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BTCC Confirms 2026 Race Calendar
The British Touring Car Championship has officially revealed its 2026 race calendar, giving teams, fans, and partners nearly a full year to plan ahead. The announcement comes just days after the opening round of the 2025 season at Donington Park, reinforcing TOCA’s reputation for early scheduling among major motorsport series.
While the 2026 calendar sticks with the established circuit lineup, a few notable changes have been made to accommodate the busy summer of sport,
particularly ITV’s coverage of the FIFA World Cup. To avoid direct clashes with the global football tournament in June and July, the BTCC will shift its traditional summer break slightly earlier, easing the pressure on teams during the first half of the season.
The season will once again begin at Donington Park’s National circuit in April, followed by the ever-popular Brands Hatch Indy round and Snetterton in May. Oulton Park remains a June fixture but becomes the final event before the early summer break.
Racing resumes in July with a revised date for Thruxton, now moved into the school summer holidays, making it the only BTCC event that month. The second half of the season will see the grid head to Knockhill in August, then return to Donington Park – this time on the full Grand Prix layout.
One of the more significant date shifts involves Croft, which moves to September, helping to ease calendar congestion and support a more balanced race flow. The season wraps up with the traditional penultimate event at Silverstone, before the grand finale at Brands Hatch on its full GP circuit in October.
2026 British Touring Car Championship Schedule
Rounds | Date | Venue/Circuit |
1, 2, 3 | 18/19 April | Donington Park |
4, 5, 6 | 9/10 May | Brands Hatch (Indy) |
7, 8, 9 | 23/24 May | Snetterton |
10, 11, 12 | 06/07 June | Oulton Park |
13, 14, 15 | 25/26 July | Thruxton |
16, 17, 18 | 08/09 August | Knockhill |
19, 20, 21 | 22/23 August | Donington Park (GP) |
22, 23, 24 | 5/6 September | Croft |
25, 26, 27 | 26/27 September | Silverstone |
28, 29, 30 | 10/11 October | Brands Hatch (GP) |
Season Opener: Donington Park National (18/19 April)
The 2026 BTCC season roars into life at Donington Park’s National circuit. Always a fan favourite for overtaking and wheel-to-wheel battles, this opener sets the tone for what’s expected to be a fiercely competitive year. With championship hopefuls eager to lay down an early marker, expect fireworks right from the off.
Momentum Builds: Brands Hatch Indy (9/10 May) & Snetterton (23/24 May)
In May, the series heads south to the compact and action-filled Brands Hatch Indy, where drivers will jostle for every inch of track. Two weeks later, Snetterton’s long straights and technical sectors will test both pace and precision—often a venue where championship contenders begin to emerge.
Early Summer Thriller: Oulton Park (6/7 June)
Oulton Park moves up to become the final event before the summer break. Known for its undulating layout and passionate Cheshire crowd, this challenging circuit has delivered memorable moments year after year. Expect door-to-door drama and strategic plays as teams push hard before the pause.
Mid-Season Spotlight: Thruxton (25/26 July)
After a brief summer pause, the championship resumes at Britain’s fastest track—Thruxton. Now sitting alone in the July calendar slot, this high-speed Hampshire circuit promises slipstreaming battles and tyre management challenges, especially during the height of summer.
Travelling Up North: Knockhill (8/9 August)
The BTCC heads north to Knockhill, Scotland’s legendary circuit that never fails to produce chaos and close combat. Short, sharp, and full of surprises, it’s a venue where underdogs often shine and the standings can take a sudden shake-up.
Grand Ambitions: Donington Park GP (22/23 August)
Returning to Donington Park—this time on its demanding GP layout—adds another layer of complexity to the championship. The extended circuit offers high-speed sections and sweeping corners, ideal for daring moves and technical mastery.
September Shift: Croft (5/6 September)
A date change sees Croft moved to early September, giving the North Yorkshire venue fresh strategic significance. Known for its mix of fast straights and tight corners, Croft has often been the scene of season-defining results.
Penultimate Pressure: Silverstone (26/27 September)
As the season nears its climax, Silverstone—the home of British motorsport—hosts the penultimate round. Its high-speed layout rewards bravery, and with the title fight in full swing, every position will count.
Finale Showdown: Brands Hatch GP (10/11 October)
The 2026 BTCC season wraps up at the majestic Brands Hatch GP circuit. A favourite among fans and drivers alike, the final round is always packed with tension and high stakes. Whether it’s a battle for the title or one last shot at glory, this is the ultimate stage for BTCC drama.
Alan Gow, BTCC Chief Executive, said:
“The 2026 British Touring Car Championship calendar enjoys the tried and tested format from previous seasons, but with a slightly different flow of events to look forward to.“
“It is a very busy summer in the sporting calendar, particularly with the
football World Cup , which presents ITV with some clashing commitments. However, it also gave us an opportunity to make some tweaks to the schedule, which includes the shift in dates to the likes of Thruxton and Croft.”
“Once again, releasing the calendar to our teams, support races, stakeholders and the public this early is advantageous for all in forward-planning, whilst it also benefits the rest of the motorsport pyramid in the UK as they can also schedule their events with these dates in mind.”
Where to watch BTCC in 2026?
Make sure your calendar is marked so you don’t miss the action! Whether you’re trackside soaking in the atmosphere or tuning in live on the ITV network, BTCC YouTube or BTCC TikTok the 2026 BTCC season is set to be another unmissable motorsport spectacle.
Where to buy tickets for BTCC?
You can now purchase tickets for seven of the ten scheduled 2026 British Touring Car Championship events after the likes of Brands Hatch, Donington Park, Knockhill and more have opened up their respective early bird ticket offers.
Blackcircles, Knockhill & The BTCC Connection
For the past seven years, Blackcircles has been a proud sponsor and partner of Knockhill, building a strong connection with the motorsport community.
Every year, we look forward to attending the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) at Knockhill, where we engage with customers, celebrate the tour cars, and showcase our commitment to quality and performance.
Our partnership reflects our passion for motorsport and our dedication to supporting one of Scotland’s most iconic racing venues.
This early confirmation allows fans to plan weekends well in advance and gives the wider motorsport community a solid framework for scheduling their own events around the BTCC dates. For the full updated calendar and more details, stay tuned to Blackcircles.com.