Melbourne Cup Day Trading Hours
Is it a public holiday where you live, and which shops are open on Cup Day
Melbourne Cup Day Public Holidays and Shop Trading Rules by State
Public holiday dates are calculated automatically for 2026. Shop trading rules come from each state and territory’s retail trading laws and apply mainly to large, non-exempt shops; small shops, chemists, cafes and petrol stations are often exempt.
| State | Public holidays | Shop trading rules |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales (NSW) | No public holiday in this period | Not a public holiday. Shops trade normal hours. |
| Victoria (VIC) |
|
A public holiday across Victoria unless a regional council has arranged a different local holiday. It is not a restricted trading day, so shops are allowed to open; many large stores open with normal or slightly shorter hours. |
| Queensland (QLD) | No public holiday in this period | Not a public holiday. Shops trade normal hours. |
| Western Australia (WA) | No public holiday in this period | Not a public holiday. Shops trade normal hours. |
| South Australia (SA) | No public holiday in this period | Not a public holiday. Shops trade normal hours. |
| Tasmania (TAS) | No public holiday in this period | Not a public holiday. Shops trade normal hours. |
| Australian Capital Territory (ACT) | No public holiday in this period | Not a public holiday. Shops trade normal hours. |
| Northern Territory (NT) | No public holiday in this period | Not a public holiday. Shops trade normal hours. |
This is general information, not legal advice. Retailers set their own hours within these rules, and hours can differ between stores in the same state. Always check with your local store.
Check Your Store’s Melbourne Cup Day Hours
Each store page has a live “Is it open today?” check for your state, the next public holiday and the latest deals.
- ColesMelbourne Cup Day hours & deals →
- WoolworthsMelbourne Cup Day hours & deals →
- ALDIMelbourne Cup Day hours & deals →
- IGAMelbourne Cup Day hours & deals →
- KmartMelbourne Cup Day hours & deals →
- BIG WMelbourne Cup Day hours & deals →
- TargetMelbourne Cup Day hours & deals →
- BunningsMelbourne Cup Day hours & deals →
- JB Hi-FiMelbourne Cup Day hours & deals →
- OfficeworksMelbourne Cup Day hours & deals →
- Chemist WarehouseMelbourne Cup Day hours & deals →
- Dan Murphy'sMelbourne Cup Day hours & deals →
- BWSMelbourne Cup Day hours & deals →
- LiquorlandMelbourne Cup Day hours & deals →
The Race That Stops a Nation
The Melbourne Cup is Australia’s most famous horse race, run at Flemington Racecourse on the first Tuesday in November. In Victoria the day is a public holiday, and across the country offices and pubs stop for the race in the afternoon. For shoppers, the big question is simple: are the shops open?
Are shops open on Melbourne Cup Day?
Yes, in most places. Victoria has only a few restricted trading days each year – Good Friday, Christmas Day and the morning of Anzac Day – and Melbourne Cup Day is not one of them. That means large shops are allowed to open on Cup Day, and most major retailers do, often with normal or slightly shorter hours. Outside Victoria, Cup Day is a normal business day.
- Supermarkets such as Coles, Woolworths, ALDI and IGA usually open.
- Hardware and department stores such as Bunnings, Kmart, BIG W and Target usually open.
- Liquor stores such as Dan Murphy’s, BWS and Liquorland are busy before Cup Day parties.
- Banks and government offices in Victoria are generally closed for the public holiday.
Regional Victoria: check your council
Some non-metropolitan councils in Victoria swap Melbourne Cup Day for a different local holiday, often a local show day or race day. If you live in one of these areas, Cup Day is a normal working day and your local holiday falls on another date. Your council website lists the arrangement for your area.
Planning a Cup Day party?
Check the half price specials at Coles and Woolworths – specials run Wednesday to Tuesday, so Cup Day is the last day of that week’s deals – and the latest liquor catalogues. For everything starting this week, see what’s on sale this week.
Melbourne Cup Day Trading Hours – Questions & Answers
Is Melbourne Cup Day a public holiday?
Melbourne Cup Day, the first Tuesday in November, is a public holiday in Victoria. Some regional Victorian councils replace it with a different local holiday, such as a local show day, so in those areas Cup Day is a normal working day. It is not a public holiday in other states.
Are Coles and Woolworths open on Melbourne Cup Day?
Yes. Melbourne Cup Day is not a restricted trading day in Victoria, so supermarkets are allowed to open. Most stores trade normal or slightly reduced hours; check your local store for its exact hours.
Is Bunnings open on Melbourne Cup Day?
Bunnings stores in Victoria are generally open on Melbourne Cup Day because it is not a restricted trading day. Hours can differ by store, so check your local store before you go.
What time is the Melbourne Cup race?
The Melbourne Cup is run at Flemington Racecourse in the afternoon of the first Tuesday in November, usually around 3pm Melbourne time. Many shops stay open while the race is on.
Do trading hours change every year?
Yes. Public holiday dates move from year to year, and retailers confirm their exact hours closer to each holiday. The dates on this page are calculated automatically for each state, but always check the opening hours of your local store before you travel.