Watch the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, 2 May and keep up to speed with action in one of the most prestigious horse races stateside.
This year is the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby and current favourite, Renegade, is aiming to become the first horse to win from the No. 1 post position since 1986.
At a glance
- Kentucky Derby date: 2 May 2026
- Watch Kentucky Derby on TV: Racing TV, NBC and Peacock
- Watch Kentucky Derby from anywhere: Use this NordVPN deal – 75% Off
How to watch the Kentucky Derby on TV
The UK’s free racing broadcaster ITV and the ITVX streaming service will not be showing the Kentucky Derby live, but you will be able to watch via Racing TV’s subscription-based service (Sky channel 424/Virgin Media 536) .
In the US, you can watch on NBC and Peacock, with coverage from 2.30pm ET. The final race will be shown on FanDuel TV.
If you’re away from home, you can use NordVPN to secure your stream of the action from anywhere in the world.
What time is the Kentucky Derby?
The Kentucky Derby post time is 6.57pm local time (ET), which is 11.57pm BST. It will be the twelfth race of the day.
How to watch the Kentucky Derby from anywhere
If you’re away from home and your normal coverage is geo-blocked, a VPN will get you your usual coverage from anywhere in the world.
There are many VPN providers out there, with some more reliable and safe than others. We’d suggest using a paid-for service such as NordVPN, where you can get an exclusive 75% off, which offers a 100% risk-free money back guarantee. If you’re not happy with the service any time within the first 30-days, then you can cancel with no penalties at all.
What is the Kentucky Derby?
The Kentucky Derby is one of the most prestigious horse races in the USA. It is an American Grade One stakes race, run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky and is open to three-year-old Thoroughbred colts and fillies.
Held annually on the first Saturday in May, the Derby is the first leg of the Triple Crown and is known by many as “the greatest two minutes in sport”.
The Kentucky Derby is run over a distance of 2,012 metres (about 1¼ miles) with a prize of $3.1m (about £2.3m) going to the winner.
- To stay up to date with all the breaking news at major events throughout the year, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website
You may also be interested in:
A bluffer’s guide to reading a racecard
A beginner’s guide to betting
If you fancy having a flutter on a horse race but don’t know where to start, we’re here to help.
Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round
We recommend VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:
- Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service)
- Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad
We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.