2026 will mark the fourth time that the Lexington track has hosted the prestigious festival of racing. Since it first hosted in 2015, Keeneland has made significant improvements to the venue. Among them, a new three-level Paddock Building, is scheduled to open this Fall and will provide new ticketed experiences for more than 1,000 fans.
"Keeneland is such a special place," said Breeders Cup C.O.O. John Keitt. "It's such an important place for the, community. It's an iconic track. It's a beautiful track. And, if you see on the way in, they've continued to invest in a huge investment in in their new, paddock chalet that we're really looking forward to taking advantage of."
Keeneland last hosted the event in 2022 - the attendance for that Saturday was almost 86,000. The total handle was the most for any Breeders Cup ever at just over $189 million.
Breeders' Cup 2026 will run on Friday and Saturday October 30 and 31, and will be bookended by Keeneland’s Third Annual Championship Sale the Wednesday evening prior, and then of course the November Breeding Stock Sale, starting the Tuesday afterwards.
