2026 is the 65th season of international kart racing since the founding of the Commission Internationale de Karting () in 1962. The season is scheduled to see drivers and manufacturers contest 37 international championships in 11 CIK-FIA classes, as well as 18 in the Rotax Max Challenge (RMC) and four in the IAME Series, across 54 events in 18 countries. The CIK-FIA World Championship is set to be held in three classes: OK, , and KZ.
The season is set to see the return of the CIK-FIA Asia-Pacific Championship and the CIK-FIA South American Championship in the arrive-and-drive classes, as well as the creation of a new CIK-FIA European Championship. The season opened with the WSK Super Master Series on 21 January and is due to conclude with the final round of the Champions of the Future Academy Program in and on 2 December.
The European Champions were Émilien Denner (KZ) and Kimi Tani (KZ2). In the classes, Maksim Orlov has won two titles in KZ2, while Lev Krutogolov (OK), Qarrar Firhand (OK), Antônio Pizzonia Neto (), Zdeněk Bábíček (), and Émilien Denner (KZ) have each won one title in their respective categories. In the RMC, Antoine Barbaroux (DD2), Macauley Bishop (Senior Max), and Bábíček (Junior Max) have each won titles; in the IAME Series, Aaron García () and Ivan González () have been victorious.
Background
Kart racing originated on the streets of California, United States, in 1956. The Commission Internationale de Karting () was founded in 1962 to govern international kart racing. It soon founded the World Championship (1964), the European Championship (1970), and the Asian Open Championship (1976)—later known as the Asia-Pacific Championship—before establishing distinct engine classes in 1981. The CIK-FIA Academy Trophy was set up as a low-cost junior series in 2010. The World Championship was expanded to a three-class system in 2013, with separate titles for senior, junior, and gearbox classes. It is traditionally held as a single event, following the multi-round European Championship.
Parma Motorsport was founded in 1961 and has since established two international competitions: the Trofeo delle Industrie (1971) and the Andrea Margutti Trophy (1990). WSK Promotion was founded in 2006, later founding the Super Master Series, the Euro Series, and the Final Cup, all in 2010. The RGMMC Group created Champions of the Future in 2020, which since expanded to three distinct competitions: the Euro Series (2020), the Academy Program (2023), and Shifters (2024). The Rotax Max Challenge (RMC; 2000) and the IAME Series (2007) gained prominence as single-design disciplines in the early-21st century, prompting the to establish arrive-and-drive categories in 2025.
Calendar changes
After a decade-long absence, the CIK-FIA Asia-Pacific Championship was initially set to return in an arrive-and-drive format at three events in Macau, China, and India, alongside the CIK-FIA South American Championship in Brazil, which had not appeared since 2009. The Asia-Pacific Championship was later reduced to a single round in Macau. The CIK-FIA World Championship in OK and are set to return to Sakhir for the first time since 2016, while Le Mans is due to host the KZ World Championship for the third time. There are four circuits set to debut in international competition: Thessaloniki, Słomczyn, Imperatriz, and Muscat.
The Deutsche Kart-Meisterschaft (DKM) was removed from the international calendar, following the decision by ADAC to use the new national classes— and —rather than the international OK and classes. The senior () class was dropped from the European Championship, while Champions of the Future Shifters (COTFS) for all three gearbox classes was not held.
Manufacturer changes
Chinese technology firm Lenovo began a technical partnership with Kalì Kart, upgrading their facilities and starting a driver development programme, with their factory-backed outfit becoming the "Lenovo Kalì Kart Team".
Regulation changes For 2026, the mandated an "anti-launch" system, with the aim of mitigating the effects of wheel-to-wheel contact and overall safety, following its trial at the arrive-and-drive events in 2025. Initial tests showed that the system increases the dissipation of kinetic energy by over 60% relative to the previous rear bumper design, decreasing the risk of rollover collisions. The geometry of side bodywork was altered to accommodate the shields. Impact data recorders were mandated in competitions ahead of their full debut in 2027, while the regulations regarding the geometry of front fairings were tightened to reduce water and gravel retention. A new safety seat insert was approved to protect drivers with physical disabilities, featuring a roll hoop.
As part of the FIA's broader commitment to net-zero emissions, fully-sustainable fuels were mandated across all FIA championships, including all classes. Biofuel had been approved in competition from 2023 onwards under Akbar Ebrahim. The launched tenders for a fuel supplier in June 2025 and a biomass option by ETS Racing Fuels was selected by the FIA for each World Championship until 2028. In the June meeting of the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC), the regulations surrounding wet tyres were updated for "sporting fairness", requiring drivers to use a new set for races declared to be wet due to differing levels of degradation. Helmet regulations were revised to include options for drivers with a head circumference greater than , as well as the rules surrounding tube inserts in rear axles.
CIK-FIA classes Calendar, CIK-FIA classes As of 14 July 2026, the international calendar in classes includes 37 events from 14 competitions with 37 titles on offer:
+ChampionshipCircuitDatesClassJanuaryWSK Super Master Series (1/5) La Conca21–25 JanuaryOK Lev KrutogolovOK-J Antônio Pizzonia NetoKZ2 Maksim OrlovFebruaryWSK Super Master Series (2/5) Sarno4–8 FebruaryOK Dean HoogendoornOK-J Zdeněk BábíčekKZ2 Senna van WalstijnWSK Euro Series (1/3) Viterbo11–14 FebruaryOK Qarrar FirhandOK-J Michele OrlandoKZ2 Dion van WervenWSK Super Master Series (3/5) Viterbo18–22 FebruaryOK Lev KrutogolovOK-J Antônio Pizzonia NetoKZ2 Senna van WalstijnMarchChampions of the Future Academy Program (1/6) Valencia26 February – 1 MarchOK-N Angelina Simons Kacper RajpoldOKN-J Hernán Rodriguez Zoltan CoignyWSK Super Master Series (4/5) Lonato4–8 MarchOK Benjamin MañachOK-J Daniel MirónKZ2 Maksim OrlovAndrea Margutti Trophy Lonato12–15 MarchKZ2 Cristian BertucaWSK Super Master Series (5/5) Franciacorta19–22 MarchOK Luke KornderOK-J Lorenzo Di PietrantonioKZ2 Senna van WalstijnAprilChampions of the Future Euro Series (1/5) La Conca1–4 AprilOK Dean HoogendoornOK-J Julian FrasnelliCIK-FIA European Championship (1/4) La Conca9–12 AprilOK Noah BaglinOK-J Will GreenWSK Euro Series (2/3) Lonato15–18 AprilOK İskender ZülfikariOK-J Zdeněk BábíčekKZ2 Maksim OrlovMayChampions of the Future Euro Series (2/5) Valencia29 April – 2 MayOK Noah BaglinOK-J Will GreenCIK-FIA European Championship (2/4) Valencia7–10 MayOK Noah BaglinOK-J Daniel MirónCIK-FIA Academy Trophy (1/3)Academy-S Alexis GenoletCIK-FIA European Championship (1/2) Genk21–24 MayKZ Adrián MalheiroKZ2 Elie GoldsteinCIK-FIA Academy Trophy (1/3)Academy-J Zoltan CoignyChampions of the Future Academy Program (2/6) Thessaloniki28–31 MayOK-N Veer Chopra Veer ChopraOKN-J Diar Islami Atiqa MirJuneChampions of the Future Euro Series (3/5) 3–6 JuneOK Noah BaglinOK-J Leo GórskiCIK-FIA European Championship (3/4) 11–14 JuneOK Zac DrummondOK-J Will GreenCIK-FIA Academy Trophy (2/3)Academy-S Filip PlanetaJulyCIK-FIA European Championship (2/2) Sarno2–5 JulyKZ Émilien DennerKZ2 Kimi TaniCIK-FIA Academy Trophy (2/3)Academy-J John HanWSK Euro Series (3/3) Cremona8–11 JulyOK Henry DomainOK-J Matvei DergunovKZ2 Maksim OrlovChampions of the Future Academy Program (3/6) Viterbo9–12 JulyOK-N Jagrat Detroja Michał ZającOKN-J Niccolò Perico Niccolò PericoCIK-FIA European Championship Słomczyn17–19 JulyA&D-S Kacper TuroboyskiA&D-J Maksymilian PiątekChampions of the Future Euro Series (4/5) Kristianstad22–25 JulyOK Noah BaglinOK-J Daniel MirónAugustCIK-FIA European Championship (4/4) Kristianstad30 July – 2 AugustOKOK-JCIK-FIA Academy Trophy (3/3)Academy-SWSK Final Cup (1/3) Franciacorta26–30 AugustOKOK-JKZ2SeptemberChampions of the Future Euro Series (5/5) Sarno9–12 SeptemberOKOK-JCIK-FIA Asia-Pacific Championship 11–13 SeptemberA&D-SA&D-JCIK-FIA World Championship Le Mans17–20 SeptemberKZCIK-FIA World CupKZ2CIK-FIA International Super CupKZ2-MOctoberCIK-FIA South American Championship Imperatriz*2–4 OctoberA&D-SA&D-JCIK-FIA World Cup Viterbo8–11 OctoberOK-NOKN-JCIK-FIA Academy Trophy (3/3)Academy-JWSK Final Cup (2/3) Lonato21–25 OctoberOKOK-JKZ2NovemberChampions of the Future Academy Program (4/6) Muscat*29 October – 1 NovemberOK-NOKN-JCIK-FIA World Championship Sakhir4–7 NovemberOKOK-JTrofeo delle Industrie Lonato12–15 NovemberOK-JKZ2CIK-FIA World Cup LYL International19–22 NovemberA&D-SA&D-JChampions of the Future Academy Program (5/6) Al Ain22–25 NovemberOK-NOKN-JWSK Final Cup (3/3) Viterbo25–29 NovemberOKOK-JKZ2DecemberChampions of the Future Academy Program (6/6) Al Forsan29 November – 2 DecemberOK-NOKN-JSource: Subject to circuit homologation.
OK 2026 is the 11th season of Original Kart (OK) regulations since they replaced KF in 2016 and the 46th season of senior engine regulations since the Formula K (FK) and Intercontinental A (ICA) classes were established in 1981, developed from the original 100 cc category from 1962. It is scheduled to be held across 21 events in six competitions.
Palmarès, OK
The OK class is set to award six international titles in 2026: WSK Super Master Series: Lev Krutogolov (Energy–IAME) WSK Euro Series: Qarrar Firhand (Parolin–TM) CIK-FIA European Championship: To be determined Champions of the Future Euro Series: To be determined CIK-FIA World Championship: To be determined WSK Final Cup: To be determined
OK-Junior 2026 is the 11th season of () regulations since they replaced () in 2016 and the 46th season of junior engine regulations since the Junior Intercontinental A () class was established in 1981, developed from the original 100 cc category from 1968. It is scheduled to be held across 22 events in seven competitions.
Palmarès, OK-Junior
The class is set to award seven international titles in 2026: WSK Super Master Series: Antônio Pizzonia Neto (Parolin–TM) WSK Euro Series: Zdeněk Bábíček (Tony Kart–IAME) CIK-FIA European Championship: To be determined Champions of the Future Euro Series: To be determined CIK-FIA World Championship: To be determined Trofeo delle Industrie: To be determined WSK Final Cup: To be determined
KZ 2026 is the 20th season of KZ regulations since they replaced Formula C (FC) in 2007 and the 53rd season of gearbox regulations since the FC class was established in 1974. It is scheduled to be held across three events in two competitions.
Palmarès, KZ
The KZ class is set to award two international titles in 2026: CIK-FIA European Championship: Émilien Denner (IPK–TM) CIK-FIA World Championship: To be determined
KZ2 2026 is the 20th season of KZ2 regulations since they replaced Intercontinental C (ICC) in 2007 and the 45th season of secondary gearbox regulations since the ICC class was established in 1982. It is scheduled to be held across 16 events in seven competitions.
Palmarès, KZ2
The KZ2 class is set to award seven international titles in 2026: Andrea Margutti Trophy: Cristian Bertuca (Birel ART–IAME) WSK Super Master Series: Maksim Orlov (Sodi–TM) CIK-FIA European Championship: Kimi Tani (Parolin–TM) WSK Euro Series: Maksim Orlov (Sodi–TM) CIK-FIA World Cup: To be determined Trofeo delle Industrie: To be determined WSK Final Cup: To be determined
KZ2-Masters