Skip to content

Next up: Festival Stakes Day, Sat 28 Nov

Racing Fashion Weekly

21 upcoming race days

Race days and dress codes in New Zealand

Cup Week in Christchurch in November, summer racing at Ellerslie, and autumn cups.

Milliners in New ZealandLabels in New Zealand

November 2026

December 2026

January 2027

  • Fri 1 Jan 2027

    SkyCity New Year's Day Races

    Ellerslie Racecourse, Auckland

    Women: Classy, flattering, well-cut dresses in eye-catching colors, length no shorter than just above the knee; open-toed shoes. Men: Suits, tailored shirts, ties, and quality footwear for hospitality areas. Millinery: High-end headpieces and elaborate designs for Premier Days. Style: Eye-catching colors, floral and summery themes, fascinators, and refined tailoring

  • Sat 23 Jan 2027

    TAB Karaka Millions

    Ellerslie Racecourse, Auckland

    Women: Cocktail-style attire suitable for twilight event; daring styles like backless dresses, unique silhouettes, and fearless patterns; open-toed shoes. Men: Collared shirts in hospitality precincts; navy suit as base with statement tie or bold accessories; can add contrasting waistcoat. Millinery: Hair accessories such as headbands, bows, or clips; bejewelled clips or oversized bows instead of large traditional hats; optional rather than compulsory. Style: High-energy cocktail party vibe for summer evening; glitz, glamour, and bold colors; sparkles and matching makeup; sunglasses for summer heat

  • flagshipSat 30 Jan 2027

    Wellington Cup Day

    Trentham Racecourse, Upper Hutt

    Billed by the club as 'the biggest day on Wellington's sporting and social calendar': full summer racewear, and a Fashion in the Field that feeds the national final.

February 2027

  • majorSat 6 Feb 2027

    Legends Day (Te Rapa)

    Te Rapa Racecourse, Hamilton

    Te Rapa's Group 1 summer day; free general admission, dressed-up hospitality.

  • Sat 20 Feb 2027

    Eagle Technology Raceday

    Ellerslie Racecourse, Auckland

    Women: Classy, flattering, well-cut dresses in eye-catching colors, length no shorter than just above the knee with open-toed shoes. Men: Suits, tailored shirts, ties, and quality footwear for hospitality precincts. Millinery: High-end headpieces and elaborate designs for Premier Days. Style: Premier Days style with refined tailoring

March 2027

  • Sat 6 Mar 2027

    Champions Day

    Ellerslie Racecourse, Auckland

    Women: High-fashion racewear; classy, flattering, well-cut dresses in eye-catching colors, length no shorter than just above the knee; open-toed shoes. Men: Formal racewear; suits, tailored shirts, ties, and quality footwear; navy suit with statement tie or bold accessories; contrasting waistcoat optional. Millinery: Traditional racewear expectations with exceptional craftsmanship, originality, and design; elaborate designs appropriate for national final standards. Style: National racewear elegance; celebration of individuality; garden-style aesthetics; focus on curated, polished ensembles suitable for a national final

April 2027

May 2027

June 2027

Dates to be announced

The club has not published the date yet. Each moves onto the calendar when it does.

  • late October (2026: Saturday 24 October)

    Bayleys Community Carnival Raceday (Tauranga)

    Tauranga Racecourse, Tauranga

    A regional spring day with a Ned Prix de Fashion qualifying Fashion in the Field.

  • three Saturdays from early September to early or mid October; the final (LIVAMOL Classic) day carries the main Fashion in the Field. 2026: 10 October.

    Hawke's Bay Spring Carnival: LIVAMOL Classic Raceday

    Hastings Racecourse, Hastings

    The North Island's spring fashion day: the LIVAMOL Classic raceday Fashion in the Field is the season's first Ned Prix de Fashion qualifier.

  • first Tuesday in November

    Melbourne Cup Day at Ellerslie

    Ellerslie Racecourse, Auckland

    Auckland's Melbourne Cup lunch day; one of the three days with the strictest hospitality dress rules at Ellerslie.

  • three days in the second week of November: a Saturday, the following Wednesday (TAB Mile Day) and Saturday (NZ Cup Day). 2026 ran 7, 11 and 14 November.

    New Zealand Cup Week at Riccarton (2027)

    Riccarton Park Racecourse, Christchurch

    Next year's Cup Week at Riccarton; expect the same Fashion in the Field on the Wednesday and the closing Saturday.

  • second Tuesday in November (2026: Tuesday 10 November)

    NZ Trotting Cup Day (Addington)

    Addington Raceway, Christchurch

    Harness racing, but Christchurch's biggest dress-up day: the official site sums it up as 'fascinators and tailored suits', with a three-category fashion competition.

Past race days (15)

← The full racing calendar