Melbourne Cup Flowers 2026: The Official Flower for Each Raceday

Yellow roses for Cup Day, pink for Oaks, cornflowers for Derby Day and poppies for Stakes Day. Here’s how to bring the colours of the 2026 Melbourne Cup Carnival into your party, your office and your thank-you flowers.

The official flower for each raceday

The Victoria Racing Club gives each day of the Carnival its own flower, and racegoers often wear it or match their outfit to it:

• Derby Day, Saturday 31 October: the blue cornflower, a symbol of hope and prosperity. Derby Day is also known for black-and-white fashion.
• Melbourne Cup Day, Tuesday 3 November: the yellow rose.
• Oaks Day, Thursday 5 November: the pink rose, for elegance.
• Champions Stakes Day, Saturday 7 November: the red poppy, honouring Remembrance Day and supporting the RSL Poppy Appeal.

Why roses? The Flemington rose garden

Roses are part of Cup week because Flemington Racecourse is famous for them. The VRC describes it as the largest rose garden in the Southern Hemisphere, first planted in the 1960s. The gardeners prune the roses on a carefully timed program over winter so they bloom together for Cup week, and the colours echo the raceday palette: yellow on the Members’ Lawn, red at the Epsom Road entrance, and pink on the front lawns.

Flowers for a Melbourne Cup party at home

Not heading to Flemington? A few flowers turn a Cup Day lunch or sweep at home into an occasion.

• Go yellow for Cup Day. A vase of yellow roses on the table is the easiest nod to the day. Add white flowers to keep it fresh.
• Pink for an Oaks Day lunch. Soft pink roses or a blush posy suit a long, elegant lunch.
• Black and white for Derby Day. White roses or lilies with dark foliage match the classic Derby Day dress code.
• Keep table flowers low. Guests need to see each other, and the TV, over the top.
• Order by 1pm. We deliver on Cup Day, so order by 1pm for same-day delivery to your party, or the day before to have flowers in place before guests arrive.

Flowers for the office sweep

Cup week is a good excuse to brighten the office. A yellow arrangement on reception or the lunch table sets the mood for the sweep, and pink or white flowers work for an Oaks Day team lunch. For regular office flowers or event flowers, see our corporate flowers.

Thank-you flowers for your host

Invited to a Cup marquee, a box or a friend’s party? A bunch of flowers for the host is a thoughtful thank-you. Send them the day after, so they have a fresh vase once the party is over.

Getting flowers delivered in Melbourne during Cup week

• Same-day delivery: order by 1pm, Monday to Saturday, for same-day delivery to addresses within 30 km of Melbourne’s CBD. See same-day delivery.
• Free next-day delivery: anywhere in Australia, when you order by 1pm Melbourne time. See free delivery.
• Cup Day: even though it’s a public holiday in metropolitan Melbourne, we deliver on Cup Day, Tuesday 3 November.

Melbourne Cup flower questions

What is the official flower of the Melbourne Cup?

The yellow rose is the official flower of Melbourne Cup Day. Each Carnival raceday has its own flower: the cornflower for Derby Day, the pink rose for Oaks Day and the red poppy for Champions Stakes Day.

What colour do you wear on Oaks Day?

Pink is the traditional colour for Oaks Day, and the pink rose is the day’s official flower.

When is the Melbourne Cup in 2026?

The Melbourne Cup is run on Tuesday 3 November 2026 at Flemington Racecourse, in the middle of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, which starts with Derby Day on Saturday 31 October and ends with Champions Stakes Day on Saturday 7 November.

Can I get flowers delivered for a Melbourne Cup party?

Yes, including on Cup Day itself. Order by 1pm for same-day delivery within 30 km of Melbourne’s CBD, Monday to Saturday, or order the day before so the flowers are there before guests arrive.