The 153rd Kentucky Derby will be run on Saturday, May 1, 2027 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Post time is scheduled for approximately 6:57 p.m. Eastern.
The Kentucky Oaks runs the day before, on Friday, April 30.
May 1 is the earliest date the Derby can ever fall.
The race is fixed to the first Saturday in May, which confines it to a seven-day window from May 1 to May 7, and 2027 lands on the opening day of that window.
Gates open at 9:00 a.m., roughly ten hours before a race that lasts about two minutes.
Table of Contents
When is the Kentucky Derby 2027?
Saturday, May 1, 2027. Derby week in full:
| Date | Day | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, April 30 | Friday | Kentucky Oaks, 153rd running |
| Saturday, May 1 | Saturday | Kentucky Derby, 153rd running |
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Race | 153rd Kentucky Derby |
| Date | Saturday, May 1, 2027 |
| Venue | Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky |
| Gates open | 9:00 a.m. ET |
| Post time | Approximately 6:57 p.m. ET |
| Distance | 1¼ miles, 10 furlongs |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Field | Maximum 20 horses |
| Eligibility | Three-year-old thoroughbreds |
Post time is approximate and subject to adjustment. Churchill Downs publishes the confirmed race-day schedule closer to the event.
The first Saturday in May
The Kentucky Derby has been fixed to the first Saturday in May since 1875, with only a handful of exceptions — most recently 2020, when it was moved to September during the pandemic.
Because the rule names a weekday within a month rather than a date, the Derby can only fall between May 1 and May 7. May 1, 2027 is the earliest possible; May 7 is the latest.
| Year | Kentucky Derby | Position in window |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | May 3 | Third |
| 2026 | May 2 | Second |
| 2027 | May 1 | Earliest possible |
| 2028 | May 6 | Sixth |
| 2029 | May 5 | Fifth |
| 2030 | May 4 | Fourth |
The Triple Crown calendar
The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the American Triple Crown. The Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes follow at fixed intervals, though both are set by their own tracks and should be confirmed against those announcements.
| Race | Traditional timing | Track |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Derby | First Saturday in May | Churchill Downs, Louisville |
| Preakness Stakes | Two weeks after the Derby | Pimlico, Baltimore |
| Belmont Stakes | Three weeks after the Preakness | Belmont Park, Elmont |
Because the 2027 Derby falls on the earliest possible date, the whole Triple Crown series shifts correspondingly early.
The Preakness and Belmont dates for 2027 had not been confirmed by their respective tracks as of September 8, 2026, so they are not listed here.
What Kentucky Derby 2027 is not
The Kentucky Derby is not a federal holiday and closes nothing outside Louisville.
Kentucky does not designate it a state holiday, though many Louisville businesses and schools close or shorten hours for Oaks Day on the Friday.
It is not a fixed date. May 1 in 2027 results from the first-Saturday rule and moves within a May 1 to May 7 window.
It is not the Kentucky Oaks. The Oaks is a separate race for three-year-old fillies, run the previous day, on Friday, April 30, 2027.
It is not open to horses of any age. The Derby is restricted to three-year-old thoroughbreds, which is why no horse can ever run it twice.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Kentucky Derby 2027?
Saturday, May 1, 2027 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, with post time scheduled for approximately 6:57 p.m. Eastern. It is the 153rd running and falls on the earliest date the race can ever occupy.
What time is the Kentucky Derby 2027?
Approximately 6:57 p.m. Eastern. Gates open at 9:00 a.m. and the full race card runs through the day, with the Derby itself late in the programme. The race lasts about two minutes. Churchill Downs confirms the exact post time closer to the date.
Why is the Kentucky Derby always in May?
Because it has been fixed to the first Saturday in May since 1875. The rule confines it to a May 1 to May 7 window. The only significant departure was 2020, when the race moved to September.
