Drift Masters 2026 Calendar – Events & Dates

Drift Masters Grand Prix (DMGP) has officially announced its 2026 season calendar, featuring seven rounds across some of Europe’s ultimate motorsport venues.

Unlike Formula DRIFT, which surprised fans by confirming several new venues for 2026, the Drift Masters calendar brings only minor changes from 2025.

The plan is to again kick off in Italy, which was forced to cancel at the last minute in unfortunate circumstances last year, while Ireland and Finland have been swapped around to ease transport and logistics. Finland’s round will also take place at a completely new venue for the series.

Red Bull is shaking things up for a couple of rounds as well, with special events planned that could potentially add an exciting twist to the traditional competition format.

Loyal fans will be relieved to hear that the classic must-have stops in the DMGP calendar return as expected, including Riga, Mondello Park, and Ferropolis. Then, the incredible stadium finale at PGE Narodowy in Warsaw returns, where over 50,000 fans will witness the championship battle reach its conclusion.

Let’s take a look at exactly what the Drift Masters 2026 calendar has in store:

Round 1 – Autodromo Vallelunga Piero Taruffi – Rome, Italy – 1-2 May 2026

DMGP again plans to kick off the season in Italy’s Vallelunga Circuit, following the unfortunate passing of Pope Francis just days before the event last year, which led to its cancellation.

Assuming things go smoother this time around, Vallelunga Race Track will be a fresh addition to the series and DMGP’s first-ever event in Italy. The high-speed circuit sits in the hills just north of Rome, where the classic Mediterranean landscape provides a stunning backdrop.

Since the 1950s, the venue has evolved into one of Italy’s most impressive motorsport facilities, and its proximity to Rome makes it easy for fans traveling across Europe to reach.

Having hosted the inaugural FIA Motorsport Games in 2019, Vallelunga brings serious credentials to what should be an exciting start to the 2026 season.

Round 2 – Circuito del Madrid Jarama – RACE – Madrid, Spain – 16-17 May 2026

Spain hosts round two as the championship heads to Circuito del Madrid Jarama-RACE in San Sebastián de los Reyes, just north of Madrid.

Jarama returns after its debut last year, but this time with a crucial change. The concrete wall at the corner where Piotr Więcek and James Deane had their massive crash in 2025 “will be replaced with other protections” to reduce the risk of a repeat.

Designed by the same architect behind Suzuka Circuit, the technical layout features challenging elevation changes and banked corners, making it a real test of skill.

With an impressive history that includes hosting nine Formula One Spanish Grand Prix events between 1968 and 1981, the venue adds serious motorsport heritage to the weekend.

Round 3 – Mondello Park – Kildare, Ireland – 13-14 June 2026

No European calendar would be complete without the spiritual home of drifting at Ireland’s only permanent racing circuit. This time, Drift Masters promises “the most explosive Irish round yet” at Mondello Park.

In the promo footage, it looks like Drift Masters and Red Bull are joining forces to bring “a host of surprises and experiences that are still to be announced,” and it seems like Red Bull’s Drift Pursuit will play a major role.

For those unfamiliar, Drift Pursuit is a gymkhana-style head-to-head knockout battle format. It brings a hybrid drift/time-attack competition on a custom course with obstacles and clipping points.

You can check out what went down for the Shanahans at Drift Pursuit last time in this vlog:

From what we’re hearing so far, it might be more than just a sideshow. If they incorporate it into the actual Drift Masters competition, that could be wild, and we’re hyped to hear more when further details are confirmed.

Mondello’s atmosphere remains unmatched anywhere else on the calendar. Since opening in 1968, it’s become the cornerstone of Irish motorsport.

With many of the series’ top competitors hailing from Ireland, the home crowd brings an energy that consistently produces some of the series’ most insane battles.

Round 4 – Ahvenisto – Hämeenlinna, Finland – 11-12 July 2026

For 2026, Ahvenisto Race Circuit replaces PowerPark Huvivaltio on the DMGP calendar, and it looks absolutely awesome.

Ahvenisto is one of Finland’s most legendary circuits, having been in continuous use since the late 1960s and hosting Finnish motorsport legends Mika Salo, Mika Häkkinen, and Kimi Räikkönen.

Drift Masters’ very own Juha Rintanen designed the drifting layout, giving Juha (and likely some other local drivers) a potential advantage, especially given that the Finnish crowd will undoubtedly be as loud as ever.

For anyone considering attending, Ahvenisto is just 100 km from Helsinki Vantaa Airport, making it easily accessible for international fans, with more than 10,000 expected over the weekend.

Described as “practically made for drifting,” the circuit functions as a natural spectator bowl where spectators can view almost the entire layout. With massive elevation changes, we’re expecting it to be super demanding and visually impressive.

Swapping Ireland and Finland around is an ideal move. Last year, the teams faced a massive logistical headache with Finland sandwiched between Spain and Ireland. They had to travel from Finland, head back home between Spain and Ireland, and then return to Finland, with a total journey of over 14,500 km (9,000 miles), which understandably didn’t go down too well. 

Round 5 – Biķernieku Trase – Riga, Latvia – 24-25 July 2026

It’s Riga, baby!

Of course, Latvia’s legendary Biķernieku Trase is back, marking ten years of Drift Masters in Riga, and the venue continues to be one of the most decisive rounds of the season. Known as the “real” driver’s track of the year.

The old-school drifting fans among us will undoubtedly remember the infamous Riga Baby video from the Drift Allstars era, and it continues to remain one of the most popular stops on the calendar.

Following a usual pre-event street party, the demanding layout features an unforgiving high-speed entry, followed by concrete walls that have created some of the most dramatic moments in drifting history.

To top it off, Riga’s fans rank among the loudest in Europe, drawing drift enthusiasts from across the Baltic region. As a crucial late-season battle, this round often reshapes the championship standings heading into the final stops.

Round 6 – Ferropolis – Dessau, Germany – 13-15 August 2026

Many will be delighted to hear that the spectacularly unique Ferropolis is back for the penultimate round, alongside the Iron Drift King festival.

Known as “The City of Iron,” the battleground transforms a former mining site into one of the most atmospheric drifting venues, with towering machinery, massive crowds, and a vibe that feels more like an arena than a typical racetrack.

Built to Formula 1 safety standards, the 14,000-square-meter temporary circuit features high-speed entries reaching up to 130 km/h.

Then, as the sun goes down, the event continues into the night, with battles unfolding under pyrotechnic lighting. Combined with the silhouettes of the giant mining machines, it creates an atmosphere unlike anything else in motorsport.

Round 7 (Grand Finale) – PGE Narodowy – Warsaw, Poland – 11-12 September 2026

We doubt anyone will be disappointed to see the series once again conclude at Poland’s spectacular PGE Narodowy stadium for the biggest drifting event in the world.

For the epic finale, over 50,000 fans will pack the Polish national stadium to watch the 2026 DMGP championship conclusion unfold on the custom-built figure-8 layout laid down specifically for the event.

Red Bull is again “bringing their own flare and more surprises still to be revealed,” which suggests something similar to what’s planned for the Irish round might be in store.

While we wait to see what that will entail, one thing’s for sure – the energy at Warsaw always delivers an unforgettable spectacle, and it’s the perfect location to crown the 2026 Drift Masters champion.

If the 2025 wildcards are anything to go by, you can expect to see some insane talent turn up to cause an upset, too!

Check out the official Drift Masters 2026 calendar promo video here: