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The 2026 Ladbrokes Cairns Super Carnival just got a whole lot bigger.  

The Cairns Jockey Club is proud to announce that Damien Oliver, widely regarded as the greatest jockey in Australian racing history, will be a headline guest at this year’s Ladbrokes Sports Luncheon and Calcutta. 

Oliver’s appearance is a direct result of the Club’s naming rights partnership with Ladbrokes, reflecting the growing national status of the Cairns Super Carnival. 

A career like no other 

Damien Oliver retired in 2023 after more than 30 years at the top of the sport. His record is extraordinary by any measure – 128 Group 1 wins, over 3,100 career victories, three Melbourne Cups (1995, 2002, 2013), four Caulfield Cups, two Cox Plates and a Golden Slipper. He is a 14-time winner of Victoria’s Scobie Breasley Medal and was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2008. 

In short: if you love racing, you know exactly who Damien Oliver is. 

An afternoon with Australian racing royalty 

The Ladbrokes Sports Luncheon and Calcutta is the Carnival’s most anticipated event outside of the racing – a sophisticated afternoon combining a premium lunch, exceptional beverages, and unprecedented access to some of Australian racing’s most iconic figures. 

The event will be hosted by Britt Taylor – one of Australian racing’s most recognised media personalities. A presenter, brand ambassador, and RWWA Media Personality of the Year, Britt has appeared on Sky Racing, Channel 10’s Melbourne Cup coverage, and Triple M. She brings the kind of warmth, knowledge, and energy that makes a room. 

Thursday 27 August 2026 | 12:00pm – 5:00pm | Ladbrokes Cannon Park 

 

Tickets are limited. Secure yours now: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1534829 

 

Ladbrokes joins the Cairns Super Carnival as naming rights partner

The 2026 event will be officially known as the Ladbrokes Cairns Super Carnival — marking a landmark moment for racing in Far North Queensland.

 The Cairns Jockey Club is proud to announce that Ladbrokes has signed on as the naming rights partner of the Cairns Super Carnival, officially renaming Far North Queensland’s premier racing event the Ladbrokes Cairns Super Carnival from 2026.

The multi-year partnership, commencing 1 July 2026, sees one of Australia’s most recognised wagering brands take centre stage at an event that has quickly established itself as one of regional Australia’s most exciting racing and social occasions.

“This is a proud moment for the Cairns Jockey Club and for the region. The carnival has grown into something genuinely special — an event that brings thousands of visitors to Cairns and delivers real economic impact for our community. Partnering with Ladbrokes takes that to the next level, and we’re excited about what the next few years look like.”

— Cameron Riches, General Manager, Cairns Jockey Club

 

A partnership built on shared ambition

Ladbrokes is no stranger to the carnival. The brand already holds naming rights to Ladbrokes Cannon Park — the racecourse that has been the home of Cairns racing since 1911 — as well as the Ladbrokes Cairns Newmarket Ladies Day. The new naming rights agreement deepens that investment, extending Ladbrokes’ presence across the full carnival program, including the Ladbrokes Sportsman’s Luncheon & Calcutta and the Ladbrokes Carnival Launch.

For Ladbrokes, the partnership represents a strong vote of confidence in the carnival’s trajectory and in Cairns as a destination racing event.

 “We’re excited to be partnering with an event that we think is only just getting started. The Cairns Super Carnival has real potential to emerge as a truly unique fixture on the national racing calendar, and with everything this event and this city has to offer, we can’t wait to see what it becomes.”

— Andrew Hannan, Director – Industry & External Affairs, Entain Australia New Zealand

 Built on a record-breaking foundation

The timing of this partnership reflects the extraordinary growth of the Cairns Super Carnival since its inaugural edition in 2025. That first Super Carnival — which merged the former Cairns Amateur Carnival and Cairns Cup Carnival into a single eight-day festival — exceeded every expectation.

 Independent research confirmed the 2025 event delivered:

• 10,229 total attendances across three race days
• $7.3 million in total economic impact for the Cairns region
• 2,188 visitors to Cairns who may not otherwise have made the trip
• 11,589 visitor nights generated across Queensland
• A Net Promoter Score of +36.8 — with over 55% of attendees classified as active promoters of the event
• 68% of overnight visitors staying in luxury accommodation

 

Those numbers tell the story of an event that doesn’t just attract racing fans — it brings people to Cairns, keeps them there, and sends them home wanting to come back.

What to expect in 2026

The 2026 Ladbrokes Cairns Super Carnival carries the theme Carnival of Colour — a vibrant celebration of the tropical spirit and community of Far North Queensland. Spanning 21–29 August, the carnival features five major events across two weekends at Ladbrokes Cannon Park:

• Carnival Launch — Friday 21 August, Reef Hotel Casino
• Great Northern Brewing Co. Cairns Amateurs’ Day — Saturday 22 August
• Ladbrokes Sportsman’s Luncheon & Calcutta — Thursday 27 August
• Ladbrokes Cairns Newmarket Ladies Day — Friday 28 August
• Red Beret Hotel Cairns Cup Day — Saturday 29 August

 

New for 2026, the Hard Rated Garden Party replaces the High Tea format on Amateurs’ Day, targeting a younger carnival crowd, while the Ladies Long Lunch makes its debut in the Silks Pavilion on Ladies Day — offering a premium dining experience alongside the racing.

Thank you, Great Northern Brewing Co.

The Cairns Jockey Club also takes this opportunity to acknowledge the ongoing support of Great Northern Brewing Co., whose partnership has been integral to the growth of the carnival. Great Northern Brewing Co. continues as the proud naming sponsor of the Great Northern Brewing Co. Cairns Amateurs’ Day — a role they have held throughout the carnival’s history — and the Club looks forward to celebrating another outstanding Amateurs’ Day together on 22 August 2026.

The Club also recognises the Red Beret Hotel as a valued long-term partner, whose continued support of the Cairns Cup is integral to the carnival’s success. The Red Beret Hotel Cairns Cup Day on Saturday 29 August 2026 remains the carnival’s prestigious finale and the region’s richest race day.

 

Tickets for the 2026 Ladbrokes Cairns Super Carnival are on sale now.

Book at trybooking.com/cairnsjockeyclub or visit cairnsjockeyclub.com.au for full event details.