April 27, 2026. Louisville, KY. – Bed racing fans filled the stands at Broadbent Arena tonight for the Kentucky Derby Festival’s Great Bed Races Presented by Snap-on. 46 teams participated in the 37th annual event, pushing their decorated beds around a figure-eight course and competing for the fastest times and most outrageous costumes and decorations. Texas Roadhouse won the Champion’s Division for the third year in a row and The Park Pushers (Louisville Parks & Recreation) won the Fun Division.
The theme of this year’s event was “Festival on the Move: Ticket to Ride,” celebrating motion, momentum, and the thrill of exploration. Teams decked out their beds as trains, airplanes, race cars, pirate ships, a magic school bus, movie themes like Toy Story, Up and Polar Express; as well as pirates, astronauts and more.
Prizes were awarded to the teams with the three fastest times, as well as awards for the “Cone Eater,” “Best Decorated Bed,” and “Most Entertaining.”
2026 Results – Champion’s Division:
Place Team
1 Texas Roadhouse
2 Best-One Louisville
3 Snap-on
2026 Results – Fun Division:
Place Team
1 The Park Pushers (Louisville Parks & Recreation
2 Vessels Plumbing, Heating & Cooling
3 St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Charities
• Best Decorated Bed: Zeon Chemicals – (Zeon Express Train featuring the City of Louisville skyline, a Cadillac, the Belle of Louisville and Ohio River.)
• Most Entertaining: The Fillies Inc. (Featuring a “Grease” theme complete with the Pink Ladies).
• People’s Choice Award: UA Local 502 (Dozens of employees and their families attended to support their team and walk in the Parade of Beds.)
• Cone Eater Award: JenCare
A Tailgate Party took place before the Great Bed Races and winners of the Tailgate Awards include: Zoeller Pump Company won the Drink of Tailgate Award with their bourbon drink, and SERVPRO was given the Taste of Tailgate Award for their BBQ chicken.
First held in 1990 on the cobblestone streets of downtown Louisville in Theatre Square as “Bedlam in the Streets,” the event exploded in popularity. Now in its 37th year, it continues to attract participants from small local businesses to five-man teams from large corporations.
Presenting Sponsor: Snap-on. Contributing Sponsors: IBEW Local 369, Kentucky Venues and UA Local 502 Apprenticeship Program. Official Health Partner: Baptist Health ER & Urgent Care. Official Finish Line Sponsor: Texas Roadhouse. Official Viewing Partner: VisionFirst. Supporting Sponsor: Louisville Collision Center. Official Broadcast Partner: WAVE. Media Sponsor: Classic Rock 107.7.
About Kentucky Derby Festival
2026 marks the 71st year for the Kentucky Derby Festival, a month-long celebration packed with 70+ events leading up to the first Saturday in May. As an independent community organization, it’s supported by 4,000 volunteers, more than 400 businesses and civic groups, Pegasus Pin sponsorships and event participation. It entertains more than 1.5 million people every spring and has a local economic impact of more than $200 million. This involvement has made the Festival the largest single-attended event in Kentucky and one of the leading community celebrations in the world.
