- Four events confirmed for the 2026 Irish Road Racing Championship
- Three road races planned in the Republic of Ireland for 2026, with further dates possible
- Ulster Grand Prix set to return in 2027
After a period in which the imminent demise of national road racing on the island of Ireland was predicted, the current developments are pointing upwards again. The Irish Road Racing Championship in particular is benefiting from the fact that several organizers are once again getting involved despite difficult conditions.
Review: From nine races to a fight for survival
In 2019, the national Irish Road Racing Championship still comprised nine events. In the following years, several factors led to a drastic decline. The coronavirus pandemic, massive increases in insurance costs, and acts of sabotage hit small clubs particularly hard, as they traditionally bear the organizational and financial risk of the races.
While major international events such as the North West 200 continued to thrive, attracting top international riders and tens of thousands of spectators to the Giant’s Causeway region year after year, the national calendar shrank increasingly. By 2024, only the Cookstown 100 and the Armoy Road Races remained. Even high-profile riders such as Michael Dunlop were pessimistic about the future of the championship at the time.
Four national races confirmed for 2026
A national calendar with four events has now been confirmed for the 2026 season. The season will kick off traditionally at the end of April with the Cookstown 100. This race will continue to serve as preparation for the road racing season for international riders. Austrian Julian Trummer plans to use the event as a test run once again.
The Tandragee 100 has been scheduled for after the Tourist Trophy. The Armoy Road Races will follow at the end of July, before the Mid Antrim 100 concludes the season at the beginning of August. In the Moto3 and 125GP classes, German crowd favorite Chris Meyer will attempt to defend his title.
Irish Road Racing Championship 2026 race calendar
- April 24–25 Cookstown 100
- June 26–27 Tandragee 100
- July 24–25 Armoy Road Races
- July 31–August 1 Mid Antrim 100
Peter Hickman, Louth, Smiths Racing BMW wins the Ulster GP Superbike Race, from Dean Harrison, Bradford, Silicone Engineering Racing Kawasaki (2nd) and Conor Cummins, 1000 Honda, Milenco by Padgett’s Motorcycles Honda (3rd)
Hope for the return of classic events
At the same time, discussions are continuing about the return of the traditional Ulster Grand Prix. After a break of several years, the race could be held again in 2027 at the earliest. Efforts to this end are currently also receiving political support.
The positive signals from Northern Ireland stand in stark contrast to the situation in the Republic of Ireland, where road racing has recently come to a virtual standstill.
Republic of Ireland: Three road races planned
After four years without road racing, the Republic of Ireland is set to host races again in 2026. High insurance costs had previously led to the cancellation of traditional events such as the Skerries 100, the Race of the South in Walderstown, and the Faugheen 50. 2025 was a difficult year overall for motorsports in the south, as no races took place in other disciplines either.
Three road races are now firmly planned for 2026. There is also the possibility of scheduling additional events. This is based on a new insurance model in the form of a so-called collective policy covering several disciplines. In addition to the planned road races, this also covers numerous motocross events and five circuit races at Mondello Park. The Masters Superbike Championship, which was last held in 2024, will also return there.
Karl Brady of Motorcycling Ireland confirmed the plans at a board meeting and spoke of a structured solution that, for the first time in years, would allow all disciplines to be bundled under a common insurance concept. Additional road races are possible, but would have to be insured separately.
Cautious optimism for the coming years
The combination of a stabilized calendar in Northern Ireland and the planned return of road races in the Republic of Ireland is causing cautious optimism. Although insurance issues and financial risks remain key issues, current plans indicate that Irish road racing is slowly recovering.
It remains to be seen whether it will be possible to return to previous levels in the long term. However, it is certain that in 2026, the sport will once again have a greater presence at the national level than in previous years.
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