The 2026 Kentucky Derby is taking place at Churchill Downs this evening, marking horse racing's biggest day of the year. Viewers can stream the race online.
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Horse racing’s biggest day of the year has arrived with the 2026 Kentucky Derby getting underway at Churchill Downs this evening.
Where to Watch the 2026 Kentucky Derby: Stream the Race Online
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Where to Watch the 2026 Kentucky Derby: Stream the Race Online
You can stream the 2026 Kentucky Derby online through various platforms that offer live coverage of the event.
The 2026 Kentucky Derby is scheduled to start in the evening at Churchill Downs.
The 2026 Kentucky Derby is being held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
The Kentucky Derby is considered horse racing's biggest day of the year, attracting significant attention and participation.
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Where to Watch the 2026 Kentucky Derby: Stream the Race Online
Where to Watch the 2026 Kentucky Derby: Stream the Race Online
This will be the 152nd running of the “Run for the Roses,” and, as always, the lead-up to the iconic race will see a full day of festivities, celebrity appearances, and, of course, big hats. As of this writing, Renegade, The Puma, So Happy, Commandment, Chief Wallabee, and Further Ado are the favored horses to win the race. Mike Tirico will host NBC’s coverage of the event, and he’ll be joined by analysts Jerry Bailey and Randy Moss.
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The 2026 Kentucky Derby will be broadcast on NBC, marking the network’s 26th year covering the race. Peacock will provide a livestream, but you can also watch the Kentucky Derby online using any live TV streaming service that carries NBC. Here’s a breakdown of the four best ways to stream the Kentucky Derby:
Where to Watch the 2026 Kentucky Derby: Stream the Race Online
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➤ Five-day free trial
➤ $39.99/month
➤ Up to 185+ channels
DirecTV carries NBC in a few of its packages, and all of them start with a five-day free trial. If you want to keep service after the trial ends, pricing for plans with NBC starts at $39.99 a month. The service is one of our favorites overall, offering a robust channel lineup and a range of packages to suit different viewing needs and budgets.
Where to Watch the 2026 Kentucky Derby: Stream the Race Online
➤ $7.99/month
➤ Live NBC and on-demand titles
Peacock is the most affordable streaming service with Kentucky Derby coverage, but it does not offer a free trial (although you can use a hack we found here). Peacock subscriptions start at just $7.99 a month, or $79.99 for an annual subscription.
Where to Watch the 2026 Kentucky Derby: Stream the Race Online
➤ $19.99/month
➤ Up to 46 channels
Sling is a great, affordable live TV streaming service, but it doesn’t offer a free trial. NBC is available in its Select, Blue, and Orange + Blue packages, which start at $19.99 a month.
Where to Watch the 2026 Kentucky Derby: Stream the Race Online
➤ $89.99/month
➤ Three-day free trial
➤ 95+ channels
Another live TV streaming service with a free trial and NBC is Hulu + Live TV. This one’s free trial lasts for three days before the service renews at $89.99 a month.
The 2026 Kentucky Derby will be held on Saturday, May 2. NBC’s coverage begins at 2:30 p.m. ET, with lead-up coverage on Peacock starting at noon ET. The gates of the actual race are set to open at 6:57 p.m. ET.
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