LEXINGTON, Ky. — Mayor Linda Gorton announced a week-long slate of community events as the prestigious Breeders' Cup World Championships returns to Keeneland Race Course on October 30-31, according to a statement from the Mayor's Office released on August 28.

The Breeders' Cup Festival, now in its established tenure as a citywide celebration, said in a release it has designed the programming to engage residents and visitors beyond race day. The festival said it is launching a new website to provide event details and logistical information for attendees.

Festival organizer Tom Harris said in the statement that programming will feature family-friendly activities alongside racing entertainment. "With the help of so many partners and sponsors, including four-time title sponsor Common Spirit, we've been able to craft quite a week of celebration," Harris said, noting that events are "meant to excite, educate, and entertain those visiting or living here in the heart of horse country."

The festival announced scheduled events including Purple in the Park on October 25 at Gatton Park, featuring horse meet-and-greets and live music; Breakfast at the Breeders' Cup training sessions from October 26-29 at Keeneland; a Tandy Park takeover featuring local artists; and a free watch party during championship races on October 30-31.

The 2026 World Championships will feature 14 Grade 1 races worth more than $34 million in purses, with broadcasting on NBC Sports and FanDuel TV. The event marks the fourth time Keeneland has hosted the championships.

Mayor Gorton said in the announcement that "no host city embraces the Breeders' Cup quite like Lexington does." The city's prior 2022 hosting of the event generated $81.8 million in economic impact, the second-highest in the Breeders' Cup's history.