SUPERCARS has confirmed a reduced free-to-air television offering for its 2026 season.

The Seven Network’s number of live events will drop from six to five, with the Darwin Triple Crown the omission, despite the overall calendar growing from 13 rounds to 14.

Seven’s live coverage will be for the Sydney season-opener, Townsville 500, Bathurst 1000, Gold Coast 500, and Adelaide Grand Final.

Network Ten’s coverage of the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix (where the Melbourne SuperSprint will be run in support) makes for a bonus free-to-air round, taking the total to six.

MORE: Full 2026 Repco Supercars Championship calendar

At roughly 43 percent (i.e. six of 14 rounds), Supercars says its live free-to-air component still exceeds other sporting codes such as the NRL and AFL.

Nevertheless, there is inevitable pressure to deliver value for subscription TV partner Fox Sports/Kayo given it accounts for roughly 84 percent of money in the new broadcast deal which takes effect from 2026.

Foxtel Group CEO Patrick Delany with James Warburton. Pic: Supplied

“It comes down to the streaming service needing exclusivity to drive subscriptions,” Supercars CEO James Warburton explained in June.

“It’s a blend and I think we have got the best blend that we possibly can get and we have the key races (on FTA).

“The only race on the anti-siphoning list is the Bathurst 1000. It’s the best we can do.

“We do understand that issue with the fans, but we virtually didn’t have a sport in those early (2010s) years until we got the broadcast rights and some of that signed away.”

2026 Supercars free-to-air TV events

Round 1: Sydney 500 – Seven
Round 2: Melbourne SuperSprint – Ten
Round 7: NTI Townsville 500 – Seven
Round 11: Repco Bathurst 1000 – Seven
Round 12: Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 – Seven
Round 14: bp Adelaide Grand Final – Seven

2026 Supercars events exclusive to subscription TV

Round 3: ITM Taupō Super440
Round 4: Christchurch Super440
Round 5: Tasmania Super440
Round 6: Betr Darwin Triple Crown
Round 8: Perth Super440
Round 9: Century Batteries Ipswich Super440
Round 10: AirTouch 500 at The Bend
Round 13: Penrite Oil Sandown 500