The 2026 NASCAR Canada Schedule Is Here: Highlighted by a Historic Return
The roadmap to the championship is finally here. For the teams, drivers, and the dedicated legion of motorsport fans across the country, the release of the annual calendar isn’t just a list of dates. It’s the first strategic move of the season. NASCAR Canada has pulled back the curtain on the 2026 schedule, and it promises to be one of the most demanding campaigns in recent memory.
Featuring 14 rounds of competition across four provinces, the 2026 slate is a masterclass in variety. We are looking at a true test of driver skill, blending the high-speed danger of street circuits, the technical demand of road courses, and the door-banging intensity of the short ovals. But the headline that has the entire paddock buzzing is the return of a Canadian motorsport staple.
The Indy Returns to the 2026 Calendar
For the first time since 2023, the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy is back. This isn’t just another race date; it is a revival of one of the country’s most celebrated motorsport traditions. However, there is a twist for 2026. The event moves to the streets of Markham, Ontario, bringing the roar of stock cars to a brand-new urban setting on August 14-15.
Street racing requires a different kind of bravery. There is zero margin for error when concrete walls line every apex. The return of this event adds a layer of prestige and pressure to the summer stretch. For the drivers, it’s a chance to etch their name into the history books of a marquee event. For the fans, it signifies that NASCAR Canada is committed to bringing the show right to the people.
A Balanced Battlefield for the Championship
Alan Labrosse, General Manager of the NASCAR Canada Series, emphasized balance in his statement regarding the new schedule, and he wasn’t bluffing. The 2026 season forces teams to be adaptable. You cannot simply be a road course ringer or an oval specialist and expect to lift the trophy in September.
The season kicks off as is tradition at the legendary Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP) on the Victoria Day weekend in May. CTMP is a cathedral of speed, a place where drafting partners and sheer horsepower reign supreme. It sets the tone for the year. If you leave the opener with a torn-up car, you are already on the back foot.
From the wide-open throttle of CTMP, the series shifts gears drastically. We see a return to Calabogie Motorsports Park in July. After a successful debut last year, Calabogie proved it belongs. It’s a technical, rhythm-based track that punishes drivers who overdrive the corners. The contrast between the sheer speed of CTMP and the technicality of Calabogie perfectly illustrates the “variety” Labrosse alluded to.
The Grueling Doubleheader Gauntlet
If you want to know where the championship will likely be won or lost in 2026, look no further than the doubleheaders. The schedule features three of them, and they are brutal tests of endurance and equipment management.
- Autodrome Chaudière (June 6)
- Autodrome Montmagny (July 4)
- Edmonton International Raceway (July 25)
These events are pressure cookers. In a doubleheader, a wreck in the first race doesn’t just ruin your afternoon. It can effectively end your night before the second green flag even drops. Crews have to be flawless, and drivers have to balance aggression with preservation. The trek out west to Edmonton also adds the element of travel fatigue, separating the professional operations from the unprepared.
The Official 2026 NASCAR Canada Series Schedule
The countdown has officially begun. Whether you are rooting for the next big star or cheering on a long-time favorite, this season promises to deliver the drama and excitement that only NASCAR Canada can provide.
Note: This may be subject to change.
- May 16-17: Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (ON)
- June 6: Autodrome Chaudière (QC) Doubleheader
- June 27: Riverside International Speedway (NS)
- July 4: Autodrome Montmagny (QC) Doubleheader
- July 18–19: Calabogie Motorsports Park (ON)
- July 25: Edmonton International Raceway (AB) Doubleheader
- August 8-9: Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières (QC)
- August 14-15: Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham (ON)
- August 29: Complexe ICAR (QC)
- September 5-6: Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (ON)
- September 12: Delaware Speedway (ON)
Get your tickets, pick your drivers, and get ready. 2026 is going to be a wild ride.
Quebec and the Tradition of GP3R
No NASCAR Canada season is complete without the pilgrimage to Trois-Rivières. The Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières (GP3R) is set for August 8-9. If you have never stood trackside at GP3R, you haven’t fully experienced Canadian motorsport. The atmosphere is electric, the fans are knowledgeable and passionate, and the racing through the archway is iconic. It remains a pillar of the 2026 calendar, serving as a critical pivot point as the season heads toward its climax.
The Road to Delaware
After a second stop at CTMP on Labour Day weekend, the season concludes on September 12 at Delaware Speedway. There is something poetic about ending a national tour on a half-mile oval. It ensures that if the points battle is close, it will be settled with bumpers, heated tempers, and close-quarters racing.
Last season saw seven different drivers find Victory Lane, proving that the parity in this series is at an all-time high. With a mix of rising stars hungry to prove themselves and veterans refusing to lift, the 2026 schedule provides the perfect stage for a war of attrition. The dates are set. The haulers are being prepped. Now, we wait for the engines to fire.
