Kentucky Book Festival
Kentucky Derby Festival 2026
The circus is coming to town, as are a water lantern festival, a spectacular fireworks extravaganza, road races, music, concerts and much more—all for the month-long celebration that leads up to the most famous two minutes in sports. For more than seven decades, the Kentucky Derby Festival has produced more than 70 events in Louisville and surrounding communities to celebrate the running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
Your ticket to Festival Events
Pegasus Pin
Many Kentucky Derby Festival events require a Pegasus Pin® for admission. Those with pins have the chance to win weekly prizes, including grocery gift cards, Visa gift cards and tickets to the Bourbon & Beyond and Louder Than Life music festivals. General Pegasus Pins® cost $7 at retail locations and $10 at Kentucky Derby Festival events. Limited-edition gold pins and metal pins can be purchased at KDF.org.
