2026 British Speedway Grand Prix Manchester: Everything You Need to Know
The world’s best speedway riders are coming to Manchester. Here’s everything you need to know before the gates open.
The ATPI FIM Speedway Grand Prix of Great Britain returns to the National Speedway Stadium in Manchester on Friday 5 June and Saturday 6 June – and if last year was anything to go by, you’ll want to be there for both nights.
This is rounds three and four of the 2026 FIM Speedway Grand Prix season, the 32nd year of the world championship series. Sixteen of the planet’s best speedway riders, no brakes, a 347-metre shale track, and a crowd that knows its stuff. It doesn’t get much more raw than this.
The venue
The National Speedway Stadium in Kirkmanshulme Lane, Manchester M12 4WB is home to legendary British club Belle Vue Aces and has built a serious reputation since opening in 2016. Widely regarded as one of the finest speedway tracks in the world, it hosted its first-ever Speedway GP double-header in 2025 to enormous acclaim. It’s back for round two.
Organisers have made improvements for 2026: earlier opening times on race days, a revised layout of bars and catering, and an upgraded public address system in the East Stand. Fans holding Friday tickets also get admission to watch Qualifying and the Sprint Race, which gets underway at 2pm – so it’s a full day out, not just a night.
A park and ride service is being planned. Keep an eye on sgpmanchester.com for travel and parking details as they’re confirmed.
The riders to watch
Bartosz Zmarzlik (Poland) comes in as defending champion, having claimed a record-equalling sixth world title in 2025 – including a win at Manchester on the Saturday night last June. The Pole is the standard everyone else is chasing.
Dan Bewley (Great Britain) is the home crowd’s man. The West Cumbrian won on the Friday night in Manchester last year, sending the place absolutely wild, and finished third overall in the 2025 championship. He knows this track, he knows how to win here, and he’ll have 10,000 people behind him willing him to do it again.
Brady Kurtz (Australia) is the Belle Vue club captain and 2025 championship runner-up. He reached the podium on both nights in Manchester last year and heads into the home straight of the season knowing he has the pace to challenge for the title.
Robert Lambert (Great Britain) is another British rider with a point to prove. The defending British Speedway Champion won the FIM Speedway of Nations Final with Great Britain in Manchester in both 2021 and 2024 – now he wants individual GP glory at the same track.
The full 2026 permanent rider lineup also includes Maciej Janowski, Patryk Dudek, Jack Holder, Leon Madsen, Dominik Kubera, Kacper Woryna, Andžejs Ļebedevs, Max Fricke, Jason Doyle, Mikkel Michelsen and Martin Vaculík.
What about Tai Woffinden?
It won’t be the return Manchester fans had been hoping for. Woffinden – Britain’s most successful speedway rider with three world titles — was handed a permanent wild card for 2026 but withdrew from the series in March as he continued his recovery from serious injuries sustained in a crash at Krosno in 2025. Then, just days ago, he suffered another setback when he crashed in a Polish club meeting, breaking six ribs and his left shoulder blade, with his bike catching fire and requiring paramedic intervention. He posted on Facebook: “Diamonds only form when under pressure.” Typical Tai. The man is made of something else entirely. We hope to see him back on track soon.
How to buy tickets
Tickets for both nights are on sale now at sgpmanchester.com. Two-day packages covering both the Friday and Saturday GPs are available at a discounted rate. Single tickets are also available subject to availability.
This is a genuine sell-out risk. If you’re thinking about it, stop thinking and book.
Find more events with the Lid Life Events Finder
Looking for more motorcycle events across the UK and beyond? The Lid Life Events Finder App has you covered, from Speedway GPs to track days, rallies, rideouts and everything in between. Free to use, updated regularly, and built for riders.
Date: Friday 5 June and Saturday 6 June 2026
Venue: National Speedway Stadium, Kirkmanshulme Lane, Manchester M12 4WB
Tickets: sgpmanchester.com
More events: Lid Life Events Finder
