You’ve heard about Melbourne Cup Carnival. It’s time you learn about the biggest racing event up north: Queensland Racing Carnival.

The Sunshine State plays host to 10 weeks of fun trackside. And you know what that means. Weekends filled with celebration with friends and fam — and a whole lotta fashion. The events are held in various venues around the state: Eagle Farm (Brisbane), Gold Coast Turf Club (Bundall, Gold Coast), Doomben (Brisbane), Ipswich, and Sunshine Coast Turf Club (Caloundra).

What is the biggest race day in Brisbane?

The Ladbrokes Stradbroke Day is the biggest event of the season. Mark your calendars for this event; it will be held on 13 June 2026. Dubbed “the crowning jewel” of Stradbroke season, the event does not only have a $3-million prize up for grabs but also a Fashions on the Field competition that fosters not just style creativity but friendship amongst entrants and attendees.

Queensland race calendar

Ready to have fun trackside? Here are the dates and locations you need to take note of (and buy tickets for)!

Queensland Guineas Day - 2 May (Eagle Farm)
A.D. Hollindale Stakes Race Day - 9 May (Gold Coast Turf Club)
Ladbrokes Doomben 10,000 - 16 May (Doomben)
XXXX Doomben Cup - 23 May (Doomben)
Sky Racing QLD Derby Day - 30 May (Eagle Farm)
Channel 7 QLD Oaks Day - 6 June (Eagle Farm)
Ladbrokes Stradbroke Day - 13 June (Eagle Farm)
TAB Ipswich Cup - 20 June (Ipswich)
Tattersall’s Tiara - 27 June (Tattersall Race Club at Eagle Farm)
Caloundra Cup - 4 July (Sunshine Coast Turf Club)                                                            

What to wear

You already know — you can’t go to the Queensland Racing Carnival without your best fashion pieces. Take the events as opportunities to get dressed to the nines. 

While most venues won’t require you to wear a fascinator, we say go ahead anyway! When else are you ever going to get a chance to top off your look with a gorgeous headpiece? 

The thing to note about racing events is that the dress codes vary depending on the venue. While others may be strict with what can be worn, others are a bit more lenient. Here’s a lowdown on the dress codes for each venue for the Queensland Racing Carnival.

Eagle Farm

During the Stradbroke Season, members are asked to wear semi-formal clothing. For men, a collared shirt or smart blouse is a must and coats and ties are optional. Tailored trousers and chinos are acceptable for pants, while untailored pants and denim jeans are a no-no. Meanwhile, ladies are asked to wear an elegant dress or skirt. For both, it is a must to wear dress shoes.

Gold Coast Turf Club

For those heading to the Aquis Park’s members club, the dress code for the members area is a bit more relaxed in that partial cutouts in women’s dresses are allowed. The dress code for men is similar to that of Eagle Farm’s. 

To be on the safe side, avoid the following for women’s outfits: excessive cut-outs or midriffs, excessive cleavage, ultra-mini length skirts or dresses, and casual wear including beachwear and activewear. For gentlemen, avoid these: shorts, sleeveless tops, athletic-wear and tattered clothing.

Good news for those heading to the general admissions area and other public areas at the venue: you can wear fancy dresses or costumes, as long as they don’t have lewd or derogatory styles or prints. Shorts, shirts, jumpers and jeans are also acceptable in public areas.

Doomben

Going to the Doomben Members areas? The dress code is the same as the one for Eagle Farm (see above!).

Ipswich Turf Club

For those heading to Ipswich, the dress codes are similar to Gold Coast Turf Club’s. The dresses and skirts for ladies can be semi-formal and cut-outs are allowed, as long as they’re not excessive. For men, take note to wear closed dress shoes.

Sunshine Coast Turf Club

Folks attending the events at Sunshine Coast Turf Club who’s above the age of 14 need to wear neat, contemporary dresses for ladies and a collared shirt and dress pants for gentlemen.

Headwear for Queensland Racing Carnival

While headwear is optional for all venues, we still think you should go for it! The fascinator, hat or headpiece is the icing on the cake of your outfit. Wearing your Sunday’s best without the right headwear will make it seem like any other event. 

The events will be in autumn and winter, so make sure your headwear is appropriate for the season. There are no hard rules, but historically, headwear for these seasons are heavier in texture and material than those used for summer and spring. Wool, velvet, satin and silk are just a few materials to consider.

Classic styles are great, of course! They have a re-wearability factor to them. If you’re unsure of how to wear one and which one to pick, here’s our ultimate guide to fascinators.

Now, you can veer away from tried-and-true and hop on trends for a bit more excitement! The key is to make sure that it fits your personal style. Keep fashion fun and experiment! This year, it’s all about pillbox hats and bows. 

When it comes to where to buy headwear for Queensland Racing Carnival, we say choose Australian! There are many talented milliners in Queensland, but if you’re looking for something that suits your modern style, you may want to consider shopping online from an Australian designer brand. Skip the cheap stores and support labels that guarantee not only exquisite style but also amazing quality.

Check out our winter collection.