Introduction
The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series marks the sport’s 78th season of competition and brings some of the biggest structural changes in over a decade, including the return of the classic Chase playoff format and a revamped points system. With North Wilkesboro hosting its first points race since 1996 and a brand-new street course in San Diego, this season’s 36-race schedule offers plenty for fans to look forward to.
This guide covers the complete 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule, the season’s biggest rule changes, and what’s happened so far.
2026 Season Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Season | 78th NASCAR season / 55th modern Cup Series era |
| Season Opener | Daytona 500, February 15 |
| Season Finale | Homestead-Miami Speedway, November 8 |
| Total Points Races | 36 |
| Reigning Champion | Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports) |
| Playoff Format | Returning “Chase” format (top 16 drivers) |
| New Tracks | Coronado Street Course (San Diego), Chicagoland, North Wilkesboro (points race) |
Full 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Race Schedule
| # | Race | Track | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Cook Out Clash | Bowman Gray Stadium | Winston-Salem, NC | Feb 4 |
| 1 | Daytona 500 | Daytona International Speedway | Daytona Beach, FL | Feb 15 |
| 2 | Autotrader 400 | EchoPark Speedway | Hampton, GA | Feb 22 |
| 3 | DuraMAX Texas Grand Prix | Circuit of the Americas | Austin, TX | Mar 1 |
| 4 | Straight Talk Wireless 500 | Phoenix Raceway | Avondale, AZ | Mar 8 |
| 5 | Pennzoil 400 | Las Vegas Motor Speedway | Las Vegas, NV | Mar 15 |
| 6 | Goodyear 400 | Darlington Raceway | Darlington, SC | Mar 22 |
| 7 | Cook Out 400 | Martinsville Speedway | Ridgeway, VA | Mar 29 |
| 8 | Food City 500 | Bristol Motor Speedway | Bristol, TN | Apr 12 |
| 9 | AdventHealth 400 | Kansas Speedway | Kansas City, KS | Apr 19 |
| 10 | Jack Link’s 500 | Talladega Superspeedway | Lincoln, AL | Apr 26 |
| 11 | Würth 400 | Texas Motor Speedway | Fort Worth, TX | May 3 |
| 12 | Go Bowling at The Glen | Watkins Glen International | Watkins Glen, NY | May 10 |
| — | NASCAR All-Star Race | Dover Motor Speedway | Dover, DE | May 17 |
| 13 | Coca-Cola 600 | Charlotte Motor Speedway | Concord, NC | May 24 |
| 14 | Cracker Barrel 400 | Nashville Superspeedway | Lebanon, TN | May 31 |
| 15 | FireKeepers Casino 400 | Michigan International Speedway | Brooklyn, MI | Jun 7 |
| 16 | The Great American Getaway 400 | Pocono Raceway | Long Pond, PA | Jun 14 |
| 17 | Anduril 250 | Coronado Street Course | San Diego, CA | Jun 21 |
| 18 | Toyota/Save Mart 350 | Sonoma Raceway | Sonoma, CA | Jun 28 |
| 19 | TBA | Chicagoland Speedway | Joliet, IL | Jul 5 |
| 20 | Quaker State 400 | EchoPark Speedway | Hampton, GA | Jul 12 |
| 21 | Window World 450 | North Wilkesboro Speedway | North Wilkesboro, NC | Jul 19 |
| 22 | Brickyard 400 | Indianapolis Motor Speedway | Speedway, IN | Jul 26 |
| 23 | Iowa Corn 350 | Iowa Speedway | Newton, IA | Aug 9 |
| 24 | Cook Out 400 | Richmond Raceway | Richmond, VA | Aug 15 |
| 25 | Mobil 1 301 | New Hampshire Motor Speedway | Loudon, NH | Aug 23 |
| 26 | Coke Zero Sugar 400 | Daytona International Speedway | Daytona Beach, FL | Aug 29 |
| 27 | Cook Out Southern 500 | Darlington Raceway | Darlington, SC | Sep 6 |
| 28 | Enjoy Illinois 300 | World Wide Technology Raceway | Madison, IL | Sep 13 |
| 29 | Bass Pro Shops Night Race | Bristol Motor Speedway | Bristol, TN | Sep 19 |
| 30 | Hollywood Casino 400 | Kansas Speedway | Kansas City, KS | Sep 27 |
| 31 | South Point 400 | Las Vegas Motor Speedway | Las Vegas, NV | Oct 4 |
| 32 | Bank of America 400 | Charlotte Motor Speedway | Concord, NC | Oct 11 |
| 33 | Freeway Insurance 500 | Phoenix Raceway | Avondale, AZ | Oct 18 |
| 34 | YellaWood 500 | Talladega Superspeedway | Lincoln, AL | Oct 25 |
| 35 | Xfinity 500 | Martinsville Speedway | Ridgeway, VA | Nov 1 |
| 36 | Straight Talk Wireless 400 | Homestead-Miami Speedway | Homestead, FL | Nov 8 |
Race names and sponsors are subject to change; some 2026 title sponsors had not been finalized at publication.
Key Schedule Changes for 2026
North Wilkesboro Returns as a Points Race
North Wilkesboro Speedway hosts a Cup Series points race for the first time since 1996, following several years as the host of the non-points All-Star Race. 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Schedule to the race distance ahead of the season.
The All-Star Race Moves to Dover
With North Wilkesboro shifting to a points race, the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Schedule moved to Dover Motor Speedway, featuring a revamped race format announced ahead of the season.
Chicagoland Speedway Returns
Chicagoland Speedway rejoins the schedule for the first time since 2019, replacing the Chicago Street Course, which will not run in 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Schedule organizers hope to revive the event in future seasons.
A New Street Race in San Diego
The Cup Series returns to Southern California with the Anduril 250, a new street race held at Naval Base Coronado near San Diego. To accommodate this addition, the Mexico City race was dropped from the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Schedule due to a scheduling conflict with the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Charlotte’s Fall Race Returns to the Oval
After seven years as a road course event, the fall Charlotte Motor Speedway race moved away from the “Roval” layout back to the traditional oval configuration for 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Schedule.
Schedule Changes Table
| Change | Detail |
|---|---|
| North Wilkesboro | First Cup points race since 1996; 50 laps added |
| All-Star Race | Moved to Dover Motor Speedway with new format |
| Chicagoland | Returns to schedule for the first time since 2019 |
| San Diego | New Anduril 250 street race at Naval Base Coronado |
| Mexico City | Dropped due to conflict with the 2026 FIFA World Cup |
| Charlotte (Fall) | Returns to oval racing after 7 years on the Roval |
The Return of the Chase Format
One of the biggest storylines heading into 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Schedule return to “The Chase,” the playoff format last used from 2004 to 2013. Announced in January 2026, the new system replaces the previous multi-round elimination playoff structure.
How the New Format Works
- The top 16 drivers in points after 26 regular-season races qualify for the Chase
- The “win-and-you’re-in” automatic qualifying rule has been scrapped
- Starting points in the Chase are staggered based on regular-season standings
- Playoff points are no longer awarded
- Points for a race win increased from 40 to 55
This marks a significant philosophical shift back toward a season-long points emphasis, rather than the win-focused elimination brackets used in recent seasons.
Other Notable 2026 Rule Changes
- Increased horsepower: Engines increased from 670 to 750 horsepower at tracks under 1.5 miles and on road courses
- Short track package expansion: Bristol, Darlington, Dover, Nashville, New Hampshire, and St. Louis now run the short track package instead of the intermediate package
- Mandatory A-post flap: A safety feature designed to help prevent car flips is now mandatory for all races
- Evergreen charters: Following the resolution of the 23XI Racing lawsuit, all teams were offered new charters without expiration dates
- More lower-series starts allowed: Full-time Cup drivers can now run up to 10 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races and 8 Craftsman Truck Series races, up from 5 in each series previously
How the Season Has Started
The 2026 season got off to a dramatic start. The season-opening Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium was postponed multiple times due to a historic winter storm before finally running as a condensed one-day event, won by Ryan Preece.
Tyler Reddick opened the points season with back-to-back victories at the Daytona 500 and the Autotrader 400 at EchoPark Speedway, becoming just the sixth driver in 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Schedule, and the first since Matt Kenseth in 2009, to win the season’s first two points races.
Why This Season’s Schedule Matters
Several factors make the 2026 Cup Series schedule especially significant for fans:
- A genuine return to playoff tradition, bringing back a format many longtime fans have wanted restored
- New venues and formats, including the San Diego street race and North Wilkesboro’s points race return
- Increased horsepower and technical changes, affecting racing style at shorter tracks and road courses
- Long-term charter stability, following the resolution of a major legal dispute within the sport
FAQs About the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Schedule
1. How many races are in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Schedule? The season includes 36 points-paying races, plus non-points events like the Cook Out Clash and the NASCAR All-Star Race.
2. When does the 2026 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Schedule? The season began with the Daytona 500 on February 15 and concludes with the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 8.
3. What is the biggest format 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Schedule? NASCAR brought back “The Chase” playoff format, last used from 2004 to 2013, replacing the previous elimination-round playoff system.
4. Is North Wilkesboro Speedway 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Schedule? Yes, North Wilkesboro hosts its first Cup Series points race since 1996, after years of hosting the non-points All-Star Race.
5. Where is the NASCAR A2026 NASCAR Cup Series Schedule? The All-Star Race moved to Dover Motor Speedway, featuring a newly revamped race format.
Conclusion
The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule blends nostalgia with genuine innovation, bringing back the classic Chase playoff format while introducing new venues like the San Diego street course and reviving North Wilkesboro as a points-paying race for the first time in three decades. With 36 races spanning February through November, this season offers one of the most eventful schedules in recent NASCAR history.
As the season progresses through its regular season and into the returning Chase format, fans have plenty of reasons to keep tracking the action from Daytona to Homestead.
