WorldSBK Confirms New Weekend Race Format for 2026 Season

Revised schedule places WorldSBK races as the headline events on both Saturday and Sunday, mirroring MotoGP’s modern race structure.

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World Superbike (WSBK) organisers have confirmed a new event schedule for the 2026 season, introducing a revised weekend format that places greater emphasis on the championship’s premier class. The changes follow a similar approach adopted by MotoGP in recent years, with the main World Superbike races now positioned as the final on-track action of each race day.

Under the updated structure, race weekends will focus specifically on Saturday and Sunday, with WorldSBK firmly established at the top of the sporting hierarchy. Previously, World Superbike races were often followed by contests from support categories, but the new format ensures the premier class closes out both days.

Saturday’s action will begin at 12:00PM with the weekend’s opening WorldWCR race. The new World Sportsbike category follows at 1:00PM, before World Supersport takes to the track at 2:00PM. The day will then conclude with the first World Superbike feature race at 3:30PM.

Sunday’s programme retains the Tissot Superpole Race in its traditional late-morning slot, starting at 11:10AM. From there, the schedule mirrors Saturday’s structure, once again building toward the main WorldSBK race as the final event of the day.

In a statement, championship organisers explained that the revised timetable was shaped by extensive consultation across the paddock.

“The updated schedule has been developed with input from key stakeholders and is designed to create a more intuitive and engaging flow to the race weekend,” the series said.

“By closing both racing days with the WorldSBK race and its podium celebrations at the Paddock Show, the new schedule allows fans to experience the sporting climax of the day at the heart of the paddock, providing a fitting culmination to the on-track action and the overall WorldSBK experience.”

The statement added that the new structure “underlines the sporting hierarchy of the championship while delivering a high-intensity, high-reward show across the full programme.”

The 2026 World Superbike season is set to get underway on 20–22 February at Phillip Island, marking the first competitive outing under the new race weekend format.