How to watch the 2026 Kentucky Derby live and for free

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Place your bets, grab your best hat, and make yourself a mint julep. It’s Kentucky Derby time again, folks.

The 2026 Kentucky Derby is the 152nd annual horse race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. As usual, the race will last more than eight hours, but the race itself will happen in a flash. There’s a reason they call it the Fastest Two Minutes in Sports. Here’s what you need to know so you don’t miss the most important moment — and how to watch everything leading up to it.

When is the 2026 Kentucky Derby?

The 152nd Run for the Roses is planned Saturday, May 2. Coverage will begin at noon ET on Peacock and NBCSN and at 2:30 pm ET on NBC. The post time for the race itself is set 6:57 pm ET. You’ll want to make sure you sing well beforehand so you don’t miss a beat.

Who is the favorite to win the Kentucky Derby 2026?

After a few scratches before the official race, the favorite is now Renegade (5-1), Commandment (6-1) and Further Ado (6-1) close behind. Chief Wallabee (8-1) and The Puma (10-1) round out the top five favorites. The odds are expected to change as punters place bets before the race.

How to watch the 2026 Kentucky Derby

Kentucky Derby TV coverage begins at noon Saturday, May 2, on NBCSN and will switch to NBC at 2:30 pm ET. Official race post time is 6:57 pm ET, and coverage will end around 7:30 pm ET. Don’t have cable? No problem. Cord cutters can stream the Kentucky Derby live on Peacock or with a pay TV subscription like YouTube TV or Sling.

Peacock subscriptions start at $10.99 per month, while most live TV subscriptions offer introductory trial sessions, starting at around $20 per month. Don’t want to pay full price? Below, we’ve rounded up the best ways to save money on your subscription.

The best deals on peacock broadcasting

Best Peacock deal in a long time

While a monthly subscription to Peacock Premium normally costs $10.99, you can save around 17% by committing to an annual subscription instead. At $109.99 a year, that drops the monthly price to just $9.17. In other words, you will get 12 months of streaming for the price of 10. It’s the same as the Premium Plus plan without the ads; while a monthly subscription will run you $16.99 per month, the price drops to just $14.17 per month if you pay for a year in advance.

Peacock’s best deal for Xfinity customers

I highly recommend checking out the qualifying deals below before signing up for Peacock if you’re an Xfinity customer. There is an opportunity for you to get a free subscription. Here is an explanation of who is eligible:

• Xfinity Internet customers who are Diamond or Platinum Xfinity Rewards members can get Peacock Premium for free by redeeming their reward. Log in to xfinity.com/rewards and select a peacock as a reward. Then, wait for your email (it may take a few hours) with instructions to open the offer.

• NOW TV customers can get Peacock Premium as part of their service.

• New customers with Xfinity Internet and X1 TV Box, Flex streaming TV Box, or Xumo Stream Box from Xfinity can get Peacock Premium free for six months.

Peacock’s best deal for students and young adults

College students can get a Peacock Premium subscription for just $5.99 a month for a year. Simply verify your student status using your .edu email address with SheerID, and you’ll receive a unique promo code to secure the discount. Note that the discount code can only be used once. Young adults who are not students can also get the same deal.

Best for first responders, medical professionals, military, and educators

First responders, medical professionals, military personnel, and teachers can all secure a Peacock Premium subscription (with ads) for the discounted price of $6.99 per month. As long as you can verify your professional status using SheerID, you’ll be able to knock $4 per month off the regular subscription fee. If you continue to meet the certification criteria, you can renew your subscription annually. Note that prices may change.

Great for Instacart users

An Instacart+ subscription ($99.99 per year) unlocks free Peacock Premium ($109.99 per year) subscription on top of free grocery delivery, low fees, credit back on eligible pickup orders, and other additional benefits. Not to mention, you’ll get a free two-week trial to test the waters before you’re charged. That’s a lot of time to watch the Kentucky Derby for free (just saying).

Great for Walmart shoppers

Walmart+ subscription now gives you the option to subscribe to Peacock Premium or Paramount+ Essential for free (you can switch every few months). Since Peacock Premium is priced at $109.99 on its own, the $98 Walmart+ membership is a better deal. You’ll get a ton of other benefits, including free shipping with minimum order limits, gas discounts, the Scan & Go payment tool, and early access to deals during Walmart’s biggest shopping events. Did I mention it comes with a 30-day free trial?

Best live streaming TV deals

While Peacock is the most straightforward choice for cord cutters, it is not the only option. If you’re looking to watch the Kentucky Derby live, as well as other sports, live TV streaming services like Sling and YouTube TV are also good options. Even better, some offer free trials — so you can watch all eight hours of Derby coverage on NBC for free, then cancel before you’re charged the full monthly fee (which can be steep). Here are the best deals to watch annual horse racing and more on live TV. Double check that NBC is offered in your zip code before you commit to service.

Most affordable: Sling Select

Sling’s Select package is the most affordable live TV streaming service. It includes access to your local NBC network to watch the Derby live on select networks (be sure to check yours first) and costs just $19.99 a month. And since Sling subscriptions are a la carte, you can add or remove from your plan without worry and cancel or pause at any time.

Best introductory offer: YouTube TV

YouTube TV offers a huge lineup of 100+ channels, including your local NBC network to watch the Kentucky Derby, as well as other local sports, news, and entertainment favorites. We’re not big fans of its $82.99 per month fee, but until June 30, the broadcaster is offering new users a sweet introductory gift. You’ll get your first 21 days free, then your first three months for just $67.99. That’s a $45 savings, if you choose to stay after catching the Kentucky Derby for free during your trial period.