Pidapipo Gelateria

Authentic, artisanal Italian-style gelato in bustling Degraves Street.

A dimly lit restaurant with glamorous decor and a crystal chandelier, and patrons dining at tables.

Society

A glamourous restaurant and bar with contemporary dining and bespoke cocktails.

Exterior of restaurant Grill Americano, showing windows and blue awnings.

Grill Americano

Offering Italian classics with signature Chris Lucas spin in sophisticated surrounds.

Several chefs preparing Japanese food in front of dining patrons who are seated at a high wooden bar in front of them.

Kisumé

Exquisite sushi and one of the city's finest wine cellars.

Neon-lit entrance to Yakimono restaurant.

Yakimono

Yakimono is a high energy Japanese-inspired eating house.

Interior of Chin Chin restaurant, filled with patrons seated at dining tables, high ceilings giving an industrial warehouse feel to the busy space.

Chin Chin

A fast-paced hawker-style dining sensation serving Thai-inspired food.

A French bistro-style restaurant with seated patrons and an open kitchen.

Maison Bâtard

Chris Lucas' Maison Bâtard heralds a grand new legacy for a heritage Bourke Street site.

Looking down on assortment of Vietnamese dishes and condiments on a wooden table.

Straight Outta Saigon

Vietnamese street food dishes inspired by the southern flavours of Saigon.

The double height interior of a restaurant with tables and chairs set for service in front of a large window.

Marmelo

Coastal Iberian dining inspired by Portugal and Spain, centred on seafood and fire.

Interior of a bar, with a bartender behind a timber counter, a wall of bottled drinks behind him, high bar stools and some tables in the foreground.

Mr Mills

Mr Mills is your moody laneway bar for live music, signature cocktails and late-night bites.

The deck of Afloat on the Yarra River, with tables and chairs, a low wading pool, palm trees and views of city buildings in the background.

Afloat Yamas Greece

Melbourne’s favourite floating bar and restaurant has returned unveiling Yamas Greece.

The classic interior of Luci restaurant, with a staircase, and floor-ceiling-windows and dining tables and chairs.

Luci

A contemporary Australian restaurant set in the grand hall of historic Equity Chambers building.

Waiter's hand placing a plate of cod on a marble table with a slice of cake and glass of white wine.

Bar Lourinhã

Iconic Mediterranean and Iberian restaurant bar serving produce-inspired tapas and shared mains.

Restaurant interior with industrial styled concrete walls, visible pipes, red seating.

Frenchie

A fun and casual approach to Parisian dining where the lights are low and the energy is high.

The illuminated exterior of the Douglas Club, showing its classical architecture.

The Douglas Club

Set within the Equity Chambers Building, The Douglas Club is the perfect spot for a city drink.

Last updated on Thu 29 Oct 2026

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