The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule is set in stone, as the sanctioning body officially released next year’s race dates last month.
The schedule features some of the most intriguing changes and additions in recent memory, ranging from brand-new facilities to old-time revivals and everything in-between.
2026 NASCAR Cup Series Schedule Full Dates List & Changes Breakdown
NASCAR Championship Races Return To Homestead
For the first time since 2019, each of NASCAR’s top three series will end their seasons at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The 1.5-mile Florida track hosted the year’s final race from 2002 through 2019 before moving to Phoenix for the last six years.
Though the playoff format has not been officially finalized, it’s expected that the Homestead races will crown the victor of the Championship 4 and the series’ champions as a result.
NASCAR All-Star Race Heads to Dover
NASCAR’s million-dollar marquee event will take place at Dover Motor Speedway for the first time in 2026. Delaware’s “Monster Mile” will host the All-Star Race in lieu of a points event.
It’s expected that the race will take place during the day as Dover does not have at-track lights.
Dover will be the sixth different track to host the All-Star Race. Charlotte, Atlanta, Bristol, Texas and North Wilkesboro have previously hosted the non-points event.
North Wilkesboro Speedway Gets a Points Race
After returning to host the All-Star Race each of the last three years, North Wilkesboro Speedway will run a Cup Series points event on July 19. The 0.625-mile oval hosted 93 points races from 1949 through 1996 before being taken off the schedule and all but left for dead.
Efforts led by Dale Earnhardt Jr. to clean the track to be scanned for iRacing snowballed into a full track reopening and resurfacing, earning its first points race in three decades.
Street Racing Heads to San Diego
NASCAR has kept a street race on its schedule for 2026, taking place at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego. Each of the top three series will race a road course on the base over the weekend of June 21. The event not only marks NASCAR’s return to the Southern California market but also helps to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Navy and the nation as a whole.
The track layout and format are currently under development, but it’s estimated that a lap will be approximately three miles long.
Chicagoland Speedway’s Triumphant Return
The Chicago Street Race is off the schedule next year, but the greater Chicago area will still feature a Cup Series race. Chicagoland Speedway, which hosted events from 2001 through 2019, will take over the Fourth of July weekend events.
The 1.5-mile oval will require some updating as the track has largely sat dormant since NASCAR left. Comparable tracks have put on some of the Cup Series’ most entertaining racing in the Next-Gen era (2022-present), only adding to the excitement of the track’s return.
Other Notable Schedule Changes for 2026
With Homestead returning to the playoffs, New Hampshire’s date moves out of the playoffs. The “Magic Mile” will be the penultimate regular-season race on Aug. 23.
Watkins Glen, which hosted a playoff race in 2024, moves to Mother’s Day weekend for 2026. It’s the earliest a Watkins Glen Cup race has taken place in history, and only the third time in track history its race will not be in August.
The Cup Series will have two off weekends again next year as well. Easter Sunday – April 5 – (which was often an off weekend in the past) and Aug. 2, the week after the Brickyard 400, will not feature a Cup Series race.
2026 NASCAR Cup Series Schedule Full Dates List
Sunday, Feb. 1: Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium*
Sunday, Feb. 15: Daytona 500
Sunday, Feb. 22: Atlanta/EchoPark
Sunday, March 1: Circuit of the Americas
Sunday, March 8: Phoenix
Sunday, March 15: Las Vegas
Sunday, March 22: Darlington
Sunday, March 29: Martinsville
Sunday, April 5: Off weekend (Easter Sunday)
Sunday, April 12: Bristol
Sunday, April 19: Kansas
Sunday, April 26: Talladega
Sunday, May 3: Texas
Sunday, May 10: Watkins Glen
Sunday, May 17: NASCAR All-Star Race @ Dover*
Sunday, May 24: Coca-Cola 600 @ Charlotte
Sunday, May 31: Nashville
Sunday, June 7: Michigan
Sunday, June 14: Pocono
Sunday, June 21: San Diego Street Race @ Naval Base Coronado
Sunday, June 28: Sonoma
Sunday, July 5: Chicagoland
Sunday, July 12: Atlanta/EchoPark II
Sunday, July 19: North Wilkesboro
Sunday, July 26: Brickyard 400 @ Indianapolis
Sunday, Aug. 2: Off weekend
Sunday, Aug. 9: Iowa
Saturday, Aug. 15: Richmond
Sunday, Aug. 23: New Hampshire
Saturday, Aug. 29: Daytona II (Regular Season Finale)
Sunday, Sept. 6: Darlington II
Sunday, Sept. 13: World Wide Technology Raceway @ Gateway
Saturday, Sept. 19: Bristol II
Sunday, Sept. 27: Kansas II
Sunday, Oct. 4: Las Vegas II
Sunday, Oct. 11: Charlotte Roval
Sunday, Oct. 18: Phoenix II
Sunday, Oct. 25: Talladega II
Sunday, Nov. 1: Martinsville II
Sunday, 11/8: Homestead-Miami (Championship Race)
*Denotes Non-Points Event
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