2026 NASCAR Calendar: Full Season Overview Across All Three National Series
The 2026 NASCAR calendar is shaping up to be one of the most exciting and tightly packed seasons in recent memory, with action spread across three premier national championships. In this guide, we will be covering the NASCAR Cup Series, the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (formerly the Xfinity Series), and the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.
From iconic oval tracks to challenging road courses, the 2026 NASCAR calendar highlights the full breadth of American stock car racing. Each series brings its own competitive flavour, driver rivalries, and championship battles, making the season essential viewing for both long-time fans and newcomers following NASCAR from South Africa and beyond.
2026 NASCAR Calendar: NASCAR Cup Series
The 2026 NASCAR calendar for the NASCAR Cup Series delivers a full-spectrum season that blends tradition with modern flair. From legendary superspeedways and short tracks to road courses and street racing, the Cup Series remains the headline act of the 2026 NASCAR calendar, showcasing the sport’s biggest stars and most prestigious events.
As the top tier of American stock car racing, the NASCAR Cup Series anchors the 2026 NASCAR calendar with a demanding schedule that tests drivers across every discipline. With iconic races like the DAYTONA 500, Coca-Cola 600, and the Championship Race, the season builds steadily toward a high-stakes playoff finale.
2026 NASCAR Cup Series Calendar
| Date | Race | Circuit |
|---|---|---|
| FEB 1, 2026 | Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray | Bowman Gray Stadium |
| FEB 12, 2026 | Duel 1 at DAYTONA | Daytona International Speedway |
| FEB 12, 2026 | Duel 2 at DAYTONA | Daytona International Speedway |
| FEB 15, 2026 | DAYTONA 500 | Daytona International Speedway |
| FEB 22, 2026 | Autotrader 400 | Atlanta Motor Speedway |
| MAR 1, 2026 | NASCAR Cup Series Race at COTA | Circuit of the Americas |
| MAR 8, 2026 | NASCAR Cup Series Race at Phoenix | Phoenix Raceway |
| MAR 15, 2026 | Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube | Las Vegas Motor Speedway |
| MAR 22, 2026 | Goodyear 400 | Darlington Raceway |
| MAR 29, 2026 | Cook Out 400 | Martinsville Speedway |
| APR 12, 2026 | Food City 500 | Bristol Motor Speedway |
| APR 19, 2026 | AdventHealth 400 | Kansas Speedway |
| APR 26, 2026 | Jack Link’s 500 | Talladega Superspeedway |
| MAY 3, 2026 | Würth 400 presented by LIQUI MOLY | Texas Motor Speedway |
| MAY 10, 2026 | Go Bowling at The Glen | Watkins Glen International |
| MAY 17, 2026 | NASCAR All-Star Race | Dover Motor Speedway |
| MAY 24, 2026 | Coca-Cola 600 | Charlotte Motor Speedway |
| MAY 31, 2026 | Cracker Barrel 400 | Nashville Superspeedway |
| JUN 7, 2026 | Firekeepers Casino 400 | Michigan International Speedway |
| JUN 14, 2026 | NASCAR Cup Series Race at Pocono | Pocono Raceway |
| JUN 21, 2026 | Anduril 250 | San Diego Street Course |
| JUN 28, 2026 | Toyota / Save Mart 350 | Sonoma Raceway |
| JUL 5, 2026 | NASCAR Cup Series Race at Chicagoland | Chicagoland Speedway |
| JUL 12, 2026 | Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart | Atlanta Motor Speedway |
| JUL 19, 2026 | Window World 400 | North Wilkesboro Speedway |
| JUL 26, 2026 | Brickyard 400 | Indianapolis Motor Speedway |
| AUG 9, 2026 | Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol | Iowa Speedway |
| AUG 15, 2026 | Cook Out 400 | Richmond Raceway |
| AUG 23, 2026 | NASCAR Cup Series Race at New Hampshire | New Hampshire Motor Speedway |
| AUG 29, 2026 | Coke Zero Sugar 400 | Daytona International Speedway |
| SEP 6, 2026 | Cook Out Southern 500 | Darlington Raceway |
| SEP 13, 2026 | NASCAR Cup Series Race at World Wide Technology Raceway | World Wide Technology Raceway |
| SEP 19, 2026 | Bass Pro Shops Night Race | Bristol Motor Speedway |
| SEP 27, 2026 | Hollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN Bet | Kansas Speedway |
| OCT 4, 2026 | South Point 400 | Las Vegas Motor Speedway |
| OCT 11, 2026 | Bank of America ROVAL 400 | Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course |
| OCT 18, 2026 | NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Race at Phoenix | Phoenix Raceway |
| OCT 25, 2026 | YellaWood 500 | Talladega Superspeedway |
| NOV 1, 2026 | Xfinity 500 | Martinsville Speedway |
| NOV 8, 2026 | NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race | Homestead-Miami Speedway |
What to expect
The 2026 NASCAR calendar places a strong emphasis on variety and competitive balance in the Cup Series. Superspeedways like Daytona and Talladega continue to deliver unpredictable pack racing, while short tracks such as Martinsville and Bristol demand precision and patience.
Road and street courses remain a key feature of the 2026 NASCAR calendar, with stops at COTA, Watkins Glen, Sonoma, the Charlotte ROVAL, and the San Diego Street Course challenging teams to adapt beyond traditional oval racing. Combined with a familiar but refined playoff structure, the Cup Series season promises sustained drama from the opening green flag to the championship finale.
2026 NASCAR Calendar: NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series
The 2026 NASCAR calendar for the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series continues to play a vital role in developing future NASCAR stars while delivering some of the most competitive racing of the season. Formerly known as the Xfinity Series, this championship blends experienced veterans with rising talent, often producing unpredictable and aggressive on-track battles.
As part of the wider 2026 NASCAR calendar, the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series closely follows the Cup Series at many iconic venues, giving fans a full weekend of racing action and drivers valuable experience on NASCAR’s biggest stages.
2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Calendar
| Date | Race | Circuit |
|---|---|---|
| FEB 14, 2026 | United Rentals 300 | Daytona International Speedway |
| FEB 21, 2026 | Bennett Transportation 250 & Fr8 208 Doubleheader | EchoPark Speedway |
| FEB 28, 2026 | Focused Health 250 | Circuit of the Americas |
| MAR 7, 2026 | GOVX 200 (Doubleheader with IndyCar) | Phoenix Raceway |
| MAR 14, 2026 | The LiUNA | Las Vegas Motor Speedway |
| MAR 21, 2026 | NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Race | Darlington Raceway |
| MAR 28, 2026 | NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Race | Martinsville Speedway |
| APR 11, 2026 | NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Race | Bristol Motor Speedway |
| APR 18, 2026 | Kansas Lottery 300 | Kansas Speedway |
| MAY 2, 2026 | Andy’s Frozen Custard 340 | Texas Motor Speedway |
| MAY 16, 2026 | BetRivers 200 | Dover Motor Speedway |
| MAY 23, 2026 | NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Race | Charlotte Motor Speedway |
| MAY 30, 2026 | NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Race | Nashville Superspeedway |
| JUN 27, 2026 | NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Race | Sonoma Raceway |
| JUL 4, 2026 | NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Race | Chicagoland Speedway |
| JUL 11, 2026 | Focused Health 250 | EchoPark Speedway |
| AUG 8, 2026 | HyVee Perks 250 | Iowa Speedway |
| AUG 28, 2026 | Wawa 250 powered by Coca-Cola | Daytona International Speedway |
| SEP 5, 2026 | NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Race | Darlington Raceway |
| SEP 18, 2026 | Food City 300 | Bristol Motor Speedway |
| OCT 3, 2026 | Focused Health 302 | Las Vegas Motor Speedway |
| OCT 10, 2026 | Blue Cross NC 250 | Charlotte Motor Speedway |
| NOV 7, 2026 | NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Championship | Homestead-Miami Speedway |
What to expect
The 2026 NASCAR calendar positions the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series as one of the most entertaining and unpredictable championships in American motorsport. Short tracks like Martinsville and Bristol reward aggressive driving, while superspeedway races at Daytona regularly produce dramatic finishes and surprise winners.
Road courses such as COTA and Sonoma add technical variety to the 2026 NASCAR calendar, testing driver adaptability and strategy. With a championship finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the season is set to deliver high-pressure racing as emerging stars battle for titles, recognition, and promotion to the NASCAR Cup Series.
2026 NASCAR Calendar: NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series
The 2026 NASCAR calendar rounds out its national triple-header with the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, a championship known for hard racing, bold strategies, and young talents fighting for their breakthrough moment. In many ways, this is the most unpredictable part of the 2026 NASCAR calendar, because the trucks reward aggression, momentum, and clean execution, especially on short tracks and superspeedways.
As part of the wider 2026 NASCAR calendar, the Truck Series also delivers serious variety, from Daytona’s pack racing to street and road course experimentation, plus a playoff run that turns up the pressure all the way to the Homestead finale.
2026 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series
| Date | Race | Circuit |
|---|---|---|
| FEB 13, 2026 | Fresh From Florida 250 | Daytona International Speedway |
| FEB 21, 2026 | Fr8 Racing 208 | EchoPark Speedway |
| FEB 28, 2026 | NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race at St. Petersburg | Grand Prix of St. Petersburg |
| MAR 20, 2026 | NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race at Darlington | Darlington Raceway |
| APR 3, 2026 | Black’s Tire 200 | Rockingham Speedway |
| APR 10, 2026 | Tennessee Army National Guard 250 | Bristol Motor Speedway |
| MAY 1, 2026 | SpeedyCash.com 250 | Texas Motor Speedway |
| MAY 8, 2026 | NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race at Watkins Glen | Watkins Glen International |
| MAY 15, 2026 | ECOSAVE 200 | Dover Motor Speedway |
| MAY 22, 2026 | North Carolina Education Lottery 200 | Charlotte Motor Speedway |
| MAY 29, 2026 | Flote 200 | Nashville Superspeedway |
| JUN 6, 2026 | NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race at Michigan | Michigan International Speedway |
| JUN 19, 2026 | NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race at San Diego | Naval Base Coronado |
| JUL 11, 2026 | NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Lime Rock | Lime Rock Park |
| JUL 18, 2026 | Window World 250 | North Wilkesboro Speedway |
| JUL 24, 2026 | NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race at IRP | Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park |
| AUG 14, 2026 | NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race at Richmond | Richmond Raceway |
| AUG 22, 2026 | Team EJP 175 | New Hampshire Motor Speedway |
| SEP 17, 2026 | UNOH 250 Presented by Ohio Logistics | Bristol Motor Speedway |
| SEP 26, 2026 | NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff Race at Kansas | Kansas Speedway |
| OCT 9, 2026 | NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff Race at Charlotte ROVAL | Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval |
| OCT 16, 2026 | NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff Race at Phoenix | Phoenix Raceway |
| OCT 23, 2026 | NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff Race at Talladega | Talladega Superspeedway |
| OCT 30, 2026 | NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff Race at Martinsville | Martinsville Speedway |
| NOV 6, 2026 | NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Championship Race | Homestead-Miami Speedway |
What to expect
The 2026 NASCAR calendar gives the Truck Series a season with serious character. Superspeedway races like Daytona bring chaos and big moments, while short tracks such as Bristol, Richmond, North Wilkesboro, IRP, and Martinsville demand confidence under pressure, with tight margins and constant traffic.
What really stands out in this part of the 2026 NASCAR calendar is the mix of formats. You have road and street course challenges like Watkins Glen, Lime Rock, and St. Petersburg, plus unique venues such as Naval Base Coronado in San Diego, which adds an entirely different strategic layer.
Once the playoffs arrive, the 2026 NASCAR calendar turns the intensity up again, with Kansas, the Charlotte ROVAL, Phoenix, Talladega, and Martinsville setting up a finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, where the season’s most consistent and most clutch drivers will battle for the championship.
How to watch NASCAR in South Africa
Fans following the 2026 NASCAR calendar in South Africa have several reliable options to catch the action across all three national series.
DStv SuperSport is the primary broadcast partner and usually airs NASCAR races on channel 215. However, live coverage may occasionally move to another SuperSport channel when Formula 1 or other major motorsport events are scheduled at the same time, so it is always worth checking the latest TV guide.
For digital viewers, the official NASCAR website provides race schedules, highlights, and selected live coverage depending on regional availability. NASCAR’s official YouTube channels also offer race highlights, extended clips, and behind-the-scenes content, making them a great option for fans who want to stay up to date if they miss the live broadcast.
Get Ready for NASCAR Action!
The 2026 NASCAR calendar delivers wall-to-wall racing across the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, offering something for every type of motorsport fan. From legendary superspeedways and historic short tracks to road courses and street circuits, the season promises high-intensity battles from February through November.
For South African fans, easy access via DStv SuperSport and official NASCAR digital platforms means following the full 2026 NASCAR calendar has never been more convenient. Whether you are tracking championship contenders, rising stars, or simply enjoying the spectacle of stock car racing, the 2026 season is set to deliver unforgettable moments from the green flag to the final chequered flag.
