Everything to Know About the 2026 Kentucky Derby: Date, Time, Location & More

Here's what to know about the 2026 Kentucky Derby, where the world's top Thoroughbreds will gather on horse racing's grandest stage May 2 on NBC & Peacock.

NBC Insider NBC Sports Everything to Know About the 2026 Kentucky Derby: Date, Time, Location & More

The top Thoroughbreds in the world will gather on racing's grandest stage May 2.

By Matthew Jackson Apr 23, 2026, 10:48 AM ET

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Like the Super Bowl, the World Series, and Wimbledon, the Kentucky Derby is one of those sporting events everyone knows about even if they don't follow that particular sport. People who don't watch a single horse race the entire rest of the year will tune in for the Derby every spring simply to see the pageantry and grandeur on display at Churchill Downs. It's just that special.

How to Watch

Watch NBC Sports on NBC and Peacock.

And it's a tradition that continues to be a part of the NBC Sports family in 2026. On Saturday, May 2, viewers everywhere can tune in and see which horse will prevail on racing's grandest stage, and we've got all the details you need about the 2026 Kentucky Derby right here.

When is the 2026 Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks?

Fans cheer during the running of the 148th Kentucky Derby

Fans cheer as they watch race 1 prior to the running of the 148th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 07, 2022 in Louisville, Kentucky. Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

The 2026 edition of the Kentucky Derby is set for Saturday, May 2, and as always NBC will have an entire afternoon of coverage for racing fans and casual viewers. NBC Sports' coverage will begin at 2:30 p.m. ET live on NBC and Peacock, and will take viewers through the entire Derby experience, from the horses to the jockeys to the trainers to, of course, the fashion.

According to the Derby's official website, the race itself has a posted start time of 6:57 p.m. ET, but you won't have to wait that long to watch racing action from Louisville. The night before, NBC will broadcast the annual Kentucky Oaks race for the first time ever in primetime. The Oaks, which showcases the best three-year-old fillies in the Thoroughbred world, will air May 1 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.

When is the 2026 Preakness Stakes?

On May 16, two weeks after the Derby, NBC Sports will cover the second jewel in horse racing's Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, live at 2 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.

Who are the top contenders in the 2026 Kentucky Derby?

The full field for the 2026 Kentucky Derby has not been set yet, but the road to the Derby has already yielded some top contenders. The oddsmakers' favorite for the moment is Renegade, whose performance in prep races puts him in third in the overall points standings, but experts like him better for the environment of Churchill Downs.

Still, he's far from the only major player in the hunt right now. Further Ado is second in both odds and standings right now, while Commandment, who's the current third-favorite among oddsmakers, leads the standings in points and remains a favorite among experts. Rounding out the Top 5 contenders up to this point are Chief Wallabee and The Puma.

You can keep track of the full standings at the Derby's official website.

2026 Kentucky Derby

The 2026 Kentucky Derby runs for the roses Saturday, May 2, with NBC Sports' coverage beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock, bringing you all the fun and pageantry all day long, live from Churchill Downs. And tune in one day early for the 2026 Kentucky Oaks, featuring the sports' premier three-year-old fillies running in primetime on Friday, May 1, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.