Giddy Up, FISHER is back

A Melbourne Cup Carnival tradition, one year in

FISHER's 2025 debut at Flemington was, by any measure, a triumph. More than 65,000 racegoers packed TAB Champions Stakes Day, braving miserable conditions – it was the coldest recorded November day in Melbourne for 80 years.

The conditions didn't dampen the racing, either. Via Sistina romped home in the Champions Stakes in what would be her final start, and Giga Kick burst through the pack to snatch the Champions Sprint as the crowd roared him home. There was even a race named in FISHER's honour on the day – the FISHER Stakes, won by Lexus Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Jamie Melham aboard Need Some Luck.

Then, when the last race was run, the racetrack past the Winning Post opened to the public for the first time in the Carnival's history – a first designed specifically to let more fans into FISHER's world. He needed no convincing to return for 2026. "Last year's Melbourne Cup Carnival closing party was epic – the crowd was electric," he said of his decision to come back. "I can't wait to do it all again."

From backyard beats to the world stage

Before the 2.6 million social media followers, residencies, the Grammy nod and the half a billion streams, Paul Fisher was a Queensland surfer with a knack for making people move. That instinct hasn't changed – it's just found a much bigger dancefloor. His breakout single, 'Losing It', landed him a 2019 Grammy nomination and a permanent place among the decade's biggest dance records.

With his infectious grin, trademark bucket hat and sunglasses, and Aussie energy, FISHER has shut down Hollywood Boulevard for three hours in front of 15,000 fans, played multiple now-legendary sets at Coachella, taken over Brooklyn's Navy Yard three nights in a row, and — most recently — packed out Red Rocks, Chicago's Navy Pier, and two nights at Forest Hills Stadium in New York. Somewhere in between all that, he became a father with his wife Chloe – his daughter Bobbi arrived in 2024, around the same time he was topping charts with Jennifer Lopez, Gotye and Kimbra – followed by a second little girl, Andi, in early 2026.

The biggest year yet

If the past year has proven anything, it's that FISHER doesn't believe in slowing down. He closed out 2025 with two soldout shows at San Francisco's Moscone Center – 40,000 tickets across two nights, the largest solo headline dance event the city has ever seen – before exploding into 2026 with the launch of a fourth summer of his iconic Thursday residency at Ibiza's [UNVRS], standout sets at EDC Las Vegas and across the globe, on top of his cameo as the Garden Gnome in Australia / New Zealand’s Toy Story 5. His recent single “Favour,” with fellow Aussie, Tones and I, reached number one on US Billboard Dance Radio chart, as well as cracking the top five on the ARIA Club Chart and Dance Singles chart – proof that, sixteen years into his recording career, he's still setting the pace rather than chasing it.

What to expect in 2026

FISHER returns to The Elms Live Stage, presented by Maccas, on TAB Champions Stakes Day, Saturday 7 November, to close the 2026 Melbourne Cup Carnival. Expect the hits, the signature laugh that's become as much a part of his brand as the music, and the rails to open once again for a party that, if last year is any guide, will be the last thing anyone at Flemington talks about before they talk about next year's Cup.

Access to FISHER’s set is included in the price of a General Admission ticket.