The Cup at Hastings Raceway

The Cup is a fancy summer event featuring horse races, live music, art displays and more at Vancouver’s Hastings Racecourse in July each year.

In 2025 the race happened on Saturday, July 19th. The race’s date for 2026 is to be confirmed. Other events that take place around the same time in the Lower Mainland include the Truck Stop Concert Series, Port Moody Ribfest, Vancouver Folk Music Festival, Celebration of Light Fireworks and Harrison Festival of the Arts. There is also a fireworks cruise with Vancouver Boat Parties (for which if you use the promo code VBP15 you’ll save yourself 15%).

See our July Calendar of Events to learn about other events happening this month. Continue reading for information about the Surrey Fusion Festival.

This article contains the following information about The Cup:

The Cup (Formerly the Deighton Cup)

Taking place in Vancouver each summer, The Cup is a stylish and adults-only event. Formerly known as the Deighton Cup, the event began in 2008 and has run most years since then. It’s a popular tradition that can attract up to 10,000 people or more.

People dress to impress and spend up to about seven hours at the venue. There are eight horse races that take place throughout the afternoon, and there are plenty of other things to see and do as well. Guests have the opportunity to take in local art, live music, craft cocktails and more.

About halfway through the event there is normally a fashion show and competition. It’s one of the reasons why everyone dresses so formally. The three best-dressed guests win Styles Stakes cash prizes.

When and Where

The Cup takes place at Hastings Racecourse at the PNE during the summer each year. The venue is at 188 North Renfrew Street in the City of Vancouver. In 2025 the event happened on Saturday, July 19th. Festivities begin at 12:00 pm and run until 7:00 pm.

Due to the limited amount of parking available at the venue, organizers of the event usually recommend using public transit, taxi or other riding services.

Note: Horsepower 4 Horsepower is held at the same venue in September most years. It’s a fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House that features luxury cars, horse races and more.

Admission to the Cup

Pre-sale general admission (which typically sells out) starts at aorund $65. You can purchase regular tickets after that for $95. Trackside VIP Passes are also available. They include a special section with great views, plus four drink tickets, stadium snacks, unlimited non-alcoholic beverages and more. The VIP tickets cost $299 during the pre-sale and about $399 after that.

For people wanting an even more luxurious experience, there are different ticket packages available as well. Grandstand Private Boxes for four people in 2025 cost $750. Trackside Suites seat eight to 10 people and sell at around $3,850.

For those who want something extra fancy for a larger group, Silks Stadium Club hosts more than 200 guests and includes private tables for guests and private betting tables. This exclusive option is priced at $19,750. Grandstand Private Suites, meanwhile, cost around $6,000 and include admission for up to 30 people.

The Cup Schedule

Doors open at noon. There are usually four races during the first half of the event. They start at approximately 2:00 pm, 2:30 pm, 3:00 pm and 3:30 pm (or at least those were the race times in previous years).

About halfway through the event is when the Style Stakes competition normally takes place. It’s where the best-dressed guests are awarded cash prizes. The Style Stakes winner receives $1,000. Sometimes the winner gets to be a judge the following year.

The second set of races begins after the fashion competition ends. Start times are usually 3:55 pm, 4:25 pm, 4:55 pm, 5:25 pm and 5:55 pm. Everything finishes and people head home by 7:00 pm.

(Note: Exact times and other details above are subject to change. The exact schedule for 2025 was yet to be released at the time of writing.)

The Cup Event Activities

The Cup isn’t just a horse racing event. It’s an elegant affair featuring many other things to enjoy. Throughout the day, guests don’t have to watch all of the races. In fact, exploring the concourse is recommended.

The art showcase component of The Cup usually features many different art forms. There can be murals, installations, performance pieces and even artists painting live in front of everyone.

Live music takes place on stage. 2025’s lineup included Jonas Blue, Common People DJs and BrassTactics. There are also food vendors such as Laowai, Selene, Uno Gelato and many more.

Event Video

Watch the video below for an idea of what to expect at The Cup. The video features DJ music and dancing from a previous year, which was only one highlight of the full event.