NASCAR has officially announced a return to Southern California with a historic street race at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego as part of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule. The event, set along the Pacific Ocean directly across from the downtown San Diego skyline, will take place June 19 to June 21, 2026, featuring the Cup, Xfinity, and Craftsman Truck Series.
The addition of San Diego’s Naval Base Coronado marks a standout change, and with the 2026 schedule still holding many uncertainties, fans and teams alike are watching closely for the full lineup. Ben Kennedy, serving as NASCAR’s Executive Vice President and Chief Venue & Racing Innovations Officer, stated,
“in a few weeks or so.”
—Ben Kennedy, Executive Vice President & Chief Venue & Racing Innovations Officer, on when the full schedule will be released.
Key Dates and Confirmed Venues for the 2026 Cup Series
Several cornerstone events are already locked into the 2026 calendar, solidifying important dates for teams and fans. The season will open with the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on February 1, moving quickly to the iconic Daytona 500 on February 15. The traditional Coca-Cola 600 lands on May 24, followed by the groundbreaking San Diego street race on June 21. The season finale is set for November 8 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, shifting away from its recent conclusion in Phoenix.
The Southern 500 has not yet been confirmed, but if it remains aligned with the Labor Day Weekend, it would be expected on September 6. These announcements indicate a lengthened campaign compared to 2025, as the season both starts and ends one week later than the previous year, raising questions about whether this extra week will bring more racing or an expanded break in the demanding schedule.
NASCAR has also decided that the Chicago Street Race will not be part of the 2026 series, leaving its return status for 2027 and future seasons uncertain. This creates new opportunities for other venues or cities hoping to land a spot in the annual tour.
Ticket Availability and Early Renewals by Track
While official confirmation for the complete 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule awaits release, several tracks are already facilitating ticket renewals for next year’s races, reflecting strong fan demand. For venues where 2025 events occurred in the first half of the year, fans can secure early tickets for high-profile weekends:
1. Nashville Superspeedway – June 2026 tickets available.
2. Texas Motor Speedway – May 2026 tickets on sale.
3. Circuit of the Americas (COTA) – 2026 tickets available.
4. Dover Motor Speedway – July 2026 tickets on sale.
5. Sonoma Raceway – July 2026 tickets available.
6. Michigan International Speedway – 2026 tickets open.
7. Pocono Raceway – 2026 renewals underway.
8. Bristol Motor Speedway – April 2026 tickets on sale, with the second 2025 Cup race scheduled for September 13.
9. Martinsville Speedway – Spring 2026 tickets available, with the second 2025 Cup race set for October 26.
10. Kansas Speedway – Spring 2026 tickets being sold, second 2025 Cup date set for September 28.
11. Phoenix Raceway – Spring 2026 tickets in progress, second 2025 Cup date for November 2.
12. Darlington Raceway – Spring 2026 tickets on offer, 2025 Southern 500 on August 31.
13. Las Vegas Motor Speedway – annual package includes reserved seats for both 2026 Spring and Fall weekends.
14. Talladega Superspeedway – tickets available for Spring 2026, second 2025 Cup race scheduled on October 19.
15. EchoPark Speedway (Atlanta) – Spring 2026 tickets available; second 2026 date pending information.
For several other tracks, including World Wide Technology Raceway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Iowa Speedway, Watkins Glen International, Richmond Raceway, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL, information on 2026 tickets is pending as the 2025 weekend events are yet to be held. North Wilkesboro Speedway’s site currently offers 2026 ticket renewal without reference to the All-Star Race, as simply stated:
“Lock in Your 2026 NASCAR Tickets.”
—North Wilkesboro Speedway ticket page.
Additionally, neither Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez nor the NASCAR Mexico City site is offering 2026 ticket details, focusing solely on information related to the current or upcoming season.
Unanswered Questions and Possible Surprises for the 2026 Slate
Despite these confirmations, significant uncertainties remain about the final makeup of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule. One major discussion point centers on the fate of Chicagoland Speedway, which could be positioned as a long-term replacement for the removed Chicago Street Race. However, the facility would require updates before rejoining the calendar, and there is currently no clear timeline for its possible comeback.
Other major North American cities, such as Philadelphia and Montreal, have been mentioned as potential new hosts for upcoming races, but detailed proposals or negotiations have not surfaced recently. Observers note that the San Diego street race advanced from rumor to official announcement within a month, reflecting how quickly speculative venues can become reality in the current NASCAR landscape.
The highly coveted Fourth of July weekend remains without a permanent home. Between 1960 and 2019, Daytona International Speedway was the traditional destination for fans on that holiday. Since then, the event rotated among the Brickyard 400, Road America, and most recently Chicago, but no venue has yet secured its placement in 2026, leaving the possibility for further surprise announcements or a return to tradition.
Details on the playoffs are also subject to ongoing development. With Homestead-Miami Speedway slated as the season-ending track, the question of where Phoenix Raceway will land on the schedule is open—as is the broader structure of playoff opening rounds and any potential changes to the postseason format. The Cup Series has seen evolving rules and track arrangements in past years, so additional changes for 2026 are possible if not likely.
The Impact of the 2026 Schedule and Next Steps for Fans
As the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule takes shape, the confirmed street race in San Diego marks a pivotal moment, introducing new challenges and excitement for drivers, teams, and fans alike. The highlighted key venues, coupled with unresolved details about other markets, ensure an air of anticipation continues to build across the sport.
With the full schedule expected to be announced
“in a few weeks or so,”
—Ben Kennedy, Executive Vice President & Chief Venue & Racing Innovations Officer—all eyes now turn to NASCAR leadership for final confirmation of race dates, additional venues, and playoff structure. The shifts and surprises likely to come may reshape the competitive balance and cultural footprint of the Cup Series as it continues to evolve for a fresh chapter in 2026.
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