Guardian Essential Poll Shows Record Drop in Melbourne Cup Interest

A growing number of Australians are turning their backs on the historic Melbourne Cup, according to findings from a recent Guardian Essential poll conducted in late October among 1,003 participants. Support for the annual horse race has experienced a consistent decline over the past several years, with the latest survey showing that only nine percent of Australians now hold a high level of interest in the event, which is nearly half the proportion recorded in 2025.

The combined measurement of low and no interest reached 68 percent, jumping 12 percentage points from the previous year to set a new record. In comparison, this figure stood at 52 percent in November 2022, climbing to 62 percent in 2023, dropping back to 52 percent in 2024, and registering at 56 percent in 2025. Meanwhile, only 32 percent of respondents reported high or moderate interest, marking the lowest figure recorded since Essential began tracking this question annually in November 2022.

A record 68 percent of surveyed Australians now report low or zero interest in the Melbourne Cup.

Peter Lewis, chair of Essential Media, noted that the event once known as the race that stops the nation has become white noise for many citizens. Lewis identified the primary drivers of this shift as a growing disdain for gambling and mounting concerns regarding animal cruelty, alongside a broader decline in shared national moments.

Guardian Essential Poll Findings

Polling data indicates that 50 percent of Australians believe the event promotes unhealthy gambling habits, marking a three percent increase since 2025. Additionally, 36 percent feel the race normalises animal cruelty, though this figure represents a three-point decrease from the previous year. Furthermore, 48 percent of participants stated they are less interested in the Cup compared to previous years.

Regarding wagering habits, just 12 percent of voters stated they regularly bet on horse races and intended to wager on the Melbourne Cup, which is down five points from 2025. Conversely, 46 percent reported having no interest in the race and no intention of placing a bet, up six points from last year. Another 25 percent indicated they rarely bet on horses but would watch and place a wager, while 17 percent planned to watch the race without betting. The anti-gambling sentiment has also been accompanied by the influence of the nup to the Cup movement, which receives backing from various high-profile politicians and celebrities.

Despite the sliding engagement figures, a strong majority of 62 percent still agreed that the Melbourne Cup remains a unique component of Australia’s national identity, even though this perspective has declined from 78 percent agreement when the question was first posed in 2019.

Why it matters

The shifting public perception highlights a notable cultural transformation regarding traditional national pastimes and gambling normalization in Australia. As societal attitudes increasingly question industry practices surrounding animal welfare and wagering, major cultural events face mounting pressure to adapt to changing community standards.