The Isle of Man TT has tweaked the schedule for 2026’s races to build in more contingency for weather, after heavy rain and wind led to this year’s event being considerably disrupted, including the cancellation of the headline Senior TT.
The new plan will create more leeway during both practice and race week to allow the normally proactive organisers more opportunities to move around races in order to ensure that as many of them as possible can go ahead even in difficult conditions.
The format now features the opportunity for contingency sessions on nine of the 14 days of practice and race week already included in the government-issued roads closing order, and means that the days can be rearranged as weather forecasts become available.
There will also be a rest day introduced after three days of practice week, in order to both give riders, teams, and marshals the chance to recharge as well as to give a space for cancelled sessions to be fitted in if needed.
There will also be a small change in the race week running order, with the superstock class now paired with the two sidecar races instead of the superbike races in order to reduce the strain on riders by limiting the amount of 1000cc races they’ll complete in close proximity to each other.
The changes come as part of the TT’s ongoing proactive safety moves, a strategy that is now producing results, with 2024 and 2025 the first two-year period in the 114-year history of racing on the Mountain Circuit without a fatal crash.
“The 2026 schedule has been shaped by our long-term ambitions for the TT,” said head of motorsport Paul Phillips in announcing the news.
“We’re focused on delivering a sustainable world-class event that continues to grow its global audience, delivers increasing benefits to the Island’s economy, and secures the future of the races for generations to come.
“These refinements are the result of constant learning, and collaboration. They not only help protect the integrity of the racing but also reflect our ambition to create the best possible experience for everyone involved, from the riders and teams to the increasing number of fans on the hedgerows and those that watch live from around the globe.”
There’ll be one other change to the TT format in 2026, with the renaming of the Supertwin TT to the Sportsbike TT, bringing it in line with global format changes and starting the process of replacing the current expensive twin cylinder rules with the more budget-oriented spec of machines that will also join the World Superbike paddock next year.
