The Kentucky Derby may be called “the most exciting two minutes in sports,” but the weather around it can be exciting, too.
The 2026 Kentucky Derby is scheduled for Saturday, May 2, 2026, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, with post time listed at about 6:57 p.m. ET.
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Derby weather has a little bit of everything in its history.
According to the National Weather Service in Louisville, the coldest Derby morning temperature was 36°F, recorded in both 1940 and 1957.
The coldest high temperature was only 47°F, in 1935 and 1957.
On the other end, the hottest Derby Day reached 94°F in 1959.
Rain is also a big part of history. 72 of the first 150 Derby Days, or 48%, had rain at some point during the day.
The wettest Derby was in 2018, when 3.15 inches of rain fell in Louisville.
That made the track sloppy, but Justify still splashed his way to victory.
For the 2026 forecast, Derby fans should plan for a cooler-than-average spring day.
As of Wednesday, April 29, the National Weather Service forecast for the Louisville area calls for mostly sunny skies on Saturday with a high near 60°F and a Saturday night low near 39°F.
Around race time, temperatures should likely be in the mid-50s, so a light jacket would be smart.
The good news: this forecast looks much drier than many past Derbies.
So, this year’s Derby weather may not be hot, muddy, or stormy.
Instead, it looks cool, bright, and comfortable, great weather for hats, horses, and the Run for the Roses.