Churchill Downs has never had a problem drawing a crowd, but the 152nd Kentucky Derby is shaping up to be one of the more star-studded editions in recent memory.
Saturday’s “Run for the Roses” brings together 150,000 fans, a $5 million purse and a celebrity guest list that reads like a mix of a music festival, a sports hall of fame induction and a Hollywood premiere all in one place.
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The Derby has been a fixture on the American social calendar since 1875 and remains one of the few events where high-fashion tradition and high-stakes gambling exist comfortably in the same space. The 1.25-mile race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds is the first leg of the American Triple Crown and the main attraction, but for a lot of the names showing up Saturday, the scene around the race is just as much the draw.
This year’s celebrity lineup at Churchill Downs is loaded across sports, music and entertainment, per WDRB.
2026 Kentucky Derby contender So Happy works during a morning training session during Kentucky Derby week at Churchill Downs.Matt Stone/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Athletes and Sports Figures at Kentucky Derby 152
The sports world is well represented this year. NFL players making the trip include Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals, Patrick Surtain II of the Denver Broncos, Trevor Lawrence of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Trey Hendrickson and Zay Flowers of the Baltimore Ravens, Puka Nacua of the Los Angeles Rams and Ray Davis of the Buffalo Bills. Jeffrey Simmons of the Tennessee Titans is also on the list.
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On the NBA side, Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic is attending. Former NBA forward Zach Randolph and former WNBA star Lisa Leslie will also be there, along with former NFL quarterback Warren Moon. UFC CEO Dana White and PGA Tour golfer Sergio Garcia round out the sports contingent.
Louisville head football coach Jeff Brohm is expected on the grounds as well. ESPN analyst Harry Douglas and SportsCenter anchor Michael Eaves represent the media side of the sports world.
Horse racing royalty will be present too, with former Triple Crown winner Jean Cruguet, Kentucky Derby winner Michael Manganello and legendary jockeys Sandy Hawley and Kaoru Tsuchiya Hawley all attending.
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Musicians and Entertainers at the 2026 Kentucky Derby
The music lineup is just as deep. Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan, Randy Travis, Richie Sambora, Tanya Tucker and Lorrie Morgan headline the group. Luis Fonsi, Lance Bass, Joey Fatone, Howie Dorough, Billy Gilman, Nate Smith, Dalton Davis, Phillip Phillips, John Elefante and Elliot Lurie are also on the list.
Quavo, T.I., Doug E. Fresh, the Sugarhill Gang and Nappy Roots bring the hip-hop presence. The War and Treaty, The Crashers, Nat Myers, Skip Martin, Orianthi, Dasha and Johnny Edwards round out the musical acts.
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On the entertainment and acting side, Gina Torres, Melissa Joan Hart, Danica McKellar, Odette Annable, Andrew Walker, Bonnie-Jill Laflin, Amanda Christine, Forrie J. Smith and John Schneider are all expected. Comedian Brian Quinn and comedian Holly Lynnea will also be there alongside journalist Andrea Canning, TV personality Bob Guiney, author Nora Roberts, author Rob Angel and Miss America 2026 Cassie Donegan.
Influencers Griffin Johnson and The McFarlands are attending, along with wrestler Aron Haddad, neurosurgeon Dr. Ajmal Zemmar, producer Vince Emmett, former Miss America Heather French Henry, Larry Birkhead and Dannielynn Birkhead and compassion ambassador Ethan the Dog.
The Derby pulls names from every corner of the entertainment and sports world and puts them all in one place on one afternoon. With a field of elite three-year-olds set to break from the gate Saturday, the 152nd running has everything in place for another memorable day at Churchill Downs.
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Related: 2026 Kentucky Derby Post Positions: Full List of Derby Horses, Jockeys, and Trainers for Saturday
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on May 2, 2026, where it first appeared in the Racing section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.