Where to Watch Kentucky Derby 2026 Live Stream Free Online: Time, Date

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Twenty horses and jockeys are gearing up 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 p.m. ET/3:57 p.m. PT, and event coverage beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. PT. Both the 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 livestream on Peacock, however the streamer does not offer a free trial. Learn more about each streaming option (and their free trials and new subscriber discounts) below.

At a Glance: How to Watch Kentucky Derby 2026

What Time Is the Kentucky Derby 2026?

The 152nd Kentucky Derby takes place at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, on Saturday, May 2, with a scheduled start time of 6:57 p.m. ET/3:57 p.m. PT. Pre-race coverage begins at 2:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. PT.

Where to Watch Kentucky Derby 2026

The horse racing event (and pre-race coverage) airs on NBC, which can be streamed live via DirecTV (with a five-day free trial), Sling or Hulu + Live TV. It will also livestream on Peacock, however the streamer does not offer a trial period. More on each streaming option below.

DirecTV

Five-day free trial; packages from $19.99 per month

NBC is included in any of DirecTV’s signature packages: Entertainment, Choice, Ultimate or Premier. Plus, DirecTV is offering a five-day free trial for its streaming service, meaning 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 monthly (or $109.99 yearly). Otherwise, the ad-free Peacock Premium Plus plan is $16.99 monthly (or $169.99 yearly).

While the streaming service doesn’t offer a free trial directly, deal-savvy streamers can enjoy free Peacock access through partner subscriptions, including Instacart+ and Walmart+, which both include Peacock Premium in their membership. Plus, since both Instacart+ and Walmart+ offer free trials — 14 days for Instacart+ and 30 days for Walmart+ — members can stream Peacock at no cost during the trial period.

Learn more about Walmart+ streaming offers here and the best Peacock subscription deals here.

Sling

Half off first month for select plans

NBC is included in Sling’s Blue Plan, starting at $45.99 per month.

For the best bang for your buck, opt for Sling’s Orange & Blue plan, which provides everything both the Orange and Blue plans have to offer, starting at $60.99 monthly.

Hulu + Live TV

Three-day free trial; packages from $89.99 per month

Watch NBC for free with a three-day trial to 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:

Three horses scratched: Right to Party (Post No. 5), Silent Tactic (Post No. 13) and Fulleffort (Post No. 20). This allows Great White (Post No. 21), Ocelli (Post No. 22) and Robusta (Post No. 23) to enter Saturday’s race.