Home hero Michael Dunlop has become synonymous with the North West 200
Next year’s Briggs Equipment North West 200 will take place from May 6-9 following confirmation of the 2026 dates for Northern Ireland’s leading motorcycle race.
Race week begins on Monday, May 4, with the action getting underway with opening practice and qualifying on Wednesday, May 6, followed by final qualifying on Thursday, May 7, with roads closed on both days between 9am and 3pm.
The evening race schedule on Thursday, May 7 features the first Superstock, Superbike and Supersport races, with roads closing again around the 8.9-mile course from 4.45pm to 9pm.
Saturday’s main six-race programme at the north coast showpiece features two Superbike races, including the headline NW200 race, two Supertwin events and the second Supersport and Superstock races (roads closed 9am to 7pm).
The famous race attracts the biggest names in the sport, including home hero Michael Dunlop, who secured a hat-trick this year as the Ballymoney man returned to the top step in Portrush for the first time since 2016.
England’s Davey Todd – also a treble winner in May – Peter Hickman, Dean Harrison, Richard Cooper, Josh Brookes, John McGuinness and record 29-time winner Alastair Seeley were some of the top stars who wowed the huge crowds in 2025.
Glenn Irwin, who set a record of 11 Superbike victories in a row, was absent this year after announcing his retirement from road racing at the end of 2024, but the British Superbike rider recently refused to rule out a possible return in the future.
