The Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event is April 22-25, 2027, at the Kentucky Horse Park. Grounds tickets from $21; kids 12 and under free with an adult.
Last checked Oct. 16, 2026. Facts come from the organizer’s event site, tickets page, ticketing essentials, FAQ and dog rules. This page is updated each year at the same address.
The Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event returns to the Kentucky Horse Park from Thursday, April 22, through Sunday, April 25, 2027. It is one of the world’s top five-star eventing competitions and is held every year on the last weekend in April, according to the organizer. Tickets for 2027 are on sale now at early-bird prices. Box office: 859-254-8123.
Know before you go
- When: Thursday, April 22, to Sunday, April 25, 2027
- Where: Kentucky Horse Park, 4089 Iron Works Parkway. General parking is in a separate lot: follow the signs.
- Tickets: grounds admission from $21 a day at early-bird prices through Dec. 3; buy online
- Kids: 12 and under free grounds admission with an adult ticket
- Parking: general parking included with every grounds ticket
- Organizer: Equestrian Events Inc., box office 859-254-8123
What happens each day
The event tests the same horse and rider in three phases over four days. A separate international show jumping competition, the Kentucky International CSI5*, runs alongside it. From the organizer’s day-by-day guide:
| Day | What’s on | Tickets you need |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, April 22 | First day of dressage in Rolex Stadium; first Kentucky International CSI5* class | Grounds admission plus a reserved stadium seat |
| Friday, April 23 | Final day of dressage; second CSI5* class | Grounds admission plus a reserved stadium seat |
| Saturday, April 24 | Cross-country across the park; CSI5* Grand Prix under the lights in Rolex Stadium | Grounds admission only for cross-country; a reserved seat for the Grand Prix |
| Sunday, April 25 | Final horse inspection, then show jumping and the 2027 champion crowned | Grounds admission; a reserved seat for show jumping |
Saturday’s cross-country is the one phase you can watch with a grounds ticket alone. You watch from just outside the galloping lanes or from a tailgate spot. Stadium seats for the CSI5* classes are sold separately from dressage and show jumping seats.
The 2026 event was April 23-26, and its results are on the organizer’s site.
Tickets and prices
Prices rise in three steps, the tickets page says: early-bird pricing from Sept. 22 to Dec. 3, advance pricing from Dec. 4 to March 4, and event pricing from March 5 to April 25. Early-bird “from” prices for 2027:
| Ticket | From |
|---|---|
| Thursday or Friday grounds admission | $21 |
| Saturday grounds admission | $42 |
| Sunday grounds admission | $38 |
| 3-day grounds package | $98 |
| 4-day grounds package | $100 |
| Reserved seat, Thursday or Friday dressage | $21 |
| Reserved seat, Sunday show jumping | $25 |
| Reserved seat, Kentucky International CSI5* | $10 |
The 2-day grounds package is sold out. Hospitality tents run from $350 (Kentucky Club) to $2,500 (Five Star Club), and Saturday tailgating spots start at $450.
- Children 12 and under get free grounds admission with an adult ticket.
- Tickets are emailed by Etix and can be scanned from your phone. Print-at-home tickets are ready about four weeks before the event.
- There are no refunds or replacements, including for unused tickets, the FAQ says.
- Disabled seating is in Row N of the lower tier of the Park Grandstand and must be ordered through the box office at 859-254-8123.
Parking and getting around
- General parking is included with every grounds ticket; no pass is needed. Enter through the Kentucky Horse Park Campground entrance. If you put the park’s street address into your phone, you will still be sent to a different lot, so follow the signs as you get close.
- Preferred and premium parking are paid upgrades, from $245, entered through the main park entrance.
- Shuttles: free spectator shuttles run through the event.
- Scooters and carts: mobility scooters are welcome. Golf carts, ATVs, motorcycles, mopeds, e-bikes and Segways are not allowed on the grounds and cannot be rented.
Dogs, kids and what to know
- Dogs are welcome on a leash at all times. They are not allowed in Rolex Stadium, Alltech Arena, any grandstand, the hospitality tents, museums, the theater or restaurants at the park. Bring water and waste bags; there is no vet on site. Do not leave a dog in a car: event security and the Lexington Humane Society will remove distressed dogs from vehicles, the dog rules say.
- Doggie daycare: the Lexington Humane Society runs an on-site daycare from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., first come, first served, for about 50 dogs at a time. It costs $15 an hour, up to $60 a day, and needs proof of rabies, DHPP and Bordetella shots.
- Crowds: the organizer puts attendance at nearly 90,000.
- Shopping and food: the Sponsor Village and Trade Fair and food vendors are open every day.
- Hotels: the organizer says to book immediately, because spring racing at Keeneland and conventions fill rooms the same weekend. The park campground books through Reserve America or 888-459-7275.
- Watching from home: the competition streams on the USEF Network.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2027? Thursday, April 22, through Sunday, April 25, 2027, at the Kentucky Horse Park. Dressage is Thursday and Friday, cross-country Saturday and show jumping Sunday.
How much are Kentucky Three-Day Event tickets? At early-bird prices, which run through Dec. 3, single-day grounds admission starts at $21 for Thursday or Friday, $42 for Saturday and $38 for Sunday. Dressage and show jumping in Rolex Stadium need a reserved seat as well.
Do kids get in free to the Kentucky Three-Day Event? Yes. Children 12 and under get free grounds admission with an adult ticket, the organizer says.
Can I bring my dog to the Kentucky Three-Day Event? Yes, on a leash at all times. Dogs are not allowed in Rolex Stadium, Alltech Arena, any grandstand, hospitality tents, museums, the theater or restaurants at the park.
Where do you park for the Kentucky Three-Day Event? General parking is included with every grounds ticket. Enter through the Kentucky Horse Park Campground entrance and follow the signs; free shuttles run during the event.
What this means for you
- Buy before Dec. 3 for the lowest prices; they go up twice before April.
- For a first visit, Saturday’s cross-country needs only a grounds ticket.
- Book a hotel now: the event shares the weekend with the end of Keeneland’s spring meet. See our Keeneland race meets guide.
Related: parks and trails, things to do in Lexington this month and dog-friendly Lexington.
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