NASCAR 2026: New race schedule with potential San Diego street circuit

NASCAR is compiling its schedule for the 2026 season — earlier than last year’s late August announcement. The racing series has confirmed several key locations for the upcoming season.

The Daytona 500 will maintain its season opener on February 15, 2026, while Homestead-Miami Speedway will host the final race. Other prestigious races such as the Coke 600 and Southern 500 — will keep their traditional Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend slots.

• North Wilkesboro will again host the All-Star Race
• Bowman Gray continues to host ‘The Clash’
• San Diego emerges as a strong candidate for a new street race
• Chicagoland Speedway could return to the calendar

While the Chicago Street Course is likely to end after three years, NASCAR is also considering Philadelphia as a potential street race location. The future of the Mexico City race remains uncertain — despite positive reception, no deal is in place for the 2026 season.

“We have looked at Franklin Field,” NASCAR president Steve O’Donnell told the Pocono Record, though timing remains unclear.

Plans to convert Auto Club Speedway into a short track appear stalled, prompting NASCAR to seek alternatives for maintaining a race presence in California.