The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series calendar has officially dropped, arriving nine days earlier than last year’s announcement, and it’s packed with surprises. Fans will see fresh venues, familiar favourites returning, and a new look to the playoff stretch as the sport reshuffles its most important dates.
One of the biggest headlines is the debut of a brand-new street race at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego. The event replaces the Chicago Street Course, which has exited the calendar after a brief period. With Mexico City also absent, there will be no International Cup races in 2026.
The change reduces the number of road courses from six to five. Sonoma and the new San Diego race will run on back-to-back weekends.
Chicagoland Speedway makes a long-awaited return. The track last appeared in 2019 but has been reinstated to fill the gap left by Chicago’s street event.
Perhaps the most nostalgic move of all: North Wilkesboro Speedway. After hosting the All-Star Race in recent years, the historic short track will stage its first points-paying Cup event since 1996.
In contrast, Dover Motor Speedway loses its long-standing points race, ending a streak dating back to 1969. Instead, Dover will welcome the All-Star Race for the very first time.
The season officially opens February 1 with the Clash exhibition at Bowman Gray Stadium, followed two weeks later by the crown jewel, the Daytona 500 (February 15). Atlanta’s rebranded EchoPark Speedway hosts two early-season races (February and July).
Another standout adjustment sees Darlington Raceway’s spring race move up to March, the earliest trip to the South Carolina oval in more than two decades.
After a brutal 2025 campaign that saw just one break in the schedule, the 2026 season adds a second pause in early August, giving teams some relief. The regular season will again end at Daytona International Speedway (August 29), setting the stage for the playoffs.
The postseason has a fresh look. The Southern 500 at Darlington continues to open the playoffs, but the championship finale shifts to Homestead-Miami Speedway (November 8), marking the track’s first time back in the title-decider role since 2019.
Phoenix, which has served as the season-ending race since 2020, moves to the Round of 8 (October 18). That shuffle also sees Las Vegas slide into the Round of 12. Meanwhile, New Hampshire loses its playoff slot, though it remains on the regular-season schedule.
The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Schedule:
- Feb 1 – Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium (Exhibition)
- Feb 15 – Daytona 500, Daytona International Speedway
- Feb 22 – EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta)
- Mar 1 – Circuit of the Americas (Road Course)
- Mar 8 – Phoenix Raceway
- Mar 15 – Las Vegas Motor Speedway
- Mar 22 – Darlington Raceway
- Mar 29 – Martinsville Speedway
- Apr 12 – Bristol Motor Speedway
- Apr 19 – Kansas Speedway
- Apr 26 – Talladega Superspeedway
- May 3 – Texas Motor Speedway
- May 10 – Watkins Glen International (Road Course)
- May 17 – All-Star Race, Dover Motor Speedway
- May 24 – Coca-Cola 600, Charlotte Motor Speedway
- May 31 – Nashville Superspeedway
- Jun 7 – Michigan International Speedway
- Jun 14 – Pocono Raceway
- Jun 21 – San Diego (Street Race at Naval Base Coronado)
- Jun 28 – Sonoma Raceway (Road Course)
- Jul 5 – Chicagoland Speedway
- Jul 12 – EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta)
- Jul 19 – North Wilkesboro Speedway
- Jul 26 – Brickyard 400, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
- Aug 9 – Iowa Speedway
- Aug 15 – Richmond Raceway
- Aug 23 – New Hampshire Motor Speedway
- Aug 29 – Daytona International Speedway (Regular Season Finale)
Playoffs
- Sep 6 – Southern 500, Darlington Raceway
- Sep 13 – World Wide Technology Raceway (Gateway)
- Sep 19 – Bristol Motor Speedway (Round of 16 Cutoff)
- Sep 27 – Kansas Speedway
- Oct 4 – Las Vegas Motor Speedway
- Oct 11 – Charlotte ROVAL
- Oct 18 – Phoenix Raceway (Round of 8 Opener)
- Oct 25 – Talladega Superspeedway
- Nov 1 – Martinsville Speedway
- Nov 8 – Homestead-Miami Speedway (Championship Finale)
Header Image: Chris Graythen/Getty Images
