The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series runs Feb 15 (Daytona 500) through Nov 8 (Phoenix Championship Race). The new media rights deal splits the 36 races across FOX, FS1, Amazon Prime Video, TNT Sports, NBC, and USA Network — a mess to track. Here's the complete map.
Six broadcast partners split the season. FOX + FS1 have the first half (Daytona 500 through May). Amazon Prime Video has 5 races in June. TNT Sports has 5 races in late June/July (including Brickyard 400). NBC + USA Network have the final 14 races including all 10 playoff races and the Phoenix Cup Series Championship Race on Nov 8 — FREE OTA on NBC.
About 11 of 36 races air on FOX or NBC broadcast — free with a $30 antenna, including the Daytona 500 and the season finale.
FOX has every season opener including the Daytona 500 (Feb 15, FREE OTA) and the Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend (FREE OTA). FS1 covers the secondary races + short tracks.
NEW for 2026 — Prime Video gets 5 mid-season Cup Series races including the historic first Mexico City race (June 14, Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez). Exclusive — not on cable or FOX.
TNT Sports gets 5 races including the iconic Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis (July 26) and the Chicago Street Race over Independence Day weekend. Available on Max with the B/R Sports add-on.
NBC has the heaviest slate of the season — all 10 playoff races + the Cup Series Championship Race. NBC carries the marquee playoff cutoff races + finale (FREE OTA). USA Network handles the rest. Both stream on Peacock.
All 36 points races + the Clash exhibition. Times TBD until race week. Marquee races highlighted.
The biggest race of the back half is the season finale. The Championship 4 drivers (decided by the Round of 8 cutoff at Martinsville Oct 25) battle at Phoenix Raceway — the highest finisher of the four wins the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Championship.
Where: Phoenix Raceway, Avondale, AZ · 1-mile oval, banked dogleg layout
When: Sunday November 8, 2026 · green flag ~3 PM ET
How to watch: NBC broadcast (FREE with antenna) · Peacock streaming ($7.99/mo) · live-TV bundles that carry NBC
Six broadcast partners split the 36 races: FOX, FS1, Amazon Prime Video, TNT Sports, NBC, USA Network. The carrier rotates as the season progresses.
Yes — about 11 of 36 races air on FOX or NBC broadcast. A $30 antenna catches both networks. The remaining 25 races (FS1, Prime, TNT, USA) require subscriptions.
No single subscription covers everything. The cheapest stack: antenna ($30) + FOX One ($20/mo for March-June FS1 races) + Prime ($15/mo for June Prime races) + Max + B/R Sports ($27/mo for TNT) + Peacock ($8/mo for Aug-Nov NBC/USA races) — approximately $250-350 spread across the season.
The 2026 Daytona 500 already aired Feb 15, 2026 on FOX broadcast. Next: 2027 Daytona 500 is Sunday Feb 14, 2027 — also FOX, free with antenna.
Sunday November 8, 2026 at Phoenix Raceway. On NBC broadcast (FREE OTA) and Peacock streaming.
16 drivers qualify (regular-season points + race wins). Round of 16 → 12 → 8 → 4. Three races per round eliminate 4 drivers each. The Championship Race at Phoenix decides — highest-finishing of the final 4 becomes champion.
Yes — first time. Prime Video gets 5 mid-season races (June). Includes the historic first Mexico City Cup Series race June 14.
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