Robbie Williams will perform at this year’s Lexus Melbourne Cup Day — Australia’s premier horse racing event — on Tuesday, Nov. 3, the Victoria Racing Club announced, giving the British star a warmup slot days ahead of his Australian arena tour.
Williams will headline the Elms Live Stage at Melbourne’s Flemington Racecourse after the day’s final race, then deliver a second performance in the mounting yard as part of the Nine Network broadcast, immediately before the Lexus Melbourne Cup trophy presentation. The VRC is billing the mounting yard set as the biggest pre-Cup performance ever staged at the venue. Both appearances are included in the price of general admission.
“Australia, I’m coming in hot. Lexus Melbourne Cup Day will be my first stop before the Britpop Australian tour, and I’m ready to make it unforgettable,” Williams said in a statement. “Expect big songs, big energy and a massive celebration after the race that stops the nation.” VRC chief executive Kylie Rogers called it “the perfect way to celebrate the prestige and significance of Lexus Melbourne Cup Day,” noting it marks Williams’ first performance at Flemington.
The Cup Day date lands during a career-defining run for Williams. His 13th studio album, Britpop, arrived via Columbia Records in January — released three weeks ahead of schedule in a surprise drop timed to avoid competing with Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl. The gambit paid off: Britpop debuted at No. 1 on the U.K. Official Albums Chart, giving Williams his 16th career chart-topper there and making him the outright record-holder for the most No. 1 albums in the chart’s history, surpassing the Beatles’ longstanding mark of 15. The album, featuring guest turns from Chris Martin, Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi and Mexican duo Jesse & Joy, drew some of Williams’ strongest reviews in years.
Williams’ Australian and New Zealand dates are part of his Britpop Tour, a stadium run marking his first tour of mainly outdoor venues since 2017’s Heavy Entertainment Show Tour. The Australian leg will feature support from Manchester’s The Lottery Winners and Melbourne artist G Flip, with Wellington group Drax Project joining for the New Zealand shows.
Melbourne Cup Carnival runs across four days this year: Victoria Derby Day on Saturday, Oct. 31, Cup Day on Tuesday, Nov. 3, Crown Oaks Day on Thursday, Nov. 5, and TAB Champions Stakes Day on Saturday, Nov. 7, when Australian DJ FISHER performs. Additional Carnival entertainment is expected to be announced.
