FIA World Endurance Championship Set for COTA Return in 2026

Lone Star Le Mans returns to Circuit of the Americas on Labor Day weekend 2026

Austin, Texas- (17 June  2025)  On the heels of another record-setting 24 Hours of Le Mans, which saw Cadillacs start from the front row before Ferrari claimed a remarkable third consecutive overall victory, the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) has confirmed the 2026 schedule. The globe trotting series will return to the Circuit of the Americas for the Lone Star Le Mans on Labor Day weekend (September 4-6, 2026).

The Circuit has hosted the Lone Star Le Mans event since its return to Texas in 2024, as the 2025 edition is set for September 5-7.

Last year saw more than 750,000 fans pour through the gates over the course of the WEC season’s eight rounds, and with a record on-site attendance at Spa-Francorchamps last month – and a huge crowd of over 300,000 on hand at this weekend’s 93rd edition of the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans – the current campaign looks set to raise the bar even higher.

For the third consecutive season, FIA WEC will visit five different regions in 2026 – Europe, North America, South America, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East – with the dates having been officially rubber-stamped during this week’s FIA World Motor Sport Council reunion in Macau. The action will begin a month later than usual in Qatar, as Lusail International Circuit hosts the traditional ‘Prologue’ group test and curtain-raising contest in late March.

The championship will subsequently return to Europe for rounds two, three and four at Imola in Italy, Spa in Belgium and Le Mans in France for the most famous circuit race in the world. The second half of the campaign then consists of long-haul contests, as competitors travel overseas to São Paulo in Brazil in July, Austin in the US and Japan’s iconic Fuji International Speedway in September and finally, Bahrain International Circuit, where champions will be crowned in early November.

“We are pleased to present our 2026 FIA WEC calendar, which reflects the series’ success by building upon a winning formula and format,” said Frédéric Lequien, CEO, FIA World Endurance Championship. “All eight events have established themselves as firm favorites amongst competitors and fans. Every circuit offers its own unique characteristics and challenges – and invariably brings out the best from our incredible drivers, cars and teams. We look forward to continuing to put on a thrilling show all around the world!”

“We are thrilled by the growth of the FIA World Endurance Championship in recent years, a large part of which can be attributed to the series’ stability in terms of partners, participants and venues,”said Pierre Fillon, President, Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO).  “FIA WEC offers an irresistible platform for manufacturers eager to do battle for supremacy, and the 2026 calendar will once again enable them to showcase their skills and ingenuity to a highly-invested global audience.”

“After a period of expansion, including the addition of an eighth round in 2024, the FIA World Endurance Championship enters a phase of consolidation and stability with next season’s calendar,” said Richard Mille, President, FIA Endurance Commission. “The schedule continues to feature world-class circuits across key regions, striking the right balance between global exposure for manufacturers and the need to keep participation costs at a reasonable level. This stability lays a strong foundation for the continued success of the Hypercar class and supports the sustained growth of the world’s premier endurance racing series.”

2026 FIA World Endurance Championship Calendar