It’s almost time for the world’s most iconic road racing event: The Isle of Man TT.
Set on the picturesque island in the Irish Sea and taking place on the 37.73-mile Snaefell Mountain Course, the track is one of the most challenging in motorsport.
Four classes of motorcycle are used in the event, with more than 100 riders competing across six days of racing.
This year’s TT will take place from May 25 to June 6, with one practice and six qualifying sessions during the first week, before six days of racing between May 30 and June 6.
Isle of Man TT history
The event was first held in 1907 over the Isle of Man St John’s Short Course, before moving to the Mountain Course in 1911. With the exception of the duration of both World Wars, the 2001 foot-and-mouth outbreak and the two years of the COVID pandemic, the event has taken place every year since.
The course starts at the main grandstand on Glencrutchery Road in Douglas, the island’s main town, before heading off along public roads towards Peel in the west.
Competitors then follow the main road through the villages of Kirk Michael, Ballaugh, Sulby and the town of Ramsey before heading out onto the mountain.
After reaching the course’s highest point at Hailwood’s Height, riders descend into Douglas before following the road back along to the start line.
Michael Dunlop has taken the most wins, with 33, after eclipsing his uncle Joey’s longstanding record of 26 in 2024. John McGuinness is in third with 23 victories.
Racing the clock
Unlike in many motorsport events, at the TT, riders are not racing each other: they’re racing the clock.
The time trial format involves riders leaving the startline at 10-second intervals, aiming to set the quickest time across the lap, rather than departing at the same time as in short-circuit racing.
The rider with the quickest time across the race wins.
Which classes race at the Isle of Man TT?
The TT races are split into five classes, with varying engine sizes.
Superbike: The “big bikes”. Quick and powerful, with 1000cc engines and over 200bhp. Similar to the specification used in the Superbike World Championship, but without the performance balancing. For the TT, these bikes are equipped with an expanded 24-litre fuel tank and quick release equipment on the wheels which allows for pitstops.
Supersport: The Supersport class was originally the domain of 600cc, four cylinder four-strokes, but now includes the 955cc Ducati Panigale V2, Triumph Street Triple 765RS and Suzuki GSXR750 – and for 2026 the Yamaha YZF-R9.
Superstock: The Superstock class is for 1000cc production sports motorcycles – the closest bikes to the ones you can buy in the showroom today.
Sportbike: The Supertwin class has been revamped for 2026, allowing Sportbike specification machines to compete alongside the traditional Supertwin machines.
Sidecar: Double trouble – sidecars feature a driver and a passenger, one alongside each other. They must work together to get the most out of their 600cc four-cylinder, 675cc three-cylinder, or 900cc parallel-twin engines.
How can I watch the TT?
The best way to follow all the action is via TT+’s Live Pass. The official platform shows all the action from practice and race week live.
ITV usually broadcasts daily highlights throughout the two weeks on ITV4 and ITVX.
Full Isle of Man TT 2026 schedule
Monday May 25
UNTIMED FREE PRACTICE
10:45 – Newcomer Speed Controlled Lap (Solo and Sidecar)
11:00 – Supersport / Sportbike
11:45 – Sidecars
12:40 – Superbike / Superstock
QUALIFYING 1
14:15 – Supersport / Sportbike
15:00 – Sidecars
15:55 – Superbike / Superstock
Tuesday May 26
QUALIFYING 2
18:30 – Superbike / Superstock
19:20 – Supersport / Sportbike
20:15 – Sidecars
Wednesday May 27
QUALIFYING 3
13:00 – Supersport / Sportbike
14:00 – Sidecars
14:55 – Superbike / Superstock
QUALIFYING 4
18:30 – Superbike / Superstock
19:20 – Supersport / Sportbike
20:15 – Sidecars
Thursday May 28
Rest day
Friday May 29
QUALIFYING 5
10:30 – Superbike / Superstock
11:25 – Sidecars
12:20 – Supersport / Sportbike
QUALIFYING 6
13:15 – Superbike / Superstock
14:20 – Sidecars
15:10 – Supersport / Sportbike
Saturday May 30
10:45 – Superstock TT Race 1 – [3 laps]
13:30 – Sidecar TT Race 1 – [3 laps]
Sunday May 31
13:30 – Superbike TT – [6 laps]
Monday June 1
Rest day
Tuesday June 2
10:45 – Supersport TT Race 1 – [4 laps]
13:00 – Sidecar Shakedown – [1 lap]
14:15 – Sportbike TT Race 1 – [3 laps]
15:50 – Solo Practice – [1 lap]
Wednesday June 3
10:45 – Sidecar TT Race 2 – [3 laps]
13:30 – Superstock TT Race 2 – [3 laps]
15:30 – Solo Practice – [1 lap]
Thursday June 4
Rest day
Friday June 5
10:45 – Supersport TT Race 2 – [4 laps]
14:00 – Sportbike TT Race 2 – [3 laps]
16:00 – Senior TT Practice – [1 lap]
Sunday June 6
11:00 – Senior TT – [6 laps]
Isle of Man TT 2027 schedule
Ahead of this year’s Isle of Man TT Races, the dates for TT 2027 have been confirmed.
The event is set to take place from Monday May 31 to Saturday June 12.
The provisional dates for TT 2028 are Monday 29th May to Saturday 10th June 2028.