GUESTS WILL ENJOY CROWNS, MASKS & MYSTERY AT FILLIES DERBY BALL
March 26, 2026. Louisville, KY. – It’s the ball that starts it all! The first ball of the Derby season – the 68th annual Fillies Derby Ball® Presented by Courtesy Cadillac – is set for Saturday, March 28 at the Omni Louisville Hotel. The Fillies, Inc., a volunteer organization that works closely with the Kentucky Derby Festival, are hosts of this formal event. The Derby Festival Queen will be chosen by the traditional spin of the wheel, and the four remaining Princesses, four Handmaidens and Pages to the Court and two newly knighted and damed outstanding citizens of the community will establish the Royal Court.
Attendees will experience an enchanted evening at this year’s celebration, themed “A Royal Masquerade,” where the timeless elegance of Venice, Italy comes to life. The Ball festivities begin with cocktails at 6 p.m.; doors open at 6:45 p.m.; the Queen’s Coronation by the spin of the wheel at 7:15 p.m.; dinner at 8 p.m.; and dancing from 9 p.m. to midnight with live entertainment by The Juice Box Heroes. 2026 Fillies President Shannon Adkins will spin the wheel to determine the 2026 Derby Festival Queen.
The Royal Court is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity spotlighting the state’s most civic-minded and academically-achieving college students. The 2026 Court includes: Mallory Brown of Bardstown, Ky., Vy Pham (Vee / Fam) of Louisville, Sydney Shouse of Louisville, Tania Vergara-Gongora (TAH-Nyah / Ver-Gaura / Gohne-Gora} of Louisville and Brianna Williams of Louisville.
The selection of the Kentucky Derby Festival Royal Court is a self-nominating procedure. After submitting applications, the young women then go through a judging process before five are chosen to serve as Princesses and ambassadors to the community for the Festival. Along with the newly crowned Queen, the Court will attend nearly all events associated with the Kentucky Derby Festival and the Kentucky Derby itself.
The Fillies Derby Ball is the largest fundraiser for the Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation, the charitable arm of the Derby Festival. A portion of the proceeds from the ball benefit the Foundation.
Courtesy Cadillac is the Presenting Sponsor of the Fillies Derby Ball. Official Sponsor: Total Wine & More. Contributing Sponsors: Capital Access Corporation – Kentucky, Hectare’s, and Park DuValle Community Health Centers. Official Bourbon: Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. Official Vodka: Tito’s Handmade Vodka. Supporting Sponsors: Black Stallion Estate Winery, Class Act Federal Credit Union and Francis Coppola Prosecco. Media Sponsor: Media Pros.
