WorldSBK 2026: the new weekend format is official; here’s what will change

This afternoon it was announced that starting next year there will be a new format for WorldSBK: here’s what’s changing.

The SBK Commission has approved a small change to the standard schedule of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship events that will come into effect in 2026. Although subject to adjustments at specific rounds for local and television needs, the new schedule stipulates that World Superbike action will close out both race days of the weekend after Race 1 and Race 2 of WorldWCR, WorldSPB, and WorldSSP.

The change introduced isn’t anything revolutionary; fans are expecting far bigger news about the future of Superbike. No one has yet seen the impact of Liberty Media’s arrival as the owner of Dorna Sports and therefore of the production-derived world championship. We don’t know what plans exist to enhance the category—assuming there is any real interest in doing so.

We’ve been saying for years (and we’re not the only ones) that to relaunch WorldSBK a different ownership is needed; there can’t be a single owner that also controls MotoGP and focuses on promoting only the latter. It needs someone willing to make a serious shift. Rumors about a possible sale have surfaced, but there doesn’t seem to be anything particularly concrete yet.

In Italy, we don’t even know which platforms will carry MotoGP and Superbike in 2026. The Sky-Dorna contract expires at the end of 2025; Sky has made an offer to renew, but evidently at lower figures than those guaranteed so far. This is also why Liberty Media is evaluating other options. It’s certainly odd that as of December 17, 2025, there’s still no definitive news; hopefully by year’s end there will be an announcement about the TV rights.