The International Hot Rod Association has released the official 2026 IHRA Offshore Series National Championship schedule, featuring seven championship rounds across the United States and a World Championship finale at a date and location to be announced.
The schedule provides a defined championship pathway for competitors following IHRA’s recent acquisitions of Powerboat P1 USA/P1 Offshore and ongoing discussions with Race World Offshore towards potential unification.
2026 championship calendar
The seven-round championship begins in Florida and concludes in Alabama before the World Championship finale.
Date |
Location |
State |
|---|---|---|
March 27-29 |
St. Petersburg |
Florida |
April 10-12 |
New Orleans |
Louisiana |
May |
TBA |
TBA |
June 12-14 |
Lake of the Ozarks |
Missouri |
July 24-26 |
St. Clair |
Michigan |
August 7-9 |
Sheboygan |
Wisconsin |
September 11-13 |
Orange Beach |
Alabama |
TBA |
World Championship |
TBA |
The May round location remains to be confirmed, whilst the World Championship date and venue will be announced separately.
Prize structure and broadcast coverage
The 2026 IHRA Offshore Series will feature a $2,000,000 total purse plus tow money, providing substantial financial support for competitors throughout the championship.
National television coverage has been designed to be easily accessible for fans and teams, expanding visibility and value across the series.
Official class rules, purse breakdowns, tow money distribution details, and broadcast specifics will be released in mid-January, providing teams with clear guidance as they prepare for the season.
Building unified structure
The schedule announcement follows IHRA’s appointment of Tommy Thomassie as Executive Vice President, Director of Powerboating, establishing formal leadership for the organisation’s powerboat operations.
Thomassie outlined his vision for the series following his appointment.
This schedule provides a roster of strong venues and a defined championship structure.
I look forward to working alongside the IHRA leadership team and the racing community to strengthen the sport, create sustainable growth, and deliver world-class events for fans around the globe.
The 2026 season represents IHRA’s first full championship under unified governance following its acquisitions of multiple powerboat racing series.
John Moore’s involvement in powerboat racing began in 1981 when he competed in his first offshore powerboat race. After a career as a Financial Futures broker in the City of London, specialising in UK interest rate markets, he became actively involved in event organisation and powerboat racing journalism.
He served as Event Director for the Cowes–Torquay–Cowes races between 2010 and 2013. In 2016, he launched Powerboat Racing World, a digital platform providing global powerboat racing news and insights. The following year, he co-founded UKOPRA, helping to rejuvenate offshore racing in the United Kingdom. He sold Powerboat Racing World in late 2021 and remained actively involved with UKOPRA until 2025.
In 2025, he established Powerboat News, returning to independent journalism with a focus on neutral and comprehensive coverage of the sport.
