Preakness delivers biggest TV audience in five years
More than 7 million watched the race on NBC
The Biz
May 21, 2026
Saturday’s 151st running of the Preakness Stakes had limited on-track attendance. But that didn’t prevent it from generating its largest television audience in five years, according to an AP report.
NBC Sports reported Tuesday that the 2026 Preakness drew an average audience of 5.5 million viewers across NBC and Peacock, making it the race’s most-watched edition since 2021. Viewership peaked at 7.1 million during the running of the race itself, won by Napoleon Solo. NBC also noted that promotions during NBA and Major League Baseball broadcasts helped boost visibility for the event.
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The audience represented a 22% increase over last year despite the absence of Golden Tempo, the winner of this year’s Kentucky Derby, from the Preakness field. It also marked the third time in the past five years that the middle jewel of the Triple Crown was contested without the Derby winner and without the possibility of a Triple Crown sweep.
Earlier this month, NBC said the Kentucky Derby delivered its largest audience on record, averaging 19.6 million viewers and peaking at 24.4 million, according to preliminary Nielsen and Adobe Analytics figures.
This year’s Preakness was conducted before a limited-capacity crowd of approximately 4,800 spectators at Laurel Park while nearby Pimlico Race Course undergoes reconstruction.
The Triple Crown series concludes June 6 with the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.
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