WorldSBK – Dutch Round – 2026

The Superbike World Championship returns to the „Cathedral of Speed”

From April 17 to 19, 2026, the FIM Superbike World Championship descends on TT Circuit Assen for the Dutch Round – Round 3 of the season. The 4.555-kilometre circuit in the northern Netherlands has earned the title „Cathedral of Motorcycling” for good reason: it has hosted a round of the Motorcycle World Championship every single year since 1949, making it the oldest permanent venue in international road racing. Its fast, flowing corners and the legendary banked turn make it one of the most challenging and beloved circuits on the WorldSBK calendar.

The 2026 Dutch Round features four classes: the flagship World Superbike Championship (WorldSBK), the World Supersport Championship (WorldSSP), the new World Sportbike Championship (WorldSPB) — successor to the WorldSSP300 — and the Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship (WorldWCR). Fans can look forward to more than 15 sessions and races across three action-packed days.

Circuit facts and records

TT Circuit Assen features 18 corners – twelve right-handers and six left-handers – across its 4.555-kilometre layout. The current WorldSBK Superpole lap record belongs to Sam Lowes (Ducati Panigale V4R), who set a blistering 1:32.596 in 2025, eclipsing Toprak Razgatlıoğlu’s previous benchmark of 1:32.934 from 2022. Assen is renowned for its high corner speeds and the technical demands it places on both riders and machinery.

2026 season: Bulega eyes title defence

The 2026 WorldSBK campaign promises fireworks: Nicolo Bulega kicked off the season in dominant fashion, with commanding performances at the Australian Round and the Portuguese Round in Portimão. The Ducati Panigale V4R continues to set the benchmark, but the competition is closing in – BMW, Kawasaki and Yamaha are all pushing hard to close the gap. The Dutch Round at Assen will reveal whether Bulega’s winning streak can survive one of the most demanding tracks on the calendar.

Assen as a travel destination

The city of Assen lies in the province of Drenthe in the northeastern Netherlands. Beyond motorsport, the region offers charming historic villages, nature reserves and the UNESCO World Heritage Hunebedden (dolmens). Getting there is straightforward: the circuit sits right next to the A28 motorway and is easily accessible from Germany. The nearest international airport is Groningen Airport Eelde, approximately 30 kilometres away. Over 45,000 fans attend the WorldSBK weekend at Assen each year.

Full schedule (local time CEST)

Friday, April 17

• 09:40–10:05 – WorldSPB Free Practice
• 10:20–11:05 – WorldSBK Free Practice 1
• 11:20–12:00 – WorldSSP Free Practice
• 12:15–12:40 – WorldWCR Free Practice
• 14:10–14:35 – WorldSPB Tissot Superpole
• 15:00–15:45 – WorldSBK Free Practice 2
• 16:00–16:40 – WorldSSP Tissot Superpole
• 16:55–17:20 – WorldWCR Tissot Superpole

Saturday, April 18

• 09:00–09:20 – WorldSBK Free Practice 3
• 09:30–09:40 – WorldWCR Warm Up
• 09:50–10:00 – WorldSPB Warm Up
• 10:10–10:20 – WorldSSP Warm Up
• 11:00–11:15 – WorldSBK Tissot Superpole
• 11:50 – WorldWCR Race 1
• 12:45 – WorldSPB Race 1
• 14:00 – WorldSBK Race 1 (20 laps)
• 15:15 – WorldSSP Race 1

Sunday, April 19

• 09:00–09:10 – WorldSBK Warm Up
• 09:20–09:30 – WorldWCR Warm Up
• 09:40–09:50 – WorldSPB Warm Up
• 10:00–10:10 – WorldSSP Warm Up
• 11:00 – WorldSBK Tissot Superpole Race (10 laps)
• 11:50 – WorldWCR Race 2
• 12:45 – WorldSPB Race 2
• 14:00 – WorldSBK Race 2 (20 laps)
• 15:15 – WorldSSP Race 2

Tickets and admission

Tickets are available through the official website. A 3-day all-access ticket starts from €105, a 2-day pass (Sat/Sun) from €89, and single-day tickets from €35. Children aged 15 and under enjoy free admission – tickets must be collected at the circuit. All tickets include access to grandstands, the Paddock and Paddock Show, including the Podium and Parc Fermé.

Event details

Event: Prosecco DOC Dutch Round – WorldSBK 2026
Round: 3 of 12
Date: April 17–19, 2026
Circuit: TT Circuit Assen, Netherlands
Track length: 4.555 km
Corners: 18 (12 right, 6 left)
Laps WorldSBK: 20 (Superpole Race: 10)
Timezone: Europe/Amsterdam (CEST, UTC+2)
Tickets: wsbkassen.com
Website: worldsbk.com