The Kentucky Oaks is scheduled for Friday, May 1, 2026, with the race set to run in the evening as a primetime event.

Quick Scoop

  • The Kentucky Oaks is traditionally held on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby each year.
  • For 2026, that Oaks day falls on May 1, 2026 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
  • The 2026 running is the 152nd Kentucky Oaks , featuring top three-year-old fillies.
  • In 2026, the race is moving into primetime TV for the first time, with post time around 8 p.m. Eastern on NBC and Peacock.

So if you’re planning around Derby Week in 2026, circle Friday, May 1, 2026 (evening) for the Kentucky Oaks.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.