2026 Kentucky Derby Tickets
Join Bucket List Events for our three-night 2026 Kentucky Derby tickets packages in Louisville, offering an amazing weekend of big hats, parties, people watching, high fashion, bourbon sipping, and of course, Derby tickets to watch the thrilling horse races. Churchill Downs has hosted the Kentucky Derby since 1875, which makes it the longest continuously running sporting event in American history. Bucket List Events has been hosting guests since 2004, making us your most trusted travel partner in Louisville.
The Kentucky Derby is often called the most exciting two minutes in sports, but don’t let the nickname fool you. The Derby is an all-day affair, and, truth be told, a complete 2026 Kentucky Derby experience takes about three full days. We offer Kentucky Derby tickets packages that include convenient hotel accommodations, bourbon distillery tours, race day transportation, and a range of options for 2026 Kentucky Derby tickets. You might also choose to attend the exclusive Barnstable Brown Gala, named by Conde Nast as one of the Top 10 parties in the world.
Our 2026 Kentucky Derby ticket packages will treat you to the experience of a lifetime. And there’s no time like the present to check this world-renowned event off your bucket list.
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Check In: Thursday, April 30, 2026 Check Out: Sunday, May 3, 2026
Derby Day: Saturday, May 2, 2026
What’s included?
Our Kentucky Derby Ticket Packages give you the experience you’ve been dreaming of your entire life. All packages include the following:
- Three-night hotel stay: Select from 3 great hotel choices
- Reserved seats for the 152nd Kentucky Derby, featuring all-inclusive food and drinks (alcohol included). Click to view seating options and pricing.
- Experience Kentucky Tour: A tour and tasting at a bourbon distillery followed by a stop at a world-renowned horse farm, with lunch included
- Kentucky Derby welcome gift
- Shuttle service to and from Churchill Downs on race day
- Optional experience add-ons
- On-site assistance from Derby experts
- Book with Confidence Policy included
- All-inclusive pricing: No added fees at checkout
- Accessibility: We can help you navigate the process from parking passes to accessible seating options
2026 Kentucky Derby Packages Now Available
Kentucky Derby Hotel Options
Hotel rooms in Louisville during the Kentucky Derby can be hard to find, but never fear, we have your spot reserved at either the Holiday Inn Express, the Galt Hotel or the Grady Hotel in the heart of downtown Louisville next to 4th Street Live, and within walking distance to all the top Louisville restaurants and attractions. We have arranged roundtrip, convenient shuttles for all guests between their hotel and Churchill Downs on Derby Day, so all your transportation needs are covered. Choose the experience that is right for you!
About the Holiday Inn Express, Louisville: Stay in downtown Louisville and avoid paying a premium for larger hotels during the Derby. Combining modern hotel amenities with Southern hospitality, guests at the Holiday Inn Express will enjoy daily breakfast and convenient access to attractions on Main Street, like the Louisville Slugger museum.
About the Galt House Hotel, Louisville: Stay in the heart of downtown at Louisville’s only waterfront hotel along the banks of the Ohio River. Located just steps from 4th Street Live and all the top Louisville attractions, the Galt House is conveniently located next to the KFC YUM! Center and close to the Kentucky International Convention Center. Churchill Downs is just 15-minutes away. Start your trip in style on the 25th floor at Swizzle, the city’s most picturesque dining spot, and enjoy prime steaks, cool cocktails, and panoramic views.
About the Grady Hotel, Louisville: Blending modern amenities with the spirit of Kentucky, this new property offers a bold and distinctive stay in downtown Louisville. Just steps from Whiskey Row and less than 5 miles from Churchill Downs, guests can enjoy all that downtown Louisville has to offer. The Grady Hotel offers a boutique feel with modern rooms, and exceptional service.
Package Experience Highlights
We offer Kentucky Derby ticket packages that include convenient hotel accommodations, tour of a bourbon distillery and a horse farm, race day transportation, and a number of Derby ticket options for you to choose from. You will also have the ability to enjoy exclusive parties and galas and upgrade your Derby ticket to include a VIP race day experience. Let Bucket List Events treat you to the experience of a lifetime. Learn more about all of our package experiences below.
The Derby Day Experience
Your Derby experience will be something you’ll be talking about for years to come and a memory you’ll never forget. Every package includes a Derby ticket so you can experience the most exciting event in sports up close and personal. Choose your ticket when you check out. learn more.
Experience Bourbon and Horse Country with our tours
Louisville is located in the heart of bourbon and horse country. It would be appropriate, then, to experience the area and all the cultural richness it has to offer. Our guests can tour historic bourbon distilleries and beautiful, local horse farms. learn more
Barnstable Brown Gala
The Barnstable Brown Kentucky Derby Eve Gala is internationally recognized as the premier Kentucky Derby gala. The celebrity-packed gala benefits the Barnstable Brown Diabetes and Obesity Research Center at the University of Kentucky. Past guests include Boys II Men, Kid Rock, Tom Brady, Jennifer Nettles, Aaron Rodgers, Janet Jackson and more. This is an optional add-on experience to any package. learn more.
Turf Club Seat – VIP Track Experience
Enjoy an amazing Derby Day experience above the track overlooking the finish line and experience gourmet food and a premium open bar inside the Turf Club. This is one of the most sought-after experiences and the most requested location at Churchill Downs. The Turf Club is known to host celebrities every year. The Turf Club seat is our VIP experience and offers an indoor seat in this exclusive area of Churchill Downs. (no outside seating). learn more.
Kentucky Derby Tickets
All of our Kentucky Derby packages include Kentucky Derby tickets. We believe that everyone should experience the Kentucky Derby at least once in their lifetime so we offer package options that fit a variety of interests, needs, and budgets. All packages are priced per person and based on the Kentucky Derby ticket level you choose.
Kentucky Derby tickets are complicated and the process of choosing where to sit can be overwhelming. There are many options for admission with the most affordable tickets starting at the general admission level, increasing to tens of thousands of dollars for VIP Boxes. Our packages offer a few select sections to choose from, all giving you that Derby Day experience you have been dreaming of. Whether or not you choose to upgrade your Derby day experience by adding a Turf Club Pass, that is up you.
For a better understanding about Kentucky Derby tickets and a detailed breakdown of the different options at Churchill Downs, click here. Our team can also make recommendations based on your interests and budget. Contact us today and we will be more than happy to talk with you.
Attending the Kentucky Derby is a lifelong dream for many sports fans and avid travelers. Whatever your reason for attending this event may be, we are happy you’ll be joining us in Kentucky. From the southern fashion and star-studded parties, to the history of witnessing the “greatest two minutes in sports,” you are guaranteed to experience an event weekend like no other. We have compiled a list of frequently asked questions and helpful articles that will shed light on some of the most popular questions and curiosities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do the gates open? How do I get to and from Churchill Downs? What happens if it rains? What should I take with me to the Derby? Is there a dress code? Can I visit all areas of Churchill Downs? Do you have any insider tips that will make my experience better? Find out the answers to these questions and more in our FAQ section. Visit FAQs
Helpful Articles & Blog Posts
We know our guests have a lot of questions when it comes to attending the Kentucky Derby. What should I wear? What is the story behind the hat tradition? What is there to do in Louisville? Where should I sit at Churchill Downs on Derby Day? We have some helpful articles you’ll enjoy reading that will answer some of these curiosities. View Articles
More Useful Info
Reviews (11)
Our experience with Ben and Bucket List Events at the Kentucky Derby was absolutely amazing! Ben’s attention to detail was commendable. This experience exceeded all of expectations! Everything was planned, well thought out and executed.
We made many friends. Mike was a fabulous tour guide! Fun! Although a Bucket List item- I can’t wait to do it again 😄!
Our Kentucky Derby weekend couldn’t have been more perfect! The accommodations were great, the horse farm and bourbon distillery tours were an absolute blast, and the Barnstable party was one of the best we’ve ever been to. It was a weekend full of fun, laughter, and memories we’ll never forget.
We booked the Kentucky Derby through Ben at Bucket List events this year and had an absolutely amazing time. Everything went flawlessly and smooth from start to finish. Ben and his crew made sure every detail was perfect and that made the Derby for us truly a bucket list event that will never be forgotten.
Very grateful to the Bucket List Events team for helping us craft a wonderful itinerary for the 2021 Kentucky Derby. Despite the ever-changing status of the event given the pandemic, Ben and the team ensured a wonderful and memorable weekend for our group. Looking forward to partnering again on a future event!
It was my first time to go to the Kentucky Derby and it was amazing!! Thank you so much to Ben, who was our coordinator. He answered all our questions and anticipated many of them with great detailed instructions. We did the add on excursion of visiting a horse farm and bourbon distillery and I’m so glad we did. Also, the Barnstable Brown party on Friday night was so fun and derby was perfect!! This was one of the best experiences of my life. It was my first Derby, but definitely not my last!! Make sure you use these guys to plan your trip. It will be first class all the way!!
Our Kentucky Derby experience was perfect. It started with setting up the trip. Brian made it easy and gave many helpful suggestions. Then Ben took over in Louisville. Welcoming us on Thursday and making sure we had everything we needed. Derby Day went off without a hitch. Ben made sure we knew what to expect at the track and later checked on us at our box to assure all was well. We asked for everything when we planned this trip and Bucket List Events delivered. We would not hesitate to use Bucket List Events for any of our adventures.
The guys at Bucket List Events were great. Complete professionals that made the entire experience extremely special. I would 100% use them if I returned to the derby or any other bucket list event I plan in the future.
Perfect trip!!! First time to the Kentucky Derby and it was the best!! Bucket List events made the trip easy and fun. If I could rate over 5 stars. I would. Thank you all at Bucket List Events - especially you Ben! “I’ll be back.”
Our trip to the Kentucky Derby was absolutely incredible, thanks in large part to the expert planning and hospitality of Ben from Bucket List Events. From start to finish, everything was seamless, enjoyable, and memorable. On Friday, we had the pleasure of touring a beautiful horse farm and an iconic Kentucky distillery. The horse farm tour gave us a behind-the-scenes look at the world of thoroughbreds, with knowledgeable guides and a chance to see some truly majestic animals up close. The distillery stop was equally impressive—filled with history, craftsmanship, and, of course, some delicious tastings. Derby Day was the highlight, and our Club Level seats made it an extraordinary experience. The view of the track was fantastic, and the amenities in the Club section made the day comfortable and luxurious. The energy and pageantry of the Derby are unlike anything else, and being able to take it all in from such premium seats made it even more special. Ben was a fantastic host—friendly, organized, and always available to ensure everything ran smoothly. We never had to worry about logistics; we could just relax and enjoy. We can’t recommend Bucket List Events enough for anyone looking to experience the Kentucky Derby in style. This was truly a bucket-list trip come to life!
A big shout out to Bucket List Events. Thank you for guiding us through the ticketing process and securing us fantastic seats for the Derby. You definitely went above and beyond. We had an amazing weekend!
I highly recommend Bucket List Events! Thank you for showing our group a fantastic time! Every activity was well organized and so much fun!
Questions?
We may already answered it – check our comprehensive FAQ & Tips section . Our dedicated event experts have been organizing and attending the Kentucky Derby for years, so feel free to reach out.
Brian Peters
Kentucky Derby Sales Expert
Rich Beard
Kentucky Derby Event Manager
The terms Churchill Downs ®, Kentucky Derby ® and Run for the Roses ™ are trademarks of Churchill Downs Incorporated. The use of these terms herein is for factual description purposes only. Bucket List Events is in no way associated with or authorized by Churchill Downs Incorporated. Churchill Downs Incorporated has neither licensed nor endorsed Bucket List Events to sell goods and services in conjunction with the Kentucky Derby.
