BTCC changes its 2026 calendar due to the FIFA World Cup

The British Touring Car Championship organiser TOCA has tweaked its usual schedule for the 2026 season, owing to the FIFA World Cup.

Both Thruxton and Croft have shifted back several weeks, while Oulton Park has moved forward from its traditional date, because the BTCC live broadcaster ITV has commitments to covering the World Cup, taking in Canada, Mexico and the United States from 11 June to 19 July.

The changes mean that the round at the Hampshire-based Thruxton moves from early June to the traditional Croft date on 25-26 July, with the North Yorkshire venue in turn hosting the series on 5-6 September.

Cheshire-based Oulton Park, meanwhile, has jumped from its usual BTCC fixture in late June to take over the Thruxton slot on 6-7 June.

It also skews the traditional fifty-fifty split of rounds before and after the series’ summer break, so that four rounds will be taking place before the World Cup, and six afterwards over a tight two-and-a-half-month period.

The 2026 BTCC schedule otherwise sticks to what series boss Alan Gow has described as “the recent tried-and-tested format”, with the opening round on the Donington Park National circuit, albeit one week earlier than in 2025, on 18-19 April, and the finale once again at the Brands Hatch GP layout on 10-11 October.

Ashley Sutton, NAPA Racing UK Ford Focus ST

Photo by: JEP / Motorsport Images

TOCA has again kept to tradition by releasing its calendar early, with Gow explaining: “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.”

BTCC calendar 2026

1. Donington Park National – 18-19 April
2. Brands Hatch Indy – 9-10 May
3. Snetterton – 23-24 May
4. Oulton Park – 6-7 June
5. Thruxton – 25-26 July
6. Knockhill – 8-9 August
7. Donington Park GP – 22-23 August
8. Croft – 5-6 September
9. Silverstone – 26-27 September
10. Brands Hatch GP – 10-11 October