NASCAR 26 is the official NASCAR game for 2026, made by iRacing Studios. It came out on 18 September 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC through Steam. The Standard Edition is $59.99 and the Gold Edition $79.99.
Everything below comes from nascar26.com, its FAQ and release notes, and the Steam store page, all read on 2 November 2026. I have not played NASCAR 26 myself, so there are no driving impressions here, only what the studio confirms.
Release date
- 15 September 2026: early access for Gold Edition owners who pre-ordered.
- 18 September 2026: launch of the Standard Edition on Xbox, PlayStation and Steam.
Steam shows 17 September as the release date on its page. The studio's own FAQ and launch news say 18 September for the Standard Edition, so I go with that.
Editions and price
| Edition | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $59.99 | The game |
| Gold | $79.99 | The game, the 2026 Season Pass, and 3 days of early access if pre-ordered |
| 2026 Season Pass (on its own) | $24.99 | Four monthly DLC packs, September to December |
The DLC is cosmetic and career help: more than 200 paint schemes, extra firesuits, a $10,000 career bonus, 1,000 career reputation points and VIP employees for your career team. If you only want to race, the Standard Edition is the one to buy. Nothing in the Season Pass makes the car faster.
The game is digital only. There is no disc. You buy it on the PlayStation Store, the Microsoft Store or Steam.
Platforms and cross-play
NASCAR 26 is on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC through Steam. There is no PS4 or Xbox One version, and the FAQ says Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 are not supported.
Cross-play works between all three platforms. Console players can also choose console only cross-play if they don't want PC players in the lobby.
Two things to know before you buy:
- No VR. The FAQ says VR headsets are not supported.
- Private lobbies are console only. On PC you get password protected lobbies instead.
Steam Deck runs it, but iRacing Studios says it is not officially supported.
PC system requirements
From the Steam page:
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 or 11, 64 bit | Windows 10 or 11, 64 bit |
| CPU | 4 cores (Ryzen 3 1200, Core i5-4430) | 8 cores (Ryzen 9 3900X, Core i9-9900KS) |
| RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB |
| GPU | 4 GB VRAM (GTX 1060, Radeon 570) | 8 GB VRAM (RTX 2080 Ti, Radeon VII) |
| Storage | 65 GB | 100 GB |
DirectX 12 and a broadband connection on both. The mouse does not work in the menus, so use a pad, a wheel or the keyboard.
What is new in NASCAR 26
This is the list iRacing Studios gives in its launch news and on the game page:
- Driving physics: a new tyre and braking model, more input options, and the 750 hp engine package.
- Dynamic track: grip changes over the race weekend, from the first practice to the flag.
- The Chase: a standalone mode where you race the last 10 races of the season for the title, against the field you pick.
- Peak Performance: a training mode with coaching from crew chief Steve Letarte and Daytona 500 winner Jamie McMurray.
- Career mode: weekly planning with Facility Upgrades. I explain how it works in my NASCAR 26 career mode guide.
- New content: the Qualcomm Circuit at Naval Base Coronado, Chicagoland and St. Petersburg, a new Ram truck, updated COTA, and Freddie Kraft as the new spotter.
- The rest: burnouts with a new smoke system, a trophy room, better lighting and skies, AI DNFs and customisable driver ratings.
All four series are in: Cup, O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, Craftsman Truck Series and ARCA Menards Series.
The dynamic track is the one I would pay attention to. On a real oval the groove moves as rubber goes down, and the line that works in practice is not the one that works with 20 laps to go. If the game models that well, it changes how you set the car up for a long run.
Updates since launch
The latest release notes on 2 November 2026 are from 23 October 2026, for Xbox, PlayStation and Steam:
- Updated driver ratings.
- AI drivers now use the correct DLC paint schemes at the events they belong to.
- The Peak Performance graph now shows braking power correctly.
- Slight rear body damage can be repaired when it is the only damage on the car.
- Fixes for a duplicated ARCA employee portrait and a "laps to go" message that stayed on screen after a restart.
Wheels and controllers
Pad is what most people will use, and the Steam page lists DualSense support on PC.
On PC, many wheels work out of the box. If yours doesn't, the FAQ says you can map any XInput, GameInput or DirectInput device in Options, Input Mapping. My NASCAR 26 wheel settings page has the menu and a starting point by brand.
I don't have controller values for NASCAR 26 yet that two separate sources agree on, so I am not publishing any. When I do, they will have their own page.
NASCAR 26 or iRacing?
They come from the same company and they are not the same thing. NASCAR 26 is a $59.99 console and PC game with a career, AI and cross-play lobbies. iRacing is a PC subscription built around ranked online racing with licences. If you want to race ovals against real people every night with a licence system behind it, iRacing is the one, and I break down what it really costs in how much iRacing costs. If it is the 1990s and 2000s stock cars you are after, iRacing added the Gen 4 Grand National in Season 4.
If you still race NASCAR Heat 5, my NASCAR Heat 5 Cup setups are still there for that game.
FAQ
When did NASCAR 26 come out?
18 September 2026 for the Standard Edition. Gold Edition owners who pre-ordered played from 15 September.
How much is NASCAR 26?
$59.99 for the Standard Edition and $79.99 for the Gold Edition, which adds the 2026 Season Pass. The Season Pass alone is $24.99.
Is NASCAR 26 on PS4 or Xbox One?
No. It is on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC through Steam.
Is NASCAR 26 cross-platform?
Yes. Cross-play works between PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Steam, and consoles can choose console only cross-play.
Does NASCAR 26 support VR?
No. iRacing Studios says VR headsets are not supported.
Is there a physical copy of NASCAR 26?
No. It is digital only.
Who makes NASCAR 26?
iRacing Studios, in collaboration with NASCAR.