How to watch the Melbourne Cup online with a VPN in 2025
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Horse racing doesn’t get much bigger than the Melbourne Cup. Race fans around the world will want to tune in to see if their pick is first past the finish line. But if you’re not in Australia, you’ll struggle to stream the race!
| Date: | Tuesday, November 5th |
| Location: | Flemington Racecourse |
| Watch anywhere: | Get NordVPN – 76% OFF |
| Watch in Australia for free: | 9NOW |
Australian TV services are required to restrict access to the Melbourne Cup by prearranged licensing agreements. But can you bypass these blocks from overseas? You can, providing you get a capable VPN.
A VPN is the hot tip you need to secure access to every Melbourne Cup race, but how do you use one, how much do they cost, and which provider should you download? Keep reading to become an expert on how to watch the Melbourne Cup online with a VPN.
Watch Melbourne Cup from anywhere with VPN
- Download a top VPN with servers and speed. NordVPN is highly recommended – get 76% OFF!
- Install the VPN and fill in your account details
- Connect to an Australian server and head to 9NOW
- Find a Melbourne Cup stream and watch the races!
Why do you need a VPN to watch the Melbourne Cup?
The Melbourne Cup is one of the premier events on the racing calendar. This 3200-meter Thoroughbred horse race is a must-watch for racing enthusiasts.
Broadcasters of the Melbourne Cup, like Channel 10, are tied to strict licensing restrictions. The only TV channel allowed to show the race outside of Australia is Sky Sports Racing UK.
If you’re not in Australia (or the UK), you’ll find a geo-block in your way if you try to stream the Melbourne Cup race online:
But an advanced VPN is all it takes to get past geo-blocks. Arm yourself with a premium provider, and you can get around region restrictions by changing your IP address to an Australian location.
The crowded VPN market can make choosing the right provider a tricky task. With that in mind, we’ve created a handy shortlist of 3 VPNs that will always bypass geo-blocks. Read on to find out which providers we picked to stream the Melbourne Cup online.
Best VPNs to watch the Melbourne Cup stream online
- NordVPN – best VPN for streaming the Melbourne Cup online
- Surfshark – affordable Melbourne Cup VPN for multiple users
- IPVanish – secure VPN to watch Melbourne Cup online
Top streaming services to watch Melbourne Cup online
The Melbourne Cup is only available on a select few streaming services. Here’s a brief list of where you can watch the race:
| Streaming provider | Price |
| 9NOW | Free |
| 10Play Australia | Free |
| Racing.com Australia | Free |
| Spark Sport New Zealand | Free (7-day trial) |
| Sky Sports Racing UK | £38 per month |
None of these services are available in the US, so if you want to access them, you’ll need a VPN.
How to watch Melbourne Cup on all your devices
The following guides will show you how to watch the Melbourne Cup race online on all your favorite devices using a VPN. These include smart and streaming devices.
How to watch the Melbourne Cup on your smart devices
Setting up a VPN on Android, Windows, iOS, and macOS devices tends to follow a similar method. Use these step-by-step instructions to watch the Melbourne Cup on your PC, smartphone, tablet, iPhone, and iPad:
- Choose a VPN that supports all major devices. NordVPN is the top recommendation
- Download the VPN from your mobile’s app store or the provider’s official site
- Launch the VPN app
- Pick an Australian server and connect to it
- Find a Melbourne Cup race stream and start watching!
How to watch the Melbourne Cup on your streaming devices
Melbourne Cup races will be available on streaming devices like Kodi, Apple TV, and Roku. If you can’t install a VPN on your streaming device, try this easy router method instead:
- You’ll need a VPN compatible with routers. NordVPN is the top recommendation
- Connect the VPN to your wifi router
- Pick an Australian server location
- Turn your streaming device on find a Melbourne Cup stream
- Enjoy the race!
How to watch Melbourne Cup streams from any country?
It doesn’t matter if you’re in the US, Australia, the UK, Ireland, Canada, Spain, or anywhere else – watching the Melbourne Cup from anywhere is easy with this quick VPN method:
- Download a VPN with an international server fleet. NordVPN is the best option
- Create your VPN account and launch the app
- Connect to an Australian or UK server
- Log in to 9NOW Australia or Sky Sports Racing UK and start streaming the Melbourne Cup!
Can’t access the Melbourne Cup even with a VPN?
If you’ve connected a VPN, found a Melbourne Cup stream, and are still getting geo-blocked, then there are a few potential issues that may need to be addressed:
- The streaming site has detected your VPN
- You're not on an Australian server
- Your real IP address has been discovered
- Your device is running on outdated system settings
Here’ are some troubleshooting tips to solve the issue:
- Use a new web browser with cleared cookies/cache
- Adjust your VPN's leak protection settings
- Connect to a server in Australia
- File a support request with your VPN's help team
- Switch to a better VPN
How to watch Melbourne Cup online for free
You can watch the Melbourne Cup live free online by using a VPN to connect to an Australian server. This will allow you to access the free live stream of the race on Channel Ten's 10play website or app. However, we don’t recommend using a completely free VPN. These VPNs are often unreliable and may not be able to unblock the live stream of the Melbourne Cup. They may also have slow speeds or poor security features.
Freemium VPNs, like ProtonVPN or Hide.Me VPN, are an option, but overall we suggest sticking with a paid VPN for bypassing geo-blocks and staying secure.
It’s worth noting that our top-rated VPNs offer risk-free 30-day money-back guarantees – a great way to try out a premium provider without committing to a subscription. Check out how much you’ll pay once you’ve completed the trial period:
- NordVPN – unblock Melbourne Cup streams with ease thanks to high-quality international servers. Subscribe for only $3.39/month.
- Surfshark – watch the Melbourne Cup on all your devices for only $1.99/month.
- IPVanish – bypass Melbourne Cup geo-blocks quickly and consistently for $2.19/month.
The 2024 Melbourne Cup schedule
The Melbourne Cup is a one-off annual race that takes place on the first Tuesday of November every year. One of the biggest dates on the racing calendar, horse racing enthusiasts all over the globe will no doubt be tuning in this year on November 5, 2024.
But did you know there are more races to accompany the main event? Dubbed the Melbourne Cup Carnival, there are three more races to watch as part of the horse racing fun, here’s the lineup:
| Race | Date |
| Victoria Derby | November 2, 2024 |
| Melbourne Cup | November 5, 2024 |
| VRC Oaks | November 7, 2024 |
| Mackinnon Stakes | November 9, 2024 |
As you can see, the Victoria Derby starts things off with riders competing to win the $2 million prize, followed by the Melbourne Cup itself, where the winning team will claim a massive $4.4 million prize pot. Next up is VRC Oaks day, which sees a feature race with a $1 million prize. And finally, a $3 million race on Mackinnon Stakes day.
With such high stakes (and big money) involved, the Melbourne Cup Carnival is a thrilling occasion. Keep up to date with the latest happenings on the official Facebook and Twitter accounts.
The finish line
We’ve talked you through the methods of using a VPN to watch the Melbourne Cup on the internet, so let’s make sure you've got everything covered.
A top-rated VPN provider, like NordVPN, is the only thing you need to unblock Melbourne Cup racing streams in the US. VPNs enable you to get past content blocks that restrict viewers based on location. So even if you’re not in Australia, you can tune into the big race by connecting to an Australian server and changing your IP address.
You can also rely on a VPN to encrypt your data and protect you from harmful online threats. It’s truly a must-have digital tool.
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FAQ
How can I watch the Melbourne Cup in America?
Get a VPN, and you can watch the Melbourne Cup from anywhere in the world – America included. All you need to do is install the VPN (NordVPN is the best option), connect to an Australian server, and then visit a streaming provider that’s showing the races.
Can you watch the Melbourne Cup on your phone?
Yes, you can watch the Melbourne Cup on your phone from any location – provided you have a VPN app. Get NordVPN for your iOS or Android smartphone, connect it to an Australian server, and then simply log in to the streaming site that’s showing Melbourne Cup races.
Is it legal to watch Melbourne Cup with VPN?
Yes, you’re legally free to watch the Melbourne Cup with a VPN in most countries. Some countries (including China and Russia) restrict VPNs, but they’re in the firm minority. This VPN legality guide has more answers.
Can you watch the Melbourne Cup for free?
Yes, you can watch the Melbourne Cup for free if you are in Australia. The race is broadcast live on Network Ten and 9NOW, which are both free-to-air channels. If you are outside of Australia, you can use a VPN service like NordVPN to watch the race on 9NOW.
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