Stream all the excitement of the 2026 Kentucky Derby
Stream all the excitement of the 2026 Kentucky Derby
Stream start-to-finish coverage of the first leg of the prestigious Triple Crown using our guide.
Summer is just around the corner, and that means it’s horse racing season! The 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby is set for Saturday, May 2, with coverage beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC. In fact, NBC platforms will feature 7.5 hours of coverage of 10 races across Friday, May 1, and Saturday, May 2. See the coverage schedule below, and find out why we recommend watching the 2026 Kentucky Derby with a subscription to DIRECTV.
How to watch the 2026 Kentucky Derby
- When: Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. ET (Derby coverage begins)
- TV: NBC
- Stream: Watch with a five-day free trial of DIRECTV or with a subscription to Peacock.
- From anywhere: Watch with a subscription to a VPN.
Everything you need to know about the 2026 Kentucky Derby
What is the schedule of races surrounding the 2026 Kentucky Derby?
| Date | Time (ET) | Event | Platform(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, May 1 | 8 p.m. | Kentucky Oaks | NBC, Peacock |
| Saturday, May 2 | 2:30 p.m. | 152nd Kentucky Derby | NBC, Peacock |
Why do we recommend watching the 2026 Kentucky Derby on DIRECTV?
We recommend streaming the 2026 Kentucky Derby live with a subscription to DIRECTV’s MySports Genre Pack. This plan offers 20+ sports channels, including local broadcast channels ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC in nearly all markets, and includes a free subscription to ESPN Unlimited as well.
The MySports Genre Pack costs just $45 per month for your first two months of service with a limited-time promotion; after the deal period ends, the price reverts to the regular $65 monthly price. New customers also get a five-day free trial of DIRECTV’s MySports package, so if you haven’t tried the streamer before, you can watch the Kentucky Derby free!
DIRECTV
DIRECTV is one of The Streamable’s top choices for the best live TV streaming service overall in 2026, especially for users who want the most channels or want to watch the most live sports. With an unbeatable lineup of local, news, sports, and entertainment channels, three main signature packages, an unlimited DVR, and 20 simultaneous streams at home, DIRECTV remains a premier choice for any cord-cutter.
Can you watch the 2026 Kentucky Derby free?
In addition to the five-day free trial that DIRECTV offers, there are several other services that will carry the 2026 Kentucky Derby and offer free trials. The first is Hulu + Live TV, which includes NBC in its base package and costs $90 per month after a three-day free trial.
YouTube TV has a free trial that can last between two and 21 days, depending on several variables such as the time of month you subscribe. After the trial, its Sports plan starts at $55 per month.
| DIRECTV | Fubo | Hulu | Philo | Sling TV | YouTube TV | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | Free Trial | Free 3-Day Trial | Free Trial | Save with Sling | Free Trial | |||||
| $20.99 | $9.99 | $28.99 | $25 | $19.99 | $29.99 | $45.99 | $45.99 | $64.99 | ||
| NBC | + $19 | + $11 | + $61 | - | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | ✓ | |
What are all the services you can use to watch the 2026 Kentucky Derby?
You can stream the 2026 Kentucky Derby on DIRECTV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and YouTube TV. Sling TV only carries NBC in its Blue and Select plans in a small number of markets. So it’s not the best choice if you don’t live in those areas. DIRECTV is our favorite pick overall, as we discussed above.
Fans can also find the 2026 Kentucky Derby, undercard races, and additional coverage with a subscription to Peacock Premium, starting at $11 per month.
Peacock
Peacock is a subscription video streaming service from NBCUniversal that includes original shows, blockbuster movies, and classic television series. Peacock is home to “Yellowstone,” “The Office,” and original hits like “Poker Face” and “Bel-Air.” You can also watch live sports and NBC programming, including the NFL, MLB, WWE, the Olympics, the Premier League, NASCAR, the French Open, college football and basketball, and the PGA Tour. Premium Plus subscribers can stream their local NBC feed in all 210 markets.
Watch a preview of the 2026 Kentucky Derby
How to watch the 2026 Kentucky Derby from anywhere
If you’ll be away from home and can’t watch the 2026 Kentucky Derby as you normally would, you can still catch all of the action no matter where you are in the world with a VPN. A VPN can be used on your phone, tablet, or computer and make you appear to be back home — even when you’re not — making sure you feel at home no matter where you are. A VPN is a safe and secure way to stay protected online while streaming your favorite sports, movies, and shows on the go. Keep in mind that you will still need to be subscribed to a live TV streaming service like DIRECTV in order to stream the show with a VPN.

NordVPN is one of the best providers around, at one of the best prices. Currently, you can get two full years of protection for just $3.59 per month — plus you’ll get three extra months FREE. A high-speed VPN with best-in-class security that can be used on up to 10 devices at once — what more could you ask for? Simply sign up, install the software on your device of choice, and start streaming just as you would back home. It couldn’t be easier!
While NordVPN is our recommendation for the best VPN to use while you are traveling, there are a number of other high-quality options available depending on what you are looking for.
- Best Features: ExpressVPN | Starting at $5 per month
- Best Budget Option: Surfshark | Starting at $2.50 per month
- Best Free Option: Proton VPN | Free plan available
