It’s official the 2026 Melbourne Cup is coming to Callaghan Park

The 2026 Melbourne Cup, the actual iconic trophy that will be presented to the winner of Australia’s greatest and most historic handicap horse race, will be available for public viewing during the Rockhampton Jockey Club’s winter racing carnival at Callaghan Park racecourse.

Rockhampton Jockey Club is thrilled to have been selected as one of 37 destinations on the People’s Cup global tour with our region’s stopover coinciding with TAB Rockhampton Cup festivities on Friday 10 and Saturday 11 July.

Since its inception in 2003, the Melbourne Cup tour has travelled more than one million kilometers, visiting more than 700 destinations far and wide, including Longreach in central Queensland, New York in the United States, Katherine in the Northern Territory, Wyalkatchem in Western Australia, Rowella in Tasmania and Streaky Bay in South Australia. This year the Cup, as well as coming to Rockhampton, will travel to another broad range of locations including Atherton in Far North Queensland, Darwin in the Northern Territory, Birchip in Victoria’s Malee Region, Carnarvon Western Australia, Walgett in New South Wales, and Hobart in Tasmania. Internationally it travels to Kyoto in Japan, Belmont Park in America, York in the United Kingdom, and Deauville in France. Winners of “golden ticket’ races run at Belmont Park, York and Deauville will gain automatic entry into the 2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup.

For Callaghan Park to be chosen as a tour destination this year, is a huge compliment and boost for the RJC.

The 2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour will bring great joy to the community of Rockhampton with the local public and racing attendees having the opportunity to get ‘up close and personal’ to the iconic trophy.

A racing ambassador (to be announced) will be accompanying the famous trophy to the Beef Capital, heightening the excitement of residents and racing enthusiasts alike.

The Victoria Racing Club (VRC) received a record-breaking number of tenders, to host the Melbourne Cup Tour, all of which were of an exceptionally high standard.

I am proud to say that the submission of the Rockhampton Jockey Club, Rockhampton’s oldest sporting club, was one of the best, and we are extremely grateful that we have now officially been selected to be part of this year’s Cup journey on Friday, 10 July 2026 and Saturday, 11 July 2026.

“When the Tour first began in 2003, we never imagined it would evolve into such a significant event that deeply connects with communities not throughout Australia, but around the world. Yet year after year, its momentum continues to grow,” VRC CEO Kylie Rogers said.

Lexus Australia CEO Jack Hobbs said, “The Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour is about much more than just a trophy. It’s a beacon of hope and it’s about bringing people and communities together to share in the magic that is the People’s Cup.”

RJC CEO, David Aldred,