NASCAR Unveils 2026 Cup Series Schedule: San Diego, Chicagoland, and Dover Enter the Mix
The 2026 NASCAR season promises big changes and excitement, with the introduction of new tracks and the return of classics. The recently announced schedule includes a street race in San Diego, the return of Chicagoland Speedway, and the relocation of the All-Star Race to Dover, Delaware.
The season will run from February to November, with two free weekends for the teams. The start will be with the Clash on February 1st at the Bowman-Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, followed by the Daytona 500 on February 15th.
The season finale will take place in Homestead, Florida, on November 8, marking the return to this circuit after it hosted the final for 18 consecutive years.
The return of Chicagoland, after a six-year absence, is one of the most outstanding novelties. The track is located in Joliet, Illinois, and replaces the temporary street circuit of Chicago.
The race in San Diego will take place on a military base in Coronado.
To accommodate Chicagoland and San Diego, NASCAR has decided to drop the Chicago street race and will not return to Mexico City, due to the World Cup.
Additionally, Watkins Glen in New York will move to the Mother’s Day weekend dates. The All-Star Race will move from North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, to Dover, allowing North Wilkesboro to be a Cup points race. New Hampshire will lose its playoff race and become the penultimate race of the regular season.
The 2026 season will have two free weekends, unlike only one in the current season, which ends with 28 consecutive races.
2026 NASCAR Cup Series Schedule:
- February 1 – Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium
- February 15 – Daytona 500
- February 22 – Atlanta
- March 1 – Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas
- March 8 – Phoenix
- March 15 – Las Vegas
- March 22 – Darlington, South Carolina
- March 29 – Martinsville, Virginia
- April 5 – Free weekend
- April 12 – Bristol, Tennessee
- April 19 – Kansas
- April 26 – Talladega, Alabama
- May 3 – Texas
- May 10 – Watkins Glen
- May 17 – All-Star Race (Dover)
- May 24 – Coca-Cola 600 (Charlotte)
- May 31 – Nashville, Tennessee
- June 7 – Michigan
- June 14 – Pocono in Long Pond, Pennsylvania
- June 21 – San Diego
- June 28 – Sonoma, California
- July 5 – Chicagoland
- July 12 – Atlanta
- July 19 – North Wilkesboro
- July 26 – Brickyard 400 (Indianapolis)
- August 2 – Free weekend
- August 9 – Iowa
- August 15 – Richmond, Virginia
- August 23 – New Hampshire
- August 29 – Daytona, Florida
- September 6 – Darlington
- September 13 – Gateway in Madison, Illinois
- September 19 – Bristol
- September 27 – Kansas
- October 4 – Las Vegas
- October 11 – Charlotte Roval
- October 18 – Phoenix
- October 25 – Talladega
- November 1 – Martinsville
- November 8 – Homestead
