Prime time: Kentucky Oaks 2026 will be run under the lights

The Kentucky Oaks will be run at night next year for the first time ever, it was announced Thursday by Churchill Downs Inc.

The 152nd edition of the Grade 1 race featuring 3-year-old fillies will be presented May 1 in a telecast that starts at 8 p.m. EDT on NBC Sports and on the streaming service Peacock.

In addition to the racing, Kentucky Oaks traditions center around fashion and women’s health advocacy. They will remain central pillars of the event pageantry now culminating in a twilight finish.

Earliest look at Kentucky Oaks 2026 contenders.

“We are excited to present the Kentucky Oaks in prime time for the first time ever,” NBC Sports president of acquisitions and partnerships said. “With the Oaks on Friday night leading into the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May, we can’t wait to get back to Churchill Downs for another historic weekend of racing.”

“By moving the Kentucky Oaks to prime time, we’re giving one of horse racing’s most treasured traditions the national stage it deserves,” CDI CEO Bill Carstanjen said. “This decision is rooted in our commitment to growing the sport, reaching new audiences and creating unforgettable experiences for our fans.”

The Kentucky Derby bills itself as America’s oldest continually held major sporting event. Kentucky Derby 2026 will be run May 2 on NBC and Peacock. Kentucky Derby 2025 was the most-watched run for the roses since 1989 with A.C. Nielsen Research reporting a peak audience of 21.8 million viewers on NBC and Peacock as Sovereignty ran to victory.

In May 2024, NBC Sports and Churchill Downs announced a multi-year extension of their partnership, which began with Kentucky Derby 2001. The renewal will make NBC the longest running home of the Derby as NBCUniversal will become the first media company to present the race for more than three decades.

Churchill Downs added permanent lights in 2010 after using temporary fixtures for the introduction of night cards in 2009.