The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season is poised to rewrite the series’ television story, as a sweeping seven‑year, $7.7 billion media‑rights agreement reshapes how races reach fans across the United States.
Under the new deal the traditional 18‑race calendar has been trimmed to 14 events, with the iconic All‑Star Race at Dover now serving as the season’s 14th and final event before the championship stretch.
A reduced schedule and the All‑Star finale
Fox, which had carried 18 races in previous years, will now air only 14 of them, surrendering four dates to make room for newcomers Amazon Prime Video and TNT Sports, each of which will broadcast five mid‑season races.
The redistribution means that many of Fox’s former slots will shift to Fox Sports 1, while Amazon’s streaming platform will take over the Coca‑Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, kicking off its schedule on May 24 at 6 p.m. ET.
TNT Sports will handle a complementary block, showcasing events from the Toyota Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway through the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, giving viewers a mix of road‑course and historic oval action.
NBC's late‑season takeover
NBC will assume the latter portion of the calendar, beginning with the Iowa Corn 350 at Iowa Speedway on August 9, and will air ten of its fourteen races live on USA Network, with the season‑ending Daytona International Speedway finale receiving a flagship broadcast on the network’s main channel.
The changes reflect a strategic pivot toward a more fragmented, multi‑platform distribution model, offering fans a broader array of viewing options but also requiring them to navigate between traditional broadcast, cable and streaming services.
A new era for NASCAR viewers
While the loss of some Fox races may disappoint long‑time viewers, the entry of Amazon and TNT brings fresh production values and digital‑first storytelling, and the expanded presence of NBC and USA Network promises broader exposure for the sport’s rising stars.