Nine days earlier than last year, NASCAR has officially confirmed the 2026 schedule for all three of its national divisions, including the Cup Series. Next year will have several notable changes, including some new tracks, surprising date changes and a different look to the playoffs.
Officially, Mexico City and the Chicago Street Course have been removed from the calendar (as previously announced) with the new street race added at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego. There will be no international Cup races in 2026.
That means that there will be five road courses on the schedule, dropping from six. San Diego and Sonoma will run back-to-back, and shockingly, Watkins Glen has been moved out of the summer months and into early May for the very first time.
The loss of the Chicago Street Course has also opened the door for the return of a beloved intermediate track, as Chicagoland Speedway will host a Cup race for the first time since 2019. The race will take place on Fourth of July weekend.
Kyle Busch wins, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Photo by: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
After its improbable revival proved to be a success with the All-Star Race, legendary short track North Wilkesboro will host a points-paying Cup race for the first time since 1996. In a surprising twist, Dover Motor Speedway will lose its points race and will become the host track for the All-Star Race for the very first time. Dover has held a points-paying Cup race every year since 1969, but that will come to an end in 2026.
Darlington’s first of two races will move to March, which is the earliest we’ve seen a Cup race at the historic track in 21 years.Â
The playoffs will also have a different look as well. As revealed earlier this year, Homestead-Miami Speedway will make its return as the season finale for the first time since 2019. While the first round remains unchanged, Las Vegas moves from the Round of 8 to the Round of 12, making room for Phoenix’s new slot as the opening race of the Round of 8. New Hampshire has also moved back out of the playoffs, making room for Homestead’s return.
The 2025 schedule only featured one off-weekend and a stretch of 28 consecutive weeks with Cup racing, and while 2026 will still be a grueling season for all involved, NASCAR has added an additional off-week at the beginning of August.
Read Also:
Notable changes for the lower two divisions
The NASCAR Truck Series will team up with IndyCar’s season-opener at St. Pete, racing there for the very first time. As for the NASCAR Xfinity Series, which will soon be called the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Portland has been removed from the schedule.
As previously announced, all three divisions will be present in San Diego for a triple-header weekend. Additionally Truck Series won’t race at Las Vegas in 2026, while joining Cup and Xfinity for All-Star weekend at Dover.
Complete 2026 NASCAR Cup schedule
DATE
TRACK/RACE
IMPORTANT NOTES
February 1
Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium
Exhibition race
February 15
Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway
68th running of NASCAR’s most prestigious race
February 22
EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta)
Â
March 1
Circuit of the Americas
Â
March 8
Phoenix Raceway
Â
March 15
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Â
March 22
Darlington Raceway
Earliest Darlington Cup race in 21 years
March 29Â
Martinsville Speedway
Â
OFF-WEEK (Easter)
OFF-WEEK (Easter)
OFF-WEEK (Easter)
April 12
Bristol Motor Speedway
Â
April 19
Kansas Speedway
Â
April 26
Talladega Superspeedway
Â
May 3
Texas Motor Speedway
Â
May 10
Watkins Glen International
Earliest Cup race at WGI ever
May 17
All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway
Dover loses its points race, but will host this special event for the first time
May 24
Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway
NASCAR’s longest race and second crown jewel of the season
May 31
Nashville Superspeedway
Â
June 7
Michigan International Speedway
Â
June 14
Pocono Raceway
Â
June 21
San DiegoÂ
New street race, will be held on an active military base
June 28
Sonoma Raceway
Â
July 5
Chicagoland Speedway
Returns to the schedule for the first time since 2019
July 12
EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta)
Â
July 19
North Wilkesboro Speedway
First points-paying Cup race at NWS since 1996
July 26
Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Third crown jewel event of the season
OFF-WEEK
OFF-WEEK
OFF-WEEK
August 9
Iowa Speedway
Â
August 15
Richmond Raceway
Â
August 23
New Hampshire Motor Speedway
NHMS loses its playoff race for 2026
August 29
Daytona International Speedway
Final race of the regular season
PLAYOFFS BEGIN
PLAYOFFS BEGIN
PLAYOFFS BEGIN
September 6 [ROUND OF 16]
Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway
Fourth crown jewel of the year, and opens the playoffs
September 13 [ROUND OF 16]
WWT Raceway (Gateway)Â
Â
September 19 [ROUND OF 16]
Bristol Motor Speedway
The Round of 16 elimination race
September 27 [ROUND OF 12]
Kansas Speedway
Â
October 4 [ROUND OF 12]
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Moves from Ro8 to Ro12
October 11 [ROUND OF 12]
Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL
The Round of 12 elimination race
October 18 [ROUND OF 8]
Phoenix Raceway
Phoenix opens Ro8 after six years as the season finale
October 25 [ROUND OF 8]
Talladega Superspeedway
Â
November 1 [ROUND OF 8]
Martinsville Speedway
The Round of 8 elimination race
November 8 [CHAMPIONSHIP 4]
Homestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead returns as the title-decider for the first time since 2019
2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts (formerly Xfinity) Series schedule
DATE
TRACK/RACE
February 14
Daytona International Speedway
February 21
EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta)
February 28
Circuit of the Americas
March 7
Phoenix Raceway
March 14
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
March 21
Darlington Raceway
March 28Â
Martinsville Speedway
April 4
Rockingham Speedway
April 11
Bristol Motor Speedway
April 18
Kansas Speedway
April 25
Talladega Superspeedway
May 2
Texas Motor Speedway
May 9
Watkins Glen International
May 16
Dover Motor Speedway
May 23
Charlotte Motor Speedway
May 30
Nashville Superspeedway
June 13
Pocono Raceway
June 20
San DiegoÂ
June 27
Sonoma Raceway
July 4
Chicagoland Speedway
July 11
EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta)
July 25
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
August 8
Iowa Speedway
August 28
Daytona International Speedway
September 5
Darlington Raceway
September 12
WWT Raceway
PLAYOFFS BEGIN
PLAYOFFS BEGIN
September 18
Bristol Motor Speedway
October 3
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
October 10
Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL
October 17
Phoenix Raceway
October 24
Talladega Superspeedway
October 31
Martinsville Speedway
November 7
Homestead-Miami Speedway
2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series schedule
DATE
TRACK/RACE
February 13
Daytona International Speedway
February 21
EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta)
February 28
St. Petersburg
March 20
Darlington Raceway
April 3
Rockingham Speedway
April 10
Bristol Motor Speedway
May 1
Texas Motor Speedway
May 8
Watkins Glen International
May 15
Dover Motor Speedway
May 22
Charlotte Motor Speedway
May 29
Nashville Superspeedway
June 6
Michigan International Speedway
July 11
Lime Rock Park
July 18
North Wilkesboro Speedway
July 24
Indianapolis Raceway Park
August 14
Richmond Raceway
August 22
New Hampshire Motor Speedway
PLAYOFFS BEGIN
PLAYOFFS BEGIN
September 17
Bristol Motor Speedway
September 26
Kansas Speedway
October 9
Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL
October 16
Phoenix Raceway
October 23
Talladega Superspeedway
October 30
Martinsville Speedway
November 6
Homestead-Miami Speedway
In this article
Be the first to know and subscribe for real-time news email updates on these topics
Subscribe to news alerts