New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and the New York Racing Association announced June 13 that the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will return to historic Saratoga Race Course in June 2026 for a third year to allow for the on-time and uninterrupted construction of a new Belmont Park.

The announcement makes the widely speculated plan official. The plan also calls for a return of the Belmont Stakes to its traditional home in 2027.

“New York is home to world class sports and entertainment and this final chapter of the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course honors our rich racing heritage while paving the way for a bold, new future at Belmont Park,” Hochul said. “Bringing the race back to Saratoga next year will once again expand the audience for this storied leg of the Triple Crown and ensure fans continue to enjoy the full experience.”

The announcement follows the recently concluded 2025 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga, highlighted by Sovereignty ‘s victory in the 157^th running of the Belmont.

The reimagined Belmont Park remains on schedule to open to the public in September 2026. While NYRA had previously left open the possibility of hosting a Belmont Stakes in a partially completed facility with a limited number of fans, the decision to return to Saratoga for the 2026 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will allow the event to be unhindered by various restrictions made necessary by ongoing construction.

World-class racing at the Spa. (Eclipse Sportswire)

The 2026 Belmont Stakes will be held June 6 and will again be contested at 1 ¼ miles, rather than the traditional 1 ½ miles due to the configuration of Saratoga’s main track.

In the coming weeks, Saratoga will serve as the home to a special July 4^th Racing Festival which is traditionally held at Belmont Park. The four-day event will take place July 3-6 and will serve as a prelude to the traditional 40-day Saratoga summer meet which gets underway July 10 and will continue through Labor Day, Sept. 1. New York State and the NYRA are currently redeveloping Belmont Park, with a $455 million capital construction project transforming the facility into a world-class racing and entertainment destination.

Last month, Hochul announced Belmont Park will host the Breeders’ Cup World Championships in 2027 for the first time in 20 years. It will be the fifth time New York will host the Breeders’ Cup after editions in 1990, 1995, 2001, and 2005. The Breeders’ Cup at Belmont Park will be Oct. 29-30, 2027.

“Saratoga has served our fans and stakeholders extremely well as the temporary home of the Belmont Stakes during the construction of a new Belmont Park on Long Island,” said New York Racing Association president and CEO Dave O’Rourke. “As we prepare for the opening of the new Belmont Park in the fall of 2026, NYRA is pleased to bring the Belmont Stakes to Saratoga for a third and final time next June. Belmont Park will always be the home of the Belmont Stakes and we look forward to its return to the newly reimagined Belmont in 2027.”

All race dates are pending approval by the New York State Gaming Commission. For more information, visit belmontstakes.com.