Kentucky Derby Festival Race Weekend
About this race
The Humana Kentucky Derby Festival miniMarathon & Marathon is a long-standing tradition held every spring in Kentucky. It has become the largest annual day of road racing in the state. As 2026 marks the 53rd annual miniMarathon and 25th annual Marathon, the Festival looks forward to another historic event. Participants will start at Louisville Slugger Field in downtown Louisville and run through numerous neighborhoods, experiencing all aspects of our wonderful city, including a run through the infield of historic Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby. Then cross the finish line where they will be greeted by family and friends for our post-race party!
Back for 2026 is the Kentucky Derby Festival 5K presented by First Urology, taking place on Friday, April 24th at 7pm. This race, which debuted in 2025, is an exciting addition to the Race Weekend and also gives runners the opportunity to complete the KDF Race Challenge by completing the 5K on Friday, then either the mini or Marathon on Saturday for a 3rd medal!
Participants will also have the opportunity to participate in our virtual race, which will allow runners who cannot join us in Louisville to complete the mini or full marathon wherever is convenient for them.
Pick your distance
Running
Kentucky Derby Festival 5K Presented by First Urology
KDF Race Challenge 5K & Humana minMarathon
2 Races 3 Medals! Accept the challenge and run the 5K presented by First Urology on Friday, April 23, then the miniMarathon on Saturday, April 24, to receive 3rd commemorative Challenge Medal
KDF Race Challenge 5K & Humana Marathon
2 Races 3 Medals! Accept the challenge and run the 5K presented by First Urology on Friday, April 23, then the Marathon on Saturday, April 24, to receive 3rd commemorative Challenge Medal
Humana miniMarathon
Humana Marathon
Humana Marathon Relay
Humana Virtual miniMarathon
The virtual miniMarathon is a great way for runners to participate in the annual Kentucky Derby Festival miniMarathon wherever, whenever and however is convenient for them. Submit your results anytime between April 24 and May 24
Humana Virtual Marathon
The virtual Marathon is a great way for runners to participate in the annual Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon wherever, whenever and however is convenient for them. Submit your results anytime between April 24 and May 24
Typical race-day weather
Based on 14 years of historical conditions on this event's race dates in Louisville.
About Louisville
Kentucky Derby Festival Race Weekend takes place in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. The local timezone is America/Kentucky/Louisville.
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🏃 Plan Your Next Race in Louisville
Find upcoming events by distance:
- Louisville 5K Races Best Louisville routes for beginners and speed work.
- 10K Run Events in Louisville The most popular local distance in Kentucky.
- Louisville Half Marathons Top-rated 21.1K courses in the Louisville area.
- Marathons in Louisville Scenic 42.2K routes and Louisville Boston qualifiers.
- Louisville Running Calendar 2026 See all upcoming race dates.
Race information has been sourced from the event's official website and other publicly available resources. For the most up-to-date details, please refer to the official website directly. If you notice any incorrect or missing information, don't hesitate to reach out to us by email.
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