All roads lead to Queensland as the nation’s premier Winter Carnival is today unveiled.
Taking centre stage from May 2 to July 4, more than $28 million in prize money will go on the line as part of the Queensland Racing Carnival, headlined by nine million-dollar races and 55 black-type features – including eight Group 1 events – across 11 race meetings.
The Brisbane Racing Club’s newly reminted Ladbrokes Stradbroke Season will host seven of the Winter Carnival’s marquee racedays, with the Tattersall’s Tiara Raceday on June 27 drawing the curtain on the programme’s Group 1 racing.
The $6.5 million Ladbrokes Stradbroke Raceday on June 13 will once again headline Stradbroke Season, with the $3 million Group 1 sitting alongside the $1 million Group 1 JJ Atkins and the $1.2 million Group 2 Q22.
The Stradbroke Handicap headlines a trio of million-dollar sprints alongside the $1.5 million Doomben 10,000 (May 16) and $1 million Kingsford Smith Cup (May 30), with the Group 1 Queensland Derby to be run on the same day.
The Doomben Cup on May 16 and the Queensland Oaks (June 6) round out the eight Group 1 features as part of Stradbroke Season.
Minister for Sport and Racing and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tim Mander said the Queensland Racing Carnival is an important economic and social driver for the state’s $2.5 billion industry.
“The most recent Queensland Racing Carnival saw more than $21 million contributed directly to the state economy, and close to 29,000 visitor nights created as a result of the 10-week programme,” he said.
“Not only is it renowned as one of Australia’s great racing carnivals, but we also continue to see our local champions – including Cool Archie and Antino in 2025 – confirm their standings amongst the best in the nation.
“The eyes of the world are on our great state in the lead-up to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Queensland Racing Carnival is a key opportunity to showcase Queensland to a global audience.”
The Sunshine Coast Turf Club’s marquee carnival meeting will be headlined by a significant uplift in prize money to the feature Caloundra Cup – the same race in which future Melbourne Cup champion Half Yours announced himself to the racing world in 2025.
The Cup will be run for $500,000 in 2026, alongside the Group 3 Winx Guineas, and the Listed Glasshouse Handicap on July 4, drawing a close on the Winter Carnival.
Racing Queensland Acting CEO Lachlan Murray said that the nation’s best gallopers use the Winter Carnival year-on-year as the springboard to further feature race success
“Every year, we see the current and future stars of the sport excel here in Queensland, and what we saw in 2025 was no different,” Mr Murray said.
“The last three Melbourne Cup winners have used the Winter Carnival as a platform for spring success, with Half Yours’ victory in the Caloundra Cup setting him up for a historic Caulfield-Melbourne Cup double.
“Add to that another three subsequent Group 1 winners in Sir Delius, Transatlantic and Autumn Boy, and the proof is in the pudding that there is no better platform for success than the Queensland Racing Carnival.”
The Gold Coast Turf Club’s presence in the Winter Carnival will once again shine brightly, with the return of a meeting under lights on Friday, May 22, headlined by the $1 million Magic Millions National 2YO Classic – coinciding with the Gold Coast National Weanling, Broodmare and Yearling Sale.
At the front-end of the schedule on May 9, the $500,000 Group 2 A.D. Hollindale Stakes will play a key role for middle-distance gallopers into both the $1 million Group 1 Doomben Cup and the Q22.
Meanwhile, the famous Ipswich Cup Raceday on June 20 is expected to draw another packed crowd for the running of the $250,000 Cup and both the Eyeliner Stakes and Gai Waterhouse Classic.
Finally, the famous Tattersall’s Tiara meeting at Eagle Farm on June 27 will play host to the final Group 1 of the Australian racing season, alongside the Battle of the Bush Final, where country horses battle it out on the metropolitan stage for $200,000 in stakes.
“Stradbroke Season is the feature of the Queensland Racing Carnival. With seven blockbuster race days at Eagle Farm and Doomben, we’re proud to showcase the best of Queensland racing to the nation and the world,” Brisbane Racing Club CEO Karl deKroo said.
“We’re incredibly proud to welcome Ladbrokes as the new naming rights partner of the iconic Stradbroke Handicap. Their support reinforces the race’s stature as one of Australia’s most time-honoured and greatest sprinting tests.
“This year will also mark the farewell to the John Power Stand at Eagle Farm with this the last carnival to be staged before its demolition and transformation.”
Click here to see the full 2026 Queensland Racing Carnival programme.
