Classic TT Races get overhauled for 2026!

Classic motorcycle racing fans are in for a treat next summer as the revived Isle of Man Classic TT Races introduces two new race classes to the 2026 programme, creating a six race festival running immediately after the Manx Grand Prix races in the last week of August.

The event returned in 2025 for the first time since the pandemic and truly is one of the highlights of the road racing season. It sees many of the top current TT stars take to the iconic 37.73-mile Mountain course on classic equipment from the latter half of the 20^th century, against the backdrop of a chilled out festival atmosphere.

Two stroke fans will now be able to see (and smell) 125cc Grand Prix bikes buzz around the island in anger for the first time in over two decades, with the addition of an Ultra Lightweight Classic TT. The last Ultra Lightweight TT to be held on the Mountain course took place at the 2004 TT races and was won by Chris Palmer, who set a lap record of 110.52mph on his Honda RS125.

Back in the day the race was dominated by the Dunlop brothers, Joey and Robert. The race was (re)introduced to the TT in 1989, after a 15-year hiatus, with Robert winning the first three editions and Joey winning the next three. Joey would win twice more, in 1996 and at his last TT in 2000, while Robert’s 1998 victory was remarkable as it came five years after suffering serious injuries in 1993 Senior TT.

Recently retired Welsh ace Ian Lougher was also a three-time winner and the introduction of a classic version of the race is sure to be popular with fans and riders alike. The 125s will share the grid with the 250cc Grand Prix bikes, the 250s fighting for Lightweight Classic TT honours and the 125s for Ultra Lightweight glory over three laps.

Also back on track will be the ‘pre-injection’ supersport 600 machines from the 1990s, which will do battle for the Junior 600 Classic TT. These carburettor classics include the Honda CBR600F and early examples of the Kawasaki ZX-6R, Suzuki GSX-R600 and Yamaha YZF-R6. They will evoke memories of TT legends like Steve Hislop, Philip McCallen, Ian Simpson, Iain Duffus and Jim Moodie, who famously battled for honours in a golden era of TT racing.

The 600s will get their own three lap race, while also qualifying for the Senior Classic TT – a four-lap finale open to Formula One superbikes and 250cc Lightweights, as well as the 600s. Older bikes remain well catered for, with the Historic Senior Classic TT and Historic Junior Classic TT remaining unchanged for 2026. All in, the 2026 Classic TT week promises 19 laps of racing across six Classic TTs, with three planned parade laps and plenty of off-track activity, including an exhibition honouring the 30-year career of TT legend John McGuinness.

A combined qualifying practice week for the Classic TT and Manx Grand Prix races starts on Sunday 16 August, with the Manx Grand Prix’s Supertwin and Supersport races scheduled for Saturday 22 August.

The Classic race programme kicks off on Monday 24 August, with the Historic Junior race taking place after the Manx’s Junior and Senior races, before two dedicated Classic TT race days planned for Wednesday 26 and Friday 28 August. Two rest days, on the Tuesday and Thursday, provide contingency to reschedule races in case of bad weather.

2026 Isle of Man Classic TT Races – provisional race schedule