The Kentucky Derby has a new viewership record.
The 2026 Kentucky Derby drew 19.6 million viewers Saturday on NBC and Peacock, the most-watched edition of the race on record, according to Nielsen preliminary data and Adobe Analytics. The previous viewership high for the race was 18.5 million in 1989.
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Final, official numbers for the event are expected Tuesday, according to NBC.
This year’s number was 11% higher than the 17.7 million NBC and Peacock drew in 2025, surpassing the 2024 race that drew 16.7 million. The two editions were the most-watched races since 1989.
Viewership highs over the last few years have been helped
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