The World Endurance Championship (WEC) has announced an unchanged calendar for the 2026 season.
Confirmed:
- WEC to run identical schedule for third straight season
- 24 Hours of Le Mans will clash with Formula One’s visit to Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
- WEC also extends Hypercar technical regulations to end of 2032
Context:
The action will begin a month later than usual, with Qatar hosting the season-opening race in late March. WEC will once again visit five different regions in 2026: Europe, North America, South America, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. The majority of the schedule is locked in place through long-term contracts and WEC has evidently extended its deal with the Circuit of The Americas (COTA), which was due to expire this year.
There had been hopes that Silverstone would join the WEC calendar as the first British round since 2019, but this appears to be on the cards for the 2027 season. It makes sense for the championship to expand its normal eight-race schedule by then due to the increasing number of manufacturers. Genesis will join the grid from next season, with McLaren and Ford arriving in 2027.
Coming next:
This calendar announcement comes ahead of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which takes place this weekend from 14th to 15th June.
Go deeper:
- WEC 2024 season review: Packed grids and strong attendances point to a promising future
- Ford to debut in WEC from 2027
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