iRacing
iRacing Special Events 2026: Full Calendar, Dates and How They Work
iRacing Special Events are the biggest races on the platform. They bring together thousands of drivers for multiclass endurance racing across several time slots, making it possible for competitors from around the world to take part. This guide has everything you need: the full 2026 calendar, how the format works, what it takes to enter, and how to use the season to push your racing further.
TL;DR
- iRacing Special Events are official endurance and prestige races that run across multiple global time slots.
- Most events are team-based, requiring driver swaps and adherence to fair-share driving rules.
- The 2026 H2 calendar includes Spa 24H, Road America 6H, Portimão 1000, Suzuka 1000km, Britcar 24H, Petit Le Mans, Bathurst 1000, Indianapolis 8H, and the FF1600 Festival.
- Entry always requires an active iRacing subscription, appropriate licence class, Safety Rating, and a registered team.
- Teams register for a specific session and must ensure all drivers are available for that time slot.
- Preparation matters: practice, stint planning, traffic management, and team communication are often more important than outright pace.
- Drivers looking to maximize their preparation can use trophi.ai's AI coaching to identify time loss, improve consistency, and arrive race-ready.
What Are iRacing Special Events?
iRacing Special Events are official, large-scale races that mirror real-world endurance and prestige events. They run across set time slots over a multi-day window, often use multiclass grids, and are open to teams rather than solo entries. They stand on their own as major occasions held at some of sim racing's most iconic circuits. For many drivers, they represent the closest thing to a true motorsport season finale on the platform.
2026 iRacing Special Events Calendar
The table below covers the confirmed iRacing 2026 schedule. While these dates are currently expected to be accurate, it's always worth checking the official iRacing Special Events calendar before registering. Event dates, start times, and eligible car classes can change as iRacing updates the schedule.
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On now / this week? Check iRacing's live schedule for current and upcoming sessions. Each event runs across multiple time slots to cover North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.
Event Rules and Formats
Official Schedule
Each Special Event runs on multiple occasions within its event window, spread across different UTC start times. This means a driver in Australia, the UK, or North America can find a slot that fits their timezone.
Team Racing and Stint Sharing
Special Events are team races. Each team registers a roster and nominates which drivers are active for that session. Drivers swap in and out during pit stops as in real endurance racing. There is a fair-share rule: every registered driver must complete a minimum proportion of the race distance. If a driver fails to meet their minimum stint time, the entire team is penalised or disqualified, so communication and planning before race day are non-negotiable.
Time Slots
Every event offers multiple start times to serve a global field. When registering, one team member selects the specific slot. Before you commit, make sure all active drivers are free for that exact window, not just the rough date range.
Requirements and Eligibility
Eligibility varies by event and car class. All Special Events require:
- An active iRacing subscription
- A minimum Safety Rating (SR) appropriate to the class; iRacing displays the requirements on each event page
- A registered team with at least two active drivers
Check the specific event page inside iRacing for the exact SR and licence requirements, as these are set per event and can change season to season.
How to Sign Up
- Open the iRacing application and navigate to Specials in the left-side menu.
- Find the event and confirm your team and car class are eligible.
- Ensure your team is created under the Teams section (also in the left menu) and your co-drivers have accepted their invites.
- Registration for each individual session typically opens around one hour before the session start. One team member registers on behalf of the team and selects the active driver roster at that point.
For a full walkthrough of team setup, calendar marking, and registration day, see our guide: How to Prepare for an iRacing Special Event.
Marquee Events to Watch in 2026
Spa 24 Hours (Jul 10–12)
Spa 24 is the longest and most demanding event on the 2026 calendar. Add a virtual night cycle and unpredictable Belgian weather, and the challenge multiplies.
Managing tyre wear across stints, adapting to changing grip, and holding pace on Eau Rouge and Raidillon after hours of running separates good endurance teams from great ones. This is the event where consistent, clean lap times over 24 hours matter far more than one-lap pace.
Petit Le Mans (Sep 25–27)
Road Atlanta's tight, flowing layout rewards aggression, but multiclass traffic at an event of this length punishes overconfidence. GTP cars sharing the track with GT3 machinery in heavy traffic makes situational awareness as important as raw speed.
If you've never raced a multiclass endurance event before, this is the perfect place to learn. Understanding when to defend, when to yield, and how to navigate blue-flag situations under pressure are essential endurance-racing skills that carry over to every Special Event on the calendar.
Bathurst 1000 (Oct 2–4)
Mount Panorama is one of the most searched-for circuits across all of sim racing, particularly in Australia, where the real event is cultural. The Mountain section demands absolute commitment; even a small mistake through Skyline or over The Dipper can end a race. Consistency across the entire 161-lap distance is the defining challenge. Teams that arrive having run hundreds of laps in practice, with drivers who know their own limits on the mountain, tend to finish. Teams that treat it as a casual event usually do not.
How to Prepare and Get Faster
The basics: form your team early, lock in a time slot that works for everyone, and log serious practice laps at the specific circuit in the specific car before the event window opens. Arriving cold at a 24-hour race rarely ends well.
For a complete breakdown of finding teammates, navigating race-day registration, managing fair-share requirements, and approaching endurance racing as a coordinated team effort, read our guide: How to Prepare for an iRacing Special Event.
Beyond the basics, the drivers who improve quickest in endurance racing are the ones who identify exactly where they are losing time and fix it systematically.
trophi's AI coach analyses your driving data, finds the corners and habits costing you pace, and gives you clear, actionable feedback, so your practice hours actually translate into lap time rather than just more laps.
If a Special Event is on your 2026 calendar, your prep starts now.
FAQ
What is the 2026 Special Events calendar for iRacing?
The 2026 H2 calendar includes Spa 24H (Jul 10–12), 6H Road America (Jul 24–26), Portimão 1000 (Aug 14–15), Suzuka 1000km (Sep 10–15), Britcar 24H (Sep 18–20), Petit Le Mans (Sep 25–27), Bathurst 1000 (Oct 2–4), 8H Indianapolis (Oct 16–18), and the iRacing FF1600 Festival (Oct 30–31). See the table above, and always verify dates on iRacing's official site.
How long do iRacing Special Events last?
It depends on the event. Sprint-format events like the FF1600 Festival run for a few hours. Mid-length events like Petit Le Mans and Bathurst run for roughly 6–10 hours. The Spa and Britcar 24-hour events run for a full 24 hours of race time.
How do I find a team for iRacing Special Events?
iRacing's own forums have a team-finder section. There are also active communities on Discord - streamers like Dave Cam and David Sampson both have servers where drivers organise teams - and Facebook groups such as iRacing Drivers World. Your existing club or league is often the fastest route to finding reliable teammates.
What are the requirements to enter an iRacing Special Event?
You need an active iRacing subscription, a licence class and safety rating that meet the event's minimums for your chosen car class, and a registered team with at least one other driver. Requirements vary by event - check the event page inside the iRacing application for the exact thresholds.
What time slots do iRacing Special Events run in?
Each event runs multiple sessions across its window to serve different timezones. Specific UTC start times are listed on the event page inside iRacing. When your team registers, you commit to one specific slot - make sure every active driver is free for that exact session.
How do I sign up for an iRacing Special Event?
One team member registers the team via the Specials menu inside the iRacing application, typically around one hour before the session start. They select which drivers from the team roster are active for that session. All selected drivers must meet the eligibility requirements.
What Special Events are on today or this week?
Check iRacing's live Special Events page for current and upcoming sessions. The calendar above covers the full H2 2026 schedule.
