Changes to 2026 Isle of Man TT will see new Sportbike class  

This year 51,560 fans attended the races  

An updated schedule, increased rest days and a new Sportbike class. 

Those are just some of the changes in place ahead of the 2026 Isle of Man TT Races. 

This year 51,560 fans attended the event - making it the highest attendance in 15 years. 

Looking ahead, organisers say the changes will add greater resilience and flexibility to the programme. 

The schedule for 2026 brings with it a number of changes which include an increase of rest days from two to three, with Qualifying Week now featuring a rest day on Thursday.

Despite this, practice and qualifying sessions will increase from six to seven including an additional daytime session on Wednesday. 

The number of contingency opportunities will also increase to create additional windows of opportunity in the event of poor weather or delays.

During race week, Superstock and Supersport races will switch places in the running order, which means Superstock will now be paired with the Sidecar races, and Supersport will run alongside the Supertwin - which will now be titled Sportbike - class. 

The Supertwin class will also be revised to allow Sportbike specification machines to compete for the first time with the two races newly titled Sportbike TT Race 1 and Sportbike TT Race 2. 

TT Supertwin and the new Sportbike machines will both be eligible to compete in 2026. 

The Sunday following the Senior TT will remain as a fully resourced contingency race day. 

The full schedule can be found HERE.

(Picture: Gary Thompson credit: Isle of Man TT Races)

Clerk of the Course, Gary Thompson says the refinements to the 2026 schedule reinforces the core structure of the event and ensures organisers remain responsive to the unique and evolving demands of the modern-day TT.

"Building greater resilience into the schedule remains a key priority, and these updates are designed to safeguard the race programme. 

"The introduction of a scheduled rest day during qualifying and the expansion of contingency periods significantly enhances the flexibility of the event, while also placing greater emphasis on the welfare of the competitors, marshals, medics, officials, and volunteers who are essential to its success. 

"Importantly, the increased flexibility provided by these additional contingency periods also supports decision-making in challenging conditions, allowing us to act more dynamically and with greater certainty. 

"This not only safeguards the event itself but will also help us minimise the disruption to the public by enabling clearer, more efficient operational planning. 

"Combined with the technical updates to our race classes, these changes represent an important step in future-proofing the TT – protecting what makes it special today while strengthening its long-term sustainability.” 

Paul Phillips, Head of Motorsport, Isle of Man TT Races, added: “The 2026 schedule has been shaped by our long-term ambitions for the TT. 

"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.” 

Looking ahead, provisional dates for future editions of the TT have been set to support forward planning.

The provisional dates are:

• TT 2027 - Monday 31st May to Saturday 12th June 2027

• TT 2028 - Monday 29th May to Saturday 10th June 2028