2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup Carnival set for a global audience
HBA Media delivers 30 broadcast partners worldwide, with four new partners joining the line-up
Monday, 2nd November 2026 - The race that stops a nation is set to hold the world’s attention once more, with the Lexus Melbourne Cup broadcast live by 30 international networks across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australasia and Africa, courtesy of HBA Media.
Staged at Flemington Racecourse on Tuesday, 3rd November, the A$10.2 million two-mile contest offers no shortage of storylines. Trainer Ciaron Maher’s Point of Law heads the market after winning the Geelong Cup on his Australian debut, spearheading a powerful home team that also includes last year’s third-placed Middle Earth. Leading the overseas challenge is Ireland’s Joseph O’Brien, chasing a third Lexus Melbourne Cup with a squad featuring JP McManus’ Curragh Cup winner Trustyourinstinct and 2025 runner-up Goodie Two Shoes.
In the United States, principal broadcaster FOX Sports will air all four days of the Carnival on mainstream television, reaching more than 70 million homes, with dedicated international shows on FS1. ESPN and Disney+ return across Latin America and the Caribbean with linear and digital coverage, while Canada’s national public broadcaster, CBC, comes on board for the first time, reaching 80% of the country’s households.
CBC is one of four new partners this year. In the Middle East, Abu Dhabi Media and Al Kass will each broadcast the full Carnival for the first time, alongside long-standing partner Dubai Media Incorporated. In Asia, newcomer SPOTV extends coverage across 14 Southeast Asian territories. Returning partners in the region include TVRI in Indonesia, Tapmad, which takes the full Carnival into Pakistan, and WeDo Asia across Southeast Asia, India and Israel, together with ABC International (Asia-Pacific), Netkeiba (Japan) and KBSN (South Korea). Closer to home, TVNZ delivers free-to-air coverage in New Zealand.
At the heart of the offering is the VRC’s dedicated two-hour international programme, capturing the history, glamour and global cast of contenders for audiences far beyond Flemington.
Full Coverage Details:
Americas: FOX Sports (USA); ESPN, Disney+ (LATAM & Caribbean); CBC (Canada).
Europe: Sky Sports Racing (UK & Ireland); Virgin Media (Ireland); WeDo Sports (DACH); Polsat (Poland); Viaplay (Scandinavia & Netherlands); Setanta (Balkans & Eurasia); D-Smart (Turkey); Silknet (Georgia).
MENA: Abu Dhabi Media, Al Kass, Dubai Media Incorporated (MENA); Charlton (Israel).
Asia: Netkeiba (Japan); KBSN (South Korea); TVRI (Indonesia); Tapmad (Pakistan); SPOTV (Southeast Asia); WeDo Asia (Southeast Asia, India & Israel); ABC International (Asia-Pacific).
Australasia & Africa: TVNZ (New Zealand); Fiji TV (Fiji); SuperSport (Sub-Saharan Africa).
Global: Reuters (News); Sport24 (Airlines & Cruise Ships); Anuvu (Cruise Ships).
Frank Sale, Chief Executive of HBA Media, added: “The Lexus Melbourne Cup has a rare ability to capture imaginations far beyond Australia, and this year’s line-up shows how far that appeal now travels. Welcoming CBC, Abu Dhabi Media, Al Kass and SPOTV alongside FOX Sports and ESPN puts the Carnival in front of mainstream audiences in every major racing region.
“With contenders arriving from Ireland, Britain and New Zealand to take on Australia’s best, this year’s race has a compelling story to tell, and we are delighted to share it with viewers around the world.”
ENDS
