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Twenty horses and jockeys prepare for the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby. The first leg of the 2026 Triple Crown takes place on Saturday, May 2, with a scheduled start time of 6:57 PM ET/3:57 PM PT, and coverage of the event begins at 2:30 PM ET/11:30 AM PT. Both race and pre-race coverage are broadcast on NBC, which can be streamed live on any streaming service that carries the network, including DirecTV (with a five-day free trial), Sling and Hulu + Live TV.
The 2026 Kentucky Derby will also be streamed live on Peacock, but the streaming device does no Offer a free trial. Learn more about each streaming option (and their free trials and new subscriber discounts) below.
Quick overview: How to watch the 2026 Kentucky Derby
- when: Saturday, May 2, at 6:57pm ET/3:57pm PT (pre-race coverage begins at 2:30pm ET/11:30am PT)
- TV channel: nbc
- Stream online: DirecTV, Peacock, Sling, Hulu + Live TV
What time is the 2026 Kentucky Derby?
The 152nd Kentucky Derby will be held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, on Saturday, May 2, with a start time set for 6:57 PM ET/3:57 PM PT. Pre-race coverage begins at 2:30 PM ET/11:30 AM PT.
Where to watch the 2026 Kentucky Derby
The horse racing event (and pre-race coverage) is broadcast on NBC, which can be streamed live via DirecTV (with a free five-day trial), Sling or Hulu + Live TV. It will also stream live on Peacock, whoever the streamer is no Offer a trial period. More about each streaming option below.
DirectTV
Five-day free trial; Packages start at $19.99 per month
NBC is included in any of DirecTV’s premium packages: Entertainment, Choice, Ultimate, or Premier. Additionally, DirecTV is offering a free five-day trial of the streaming service, which means new subscribers can catch the race at no cost.
Learn more about each plan option, including how to build your own channel lineup (starting at just $19.99 per month), at directv.com.
peacock
Starting at $10.99 per month
Not a Peacock subscriber? The streamer has an ad-supported Peacock Premium package for $10.99 per month (or $109.99 per year). Otherwise, the ad-free Peacock Premium Plus plan costs $16.99 per month (or $169.99 per year).
Although the streaming service doesn’t offer a free trial directly, deal-savvy streamers can enjoy free access to Peacock through partner subscriptions, including Instacart+ and Walmart+, both of which include Peacock Premium in their memberships. Additionally, since both Instacart+ and Walmart+ offer free trials — 14 days for Instacart+ and 30 days for Walmart+ — members can stream Peacock for free during the trial period.
Learn more about Walmart+ streaming deals here and the best Peacock subscription deals here.
sling
Half off the first month for select plans
NBC is included in Sling’s Blue Plan, starting at $45.99 per month.
To get the best value for your money, choose Sling’s Orange & Blue plan, which offers everything both the Orange and Blue plans offer, starting at $60.99 per month.
Hulu + Live TV
Three-day free trial; Packages start at $89.99 per month
Watch NBC for free with a three-day trial of Hulu + Live TV, which comes bundled with Disney+ and ESPN+, starting at $89.99 per month.
Kentucky Derby 2026 Horses, Odds
The 20 horses in this year’s Derby (and their odds, according to the official Kentucky Derby website) include:
- Rebel, 4-1
- Albus, 30-1
- Brave, 50-1
- litmus test, 50-1
- Will, 6-1
- Dannon Bourbon, 20-1
- Very happy, 15-1
- Puma, 10-1
- Wonder Religion, 30-1
- Increibolt, 20-1
- Chief Wallaby, 8-1
- Potente, 20-1
- Emerging Markets, 15-1
- Pavlovian, 30-1
- Six-speed, 50-1
- More Ado, 6-1
- Golden Rhythm, 30-1
- Great White, 50-1
- Uccelli, 50-1
- Robusta, 50-1
Three horses were scratched: Right to the Party (Article #5), Silent Tactic (Article #13) and Full Effort (Article #20). This allows Great White (entrant No. 21), Ouseley (entrant No. 22) and Robusta (entrant No. 23) to enter Saturday’s race.
