Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs: how the two-day Oaks and Derby tickets work, what infield general admission gets you, what you cannot carry in, and where to sleep in Louisville.
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Kentucky Derby in short
The 153rd Kentucky Derby is on Saturday 1 May 2027 at Churchill Downs, with the Kentucky Oaks the day before, Friday 30 April. Tickets are sold as two-day packages for both days, they cannot be refunded, and lost tickets are not reissued. Infield general admission was listed from $166 for the two days. Frontside tickets include free parking at the Kentucky Exposition Center and a shuttle. The Derby post time is about 6:57pm ET.
What happens when
- Saturday, May 1, 2027, approximately 6:57 PM ET
- Post time for the 153rd Kentucky Derby
Which ticket to buy
- Cheapest way in
Infield general admission
Two-day access to the infield, with a program and a view of the 4K video board. No frontside access and no guaranteed view of the track.
From $166 for both days
- A seat
Reserved frontside seating
Ford First Turn, Starting Gate Courtyard and Homestretch Club include food, drinks, free parking and the shuttle.
Same seat both days
- Day one
Kentucky Oaks, Friday 30 April
The Oaks is included in every two-day package, so you see both days on one ticket.
Included
- Earlier in the week
Thurby and Derby Week
Racing days run from Opening Day on 24 April to Thurby on 29 April, before Oaks and Derby.
Apr 30 – May 1, 2027
The Kentucky Derby guide
How the two-day tickets work
The 153rd Kentucky Derby is on Saturday 1 May 2027 at Churchill Downs, 700 Central Avenue, Louisville. The Kentucky Oaks is the day before, Friday 30 April. The Derby post time is approximately 6:57pm ET, and Derby Day gates open at 9am.
Oaks and Derby tickets are sold as two-day packages: the same seat for both days. They are non-refundable, lost or forgotten tickets are not reissued, and the only authorized place to buy or resell Derby and Oaks tickets is the Kentucky Derby Ticket Exchange.
The reserved frontside options are Ford First Turn, Starting Gate Courtyard and Homestretch Club, plus dining rooms and balconies. Frontside tickets include food, drinks, free parking at the Kentucky Exposition Center and a shuttle to Churchill Downs. Frontside prices depend on the seating experience, and kentuckyderby.com lists them on each seating page.
Derby Week runs ahead of the weekend, with themed racing days from Opening Day on 24 April to Thurby on 29 April, each with its own gate time and card. These are separate days from the two-day package.
The infield
Infield general admission
Infield general admission was listed from $166 per guest on 14 October 2026, which covers Oaks and Derby and all fees. It includes an Oaks and Derby program, infield access where you can bring your own chair or picnic blanket, views of the 4K video board, restrooms and betting. It does not include food and drink, which you buy at concessions, and it does not give access to the frontside of the track. The ticket does not guarantee a direct view of the racetrack.
At the infield gate, two sealed, unopened 24 oz water bottles per person, collapsible camping chairs without canopies, and tarps or blankets under 10 by 10 feet were allowed in 2026. Tarps cannot be attached to fences or permanent structures. Two-day infield tickets are mobile only.
What you can bring
Churchill Downs sets the list each year, and this is the 2026 one. Oaks and Derby guests could bring food in clear plastic bags within the size limit. Kentuckyderby.com tells guests to arrive early on Oaks and Derby days to allow for the searches.
Getting there
Frontside ticket holders park free at the Kentucky Exposition Center and ride the shuttle on each Derby Week event day, Oaks and Derby included. Reserved seating also includes the off-site parking. Infield guests can pay to park at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium on Friday and Saturday and walk to Churchill Downs.
Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) is the city's airport, and rideshare and buses serve the center; for the rest of the city, see Louisville. Visitors arriving from abroad under the visa waiver program need approval before they fly; see ESTA, explained.
Where to sleep
Book your room first: hotels in Louisville fill and prices jump well before Derby week. Downtown, around Whiskey Row and the waterfront, is the best base for the city itself. NuLu, east of downtown, has hotels and restaurants. If you hold frontside tickets, a room near the Kentucky Exposition Center ties in with the free parking and shuttle.
- 0.5 km from the Kentucky Derby centre
- 8.9/10 from 618 guest reviews
The dress code
Kentuckyderby.com lists hats among Derby traditions, along with red roses, mint juleps and southern-inspired dishes. Women typically wear colorful dresses and bold hats; men often wear seersucker suits, bow ties and fedoras.
Where to stay for Kentucky Derby
Tours and tickets
Partner options we would book ourselves.
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Right now in Louisville
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
15
- Feels like
- 14°
- Humidity
- 87%
- Wind
- 11 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 25%
Louisville
03:37 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today17°13°25%Monday: Drizzle. High 17°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 25%.
- Tue25°14°28%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 25°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 28%.
- Wed22°15°89%Wednesday: Rain. High 22°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 89%.
- Thu19°12°30%Thursday: Cloudy. High 19°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 30%.
- Fri16°9°5%Friday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Sat15°7°2%Saturday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Sun15°8°17%Sunday: Drizzle. High 15°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 17%.
Updated 01:07 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
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Kentucky Derby FAQ
When is the Kentucky Derby in 2027?
Saturday 1 May 2027, the 153rd running, at Churchill Downs in Louisville. The Kentucky Oaks is the day before, on Friday 30 April. The Derby post time is approximately 6:57pm ET.
Can I buy a ticket for just the Derby?
Oaks and Derby tickets are sold as two-day packages that cover Oaks Friday and Derby Saturday, with the same seat on both days.
Can I get a refund or resell my ticket?
Tickets are non-refundable and lost or forgotten tickets are not reissued. The only authorized place to buy or resell Derby and Oaks tickets is the Kentucky Derby Ticket Exchange.
What does infield general admission include?
Infield access for Oaks and Derby, a program, restrooms and betting. It was listed from $166 per guest for both days including fees, with up to 12 tickets per household. Food and drink are extra, and it does not include the frontside.
What can I bring into Churchill Downs?
In 2026 each guest could bring one bag no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches. Coolers, cans, glass, outside alcohol and umbrellas were banned. At the infield gate, two sealed 24 oz water bottles, collapsible camp chairs without canopies and blankets under 10 by 10 feet were allowed.
How do I get to Churchill Downs?
Frontside tickets include free parking at the Kentucky Exposition Center and a shuttle to the track. Infield guests can pay to park at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium on Friday and Saturday and walk to Churchill Downs.