VIP EXPERIENCE OFFERS ONE-OF-A-KIND VIEW OF THUNDER OVER LOUISVILLE February 2, 2026. Louisville, KY. – Groundhog Day may have spring predictions, but the Kentucky Derby Festival already has a date on the calendar! Today marks 75 days until the Festival’s Opening Ceremonies, Thunder Over Louisville, set for Saturday, April 18. The event returns in 2026 […]

January 28, 2026. Louisville, KY. – With the winter storm keeping grills covered, the Kentucky Derby Festival is giving foodies, grill masters and burger enthusiasts more time to submit their best and beefiest recipes for the 2026 ‘Derby Burger’ Challenge. Entries will now be accepted through Saturday, Feb. 7, online at KDF.org/Beef. The annual competition […]

January 22, 2026. Louisville, KY. – Kentucky Derby Festival’s 2026 Race Weekend is off to a fast start, with registration already reaching more than 50 percent capacity! Participants are encouraged to secure their spot soon for the Kentucky Derby Festival 5K Presented by First Urology on Friday, April 24, as well as the Humana miniMarathon […]

APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR PARTICIPANTS January 15, 2026. Louisville, KY. – Applications are open for one of the community’s favorite Derby week traditions! The Kentucky Derby Festival is looking for participants for the Zoeller Pump Company Pegasus Parade. This year’s parade theme is “Festival on the Move: A Year of Milestones, Memories and Movement!” The parade […]

January 12, 2026. Louisville, KY. – It was a crowning moment this morning as the Kentucky Derby Festival announced the 2026 Royal Court at Dillard’s in Mall St. Matthews. Five young women have been selected to serve as Princesses for this year’s Kentucky Derby Festival. “Announcing Kentucky Derby Festival royalty is a tradition that lets […]

WINNER WILL BE OFFICIAL THUNDERNATOR FOR FIREWORKS SHOW January 8, 2026. Louisville, KY. – Your Kentucky Lottery tickets could win you the ultimate Kentucky Derby Festival jackpot! The Derby Festival and Kentucky Lottery are teaming up to give away an unforgettable Festival experience this spring. One lucky winner will be named the 2026 ‘Festival Fanatic’ […]

GOLDEN TICKETS MAKE GREAT STOCKING STUFFERS December 19, 2025. Louisville, KY. – Take your shot at striking gold with the Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation! The Foundation’s annual Golden Ticket Raffle is back and just in time for the holidays. Fans can purchase Golden Tickets for an opportunity to win once-in-a-lifetime Kentucky Derby Festival experiences. NEW […]

POSTER AND MERCHANDISE LINE TO LAUNCH IN FEBRUARY December 15, 2025. Louisville, KY. – A Louisville-based designer and arts educator, whose work has been featured in Sports Illustrated, the White House Visitor Center and Heaven Hill Distillery, will play a special role in the 2026 Kentucky Derby Festival. Shae Goodlett has been selected as the […]

FANS CAN PRE-ORDER THE NEW DESIGN STARTING TODAY December 11, 2025. Louisville, KY. – It may be the holiday season, but the Kentucky Derby Festival is already catching spring fever! The Derby Festival is unveiling the design of its 2026 Pegasus Pin® TODAY as part of the third annual Derby in December celebration at the […]

SUMBIT YOUR RECIPES FOR ANNUAL SIZZLING SHOWDOWN Friday, November 21, 2025. Louisville, KY. – Burgers, bold flavors and bragging rights! The Kentucky Derby Festival is calling all burgers bosses as the search begins for the 2026 ‘Derby Burger’ Champion. This marks the 14th year for the beef showdown sponsored by Dan-O’s Seasoning, Kentucky Beef Council […]

FOUR ROUTE OPTIONS AVAILABLE INCLUDING NEW 12-MILER November 20, 2025. Louisville, KY. – Wheels up! Registration for the Kentucky Derby Festival’s annual cycling experience opens at 10 a.m. TODAY, Thursday, November 20. The PNC Tour de Lou, a tradition that has brought the cycling community together for more than a decade, is set for Sunday, […]

REGISTRATION OPENS THURSDAY FOR mini & MARATHON TRAINING PROGRAM November 11, 2025. Louisville, KY. – The road to the 2026 Humana miniMarathon and Marathon starts now! The Kentucky Derby Festival and Norton Sports Health are ready to help participants go the distance with their annual FREE Training Program. The 15-week Norton Sports Health Training Program […]

October 22, 2025. Louisville, KY. – Derby Festival season is calling! Tickets for all 2026 Kentucky Derby Festival events go on sale this week. From fireworks to bourbon and wine tastings, plus the steamboat race, parade and fashion show, there’s an event for everyone. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 24, […]

APPLICATIONS FOR 2026 ROYAL COURT CLOSE OCT. 12 October 7, 2025. Louisville, KY. – The crown is calling, and this is your last week to apply to be Kentucky Derby Festival Royalty! The deadline to submit applications to be part of the 2026 Royal Court® is this Sunday, Oct. 12. Young women from Kentucky and […]

September 25, 2025. Louisville, KY. – The Kentucky Derby Festival received global recognition this week for its excellence in the festivals and events industry during the International Festivals & Events Association’s (IFEA) 70th Anniversary Convention & Expo in Palm Springs, Calif. The Festival won 23 awards in various categories for promotions, multimedia, advertising campaigns and […]

ANNUAL DAY OF GIVING SET FOR THURSDAY September 17, 2025. Louisville, KY. – Mark your calendar to be part of something good! For the first time, the Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation, the charitable arm of the Kentucky Derby Festival, is one of the non-profits taking part in Give For Good Louisville. The region’s most generous […]

REGISTRATION FOR 2026 mini & MARATHON OPENS TODAY WITH SPECIAL PROMOTION September 9, 2025. Louisville, KY. – Humana, a Louisville-based company dedicated to helping people achieve their best health, will return in 2026 as the Title Sponsor of the miniMarathon and Marathon. Registration for the Humana miniMarathon and Marathon opens TODAY at 9 a.m. with […]

APPLICATIONS FOR 2026 ROYAL COURT OPEN TODAY August 1, 2025. Louisville, KY. – The search is on for new Kentucky Derby Festival royalty! The crown is calling for young women from Kentucky and Southern Indiana who are full-time college students (in at least their 2nd year) to apply to be part of the 2026 Royal […]

July 22, 2025. Louisville, KY. – If you have a passion for running, motivating others and connecting with the community, the Kentucky Derby Festival is looking for you! The Derby Festival is searching for its next team of running experts to represent the 2026 miniMarathon and Marathon, set for Saturday, April 25, 2026. Race officials […]

June 11, 2025. Louisville, KY. – Louisville attorney Louis I. Waterman will Chair the 2026 Kentucky Derby Festival. Waterman, who has served on the Board for 29 years, was elected by the Festival’s Board of Directors at its annual meeting this afternoon. Waterman is a member of Goldberg Simpson, LLC, and is a leading family […]