- Portuguese circuit returns for the first time since 2015 as new season-closer
- Calendar delivers significant stability with nine circuits set to continue from 2026
GT World Challenge powered by AWS will conclude its 2026 season at Portimāo, which represents the only alteration to an otherwise unchanged 10-round schedule. Next year's calendar was revealed during Stéphane Ratel's annual press conference at Spa-Francorchamps, which precedes this weekend's CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa.
As ever, the action will be split between five Endurance Cup rounds and five from the Sprint Cup. Nine of this season's 10 venues will return in 2026, with eight retaining the same date they occupied in 2025.
There is however a notable change for the Prologue at Circuit Paul Ricard, which will run on Tuesday 7 and Wednesday 8 April. As such, the traditional pre-season gathering will take place immediately before the opening round, which will play out at the same venue on 11/12 April.
Brands Hatch continues in its familiar position on 2/3 May, while Monza is also unchanged from 2025 with its round falling on 30/31 May. Next up is the biggest race of the year, with the 78th CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa scheduled for its now-established midsummer date of 27/28 June. The Prologue to the marquee event is set for 19/20 May.
The Belgian classic is followed by a trio of familiar venues. Misano (18/19 July) and Magny-Cours (1/2 August) will take place before a three-week summer break, after which GT World Challenge heads to the Nürburgring (29/30 August). Up to this point, every race event runs on the same weekend as in 2025.
The only changes to the calendar fall at the end of the year. Zandvoort returned to the schedule this term with a successful round staged in May. Next year, the Dutch seaside venue will host GT World Challenge on 19/20 September. This will be followed by a trip to Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya (3/4 October) which is unchanged from 2025.
The season finale represents the only substantial change from this year as Autódromo do Algarve returns to the calendar for the first time since 2015. Better known as Portimão, the 4.7km track will host the series on 17/18 October, bringing the curtain down on the 2026 campaign.
As in 2025, the regular support line-up will include the GT2 European Series powered by Pirelli and the GT4 European Series powered by RAFA Racing Club. Each will stage six rounds next year, with the meetings at Monza, Misano, Zandvoort and Portimāo set to feature the full complement of SRO championships. Further support races for 2026 will be announced at a later date.
With next year's calendar in place, attention can return to the 77th CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa. The race gets underway at 16:30 on Saturday 28 June, with a field of 75 cars set to establish a new record for the GT era. Full live coverage can be watched on the GT World YouTube channel.
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