NASCAR’s 2026 TV Schedule Ignites Excitement—and Fan Backlash

NASCAR’s 2026 Cup Series TV Schedule blends nostalgia, innovation, and controversy, kicking off with the Daytona 500 on February 15 at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Expect a diverse lineup of ovals, road courses, and fresh twists: Chicagoland Speedway’s revival, a groundbreaking street race at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego on June 21, the All-Star event at Dover on May 17, and North Wilkesboro’s first points race since 1996 on July 19. Playoffs launch with the Southern 500 at Darlington on September 6, wrapping November 8 at Homestead-Miami Speedway—reclaiming the finale after five years away. Other shifts include Phoenix opening the Round of 8 on October 18, New Hampshire swapping out of playoffs for August 23, and Watkins Glen on Mother’s Day weekend, May 10.

The real firestorm? The playoffs’ handover to USA Sports Network, a Versant Media network blending NASCAR with Premier League soccer, PGA golf, WNBA, and WWE. Under the 2025–2031 media deal fragmenting broadcasts across FOX, NBC, Prime Video, TNT, and USA, the final 10 races (starting August 9 at Iowa) land on USA Network, NBC, and Peacock—branded as USA’s “premium” showcase.

Fans see it as a accessibility nightmare: cable/streaming walls, diluted racing identity, and a whiff of entertainment overkill. X is ablaze with gripes like “FOX and NBC are done with us” and threats of boycott from Darlington onward. Even format tweaks draw sneers: “Thought we were fixing the playoffs because they suck?”

At stake: NASCAR’s bid to boost revenue via bundles and cross-promos, without alienating its core. As one fan quipped, “‘Premium’ events? That word doesn’t mean what you think it does.” 2026 could redefine the sport—or spark a viewer revolt.