The Melbourne Cup, long regarded as one of Australia’s biggest sporting and cultural events, is witnessing a significant decline in public interest, with a record number of Australians expressing little or no enthusiasm for the annual horse racing spectacle. A new survey has found that more than two-thirds of respondents are increasingly turning away from the prestigious event, highlighting growing concerns over gambling practices and animal welfare.
According to the latest Essential poll, only 9% of Australians surveyed said they had a high level of interest in the Melbourne Cup, marking a sharp decline from 16% recorded in 2025. Another 23% reported moderate interest, down three percentage points from the previous year. In contrast, 29% said they had low interest in the race, while 39% stated that they had no interest whatsoever.
The combined proportion of people expressing low or no interest has reached 68%, the highest figure recorded since Essential Media began tracking public attitudes towards the Melbourne Cup in November 2022. This represents a 12-percentage-point increase compared with last year’s survey, when the corresponding figure stood at 56%.
The findings indicate a steady shift in public sentiment towards the race, which has traditionally been described as the event that ‘stops the nation’. In 2022, 52% of respondents reported low or no interest, increasing to 62% in 2023 before falling to 52% in 2024. The figure subsequently rose to 56% in 2025, reaching a new high this year.
Peter Lewis, chair of Essential Media, said the event was increasingly becoming irrelevant to a significant section of the Australian population. He observed that the race, which once brought people together across the country, was now becoming background noise for many.
Growing criticism of gambling and concerns about the treatment of racehorses appear to be among the major reasons behind the declining popularity. The survey found that 50% of Australians believe the Melbourne Cup encourages unhealthy gambling behaviour, an increase of three percentage points from 2025. Meanwhile, 36% said the event normalises animal cruelty, although this figure was three percentage points lower than last year’s finding.
Lewis identified growing opposition to gambling as the primary factor behind the changing public attitude, with concerns about animal welfare also playing a significant role. He further suggested that the decline reflected a broader change in society, where traditional national events are increasingly losing their ability to bring people together as audiences turn towards personalised digital content and entertainment.
The growing ‘Nup to the Cup’ campaign, which has received backing from several prominent politicians and celebrities, has also contributed to the debate surrounding the event. The campaign opposes the Melbourne Cup, raising concerns about horse racing, animal welfare and the wider social consequences of gambling.
Despite the declining enthusiasm, the race continues to hold a place in Australia’s national identity. Around 62% of respondents agreed that the Melbourne Cup remains a unique part of the country’s cultural heritage. However, this represents a considerable decline from 78% who held the same view when the question was asked in 2019.
The survey also revealed a shift in Australians’ betting habits. Only 12% of respondents said they regularly bet on horse racing and intended to place a wager on the Melbourne Cup, five percentage points lower than in 2025. Meanwhile, 46% said they had no interest in the event and would not place a bet, marking a six-percentage-point increase over the previous year.
The Essential poll surveyed 1,003 Australians in late October, offering an indication of changing public perceptions of an event that has historically occupied a prominent place in the country’s sporting calendar. The latest findings suggest that although the Melbourne Cup continues to enjoy cultural recognition, its ability to command widespread public attention is diminishing amid increasing scrutiny of the gambling industry and horse racing practices.
