The following is a list of events of the year 2026 in Kentucky.
Events
- January 1 – A Wolfe County woman is charged with fetal homicide for allegedly inducing her own abortion using abortion pills.[1]
- March 24 – A judge sentences former governor Matt Bevin to 60 days in jail after finding him in contempt of court for failing to disclose financial details. The trial is tied to accusations by Bevin's 19-year-old adopted son, who alleged that his adoptive parents abandoned him.[2]
- April 30 – A bank robber kills two employees of a U.S. Bank in Berea. An 18-year-old man is arrested.[3]
- May 2 – The 2026 Kentucky Derby, the 152nd Kentucky Derby, takes place at the Churchill Downs racetrack in Louisville. Golden Tempo wins the race; his trainer Cherie DeVaux is the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby.[4][5]
- May 11 – the Kentucky's 4th congressional district republican primary (between Thomas Massie and Ed Gallrein) becomes the most expensive U.S. House primary in American history, with over $25.6 million in ad spending beating the prior record of $25.2 million from the Democratic Primary for New York's 16th congressional district in 2024.[6] By May 17, ad spending exceeded $32 million, with pro-Israel interest groups accounting for over $9 million of the spending against Massie.[7]
- May 18 – The Lexington Fire Department reports that a house on Needlerush Drive in Lexington was damaged by a fire, displacing five people including a neighbor.[8][9][10]
- May 19 – Kentucky's 4th congressional district republican primary, Thomas Massie loses to Ed Gallrein.[11]
- June 13 – The Louisville Kings beat the DC Defenders 27–20 to win the 2026 United Bowl in the Kings' first season.[12]
- June 27 – Four people are killed by heavy flooding in Madison and Jackson Counties.[13]
- July 28 – Governor Beshear issues an ultimatum to Senator Mitch McConnell, who has been hospitalized since June 14, demanding McConnell prove he is able to serve or resign from office.[14]
- August 15 – A teenager is killed and four people injured in a shooting at a Lexington park during a community event.[15]
- August 20–30 - The Kentucky State Fair takes place in Louisville.[16]
References
- ↑ Sherman, Carter (January 2, 2026). "US woman charged with fetal homicide after allegedly inducing own abortion". The Guardian. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
- ↑ Yetter, Deborah (March 24, 2026). "Judge sentences ex-Gov. Bevin to jail that he can avoid by disclosing financial info". Kentucky Lantern. Retrieved August 28, 2026.
- ↑ Lovan, Dylan (May 1, 2026). "Kentucky man charged in deadly bank robbery after high-speed chase". The Associated Press. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
- ↑ Li, David K. (May 2, 2026). "Kentucky Derby 2026 live updates: Golden Tempo wins 152nd running with trainer Cherie Devaux". NBC News. Retrieved May 2, 2026.
- ↑ Olivia Evans; Matthew Glowicki (July 24, 2025). "Kentucky Oaks moves to prime time on NBC in 2026. Here's what to know". Retrieved October 11, 2025.
- ↑ Solender, Andrew (May 11, 2026). "Inside the wild $25 million fight to oust top GOP Trump critic Thomas Massie". Axios. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
- ↑ Kashinsky, Lisa (May 17, 2026). "Massie's primary is the most expensive in history. Pro-Israel groups have played a huge part". Politico.
- ↑ https://www.kentucky.com/news/local/article315794800.html
- ↑ https://www.wkyt.com/2026/05/18/five-displaced-following-lexington-house-fire/
- ↑ https://fox56news.com/news/local/lexington/5-displaced-including-neighbor-following-lexington-house-fire/
- ↑ Bedayn, Jesse; Lovan, Dylan (May 19, 2026). "US Rep. Thomas Massie loses Kentucky GOP primary to Ed Gallrein in another victory for Trump". The Associated Press. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
- ↑ Florio, Mike (June 13, 2026). "Louisville Kings cap first UFL season with championship". NBC Sports. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
- ↑ "4 dead amid flooding caused by heavy rains, Kentucky governor says". The Associated Press. June 27, 2026. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
- ↑ Kapur, Sahil; Thorp V, Frank; Khoriaty, Gabrielle (July 28, 2026). "Kentucky governor tells Mitch McConnell to prove he can serve or 'resign' from Senate". NBC News. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
- ↑ Bertucci, Leo; Cann, Christopher (August 17, 2026). "18-year-old arrested in mass shooting at park in Lexington, Kentucky". USA Today. Retrieved August 17, 2026.
- ↑ Powell, Curadhan (August 26, 2025). "Kentucky State Fair announces 2026 theme, celebrating America's 250th birthday". Retrieved October 11, 2025.
