breeders cup Justify (1), with jockey Mike Smith up, crosses the finish line to win the 150th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race and the Triple Crown, Saturday, June 9, 2018, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Breeders’ Cup Limited has released the full television schedule for the 2026 Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win & You’re In, confirming six live broadcasts across NBC,FOX, and Peacock. The series once again anchors the road to the Cup World Championships, offering automatic qualifying berths through major races held at elite racetracks worldwide.
The 2026 season marks the 20th year of the Challenge Series, now expanded to 95 races across 14 countries and five continents. Horses from around the globe will compete for entry into the 43rd Breeders’ Cup World Championships, set for Oct. 30–31, 2026, at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky.
Drew Fleming, President and CEO of Breeders’ Cup Limited, emphasized the global reach and fan engagement the series continues to build, noting that partnerships with NBC and FOX remain central to elevating the sport’s biggest qualifying events. NBC will stream all of its Challenge Series coverage on Peacock, NBCSports.com, and the NBC Sports app, while also continuing its long‑term role as broadcaster of the World Championships.
The 2026 broadcast slate opens with a new international component: four consecutive days of Challenge Series programming from Royal Ascot on Peacock, June 16–19, followed by a three‑hour NBC and Peacock broadcast on June 20. Featured qualifiers include the King Charles III Stakes for the Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, the Queen Anne Stakes for the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile, the Prince of Wales’s Stakes for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf, and the Norfolk Stakes for the Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.
Coverage resumes July 18 with the Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park, a key qualifier for the $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic. On Aug. 8, FOX will air the Fourstardave Stakes and Whitney Stakes from Saratoga, both major Win & You’re In events for the Mile and Classic divisions.
Breeders’ Cup on NBC Returns
NBC and Peacock return Sept. 5 with a two‑hour broadcast featuring the Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint and Kentucky Turf Cup, both critical turf‑division qualifiers. The series concludes Oct. 3 at Keeneland with live coverage of the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity, the Coolmore Turf Mile, and the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes, each awarding automatic berths into their respective Breeders’ Cup divisions.
FanDuel TV will continue to televise the majority of Challenge Series races throughout the season, offering expanded coverage leading up to the World Championships. FanDuel remains the Official ADW, Sports Wagering, Fantasy Sports, and Mobile Casino Partner of the Breeders’ Cup, as well as title partner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Breeders’ Cup Mile.
In 2025, 46 Challenge Series winners advanced to the World Championships at Del Mar, with three capturing their divisions: Forever Young in the Longines Classic, Notable Speech in the Mile, and Ted Noffey in the Juvenile. The full 2026 Challenge Series schedule is available at BreedersCup.com/races/challenge-series.
