The Polish Motor Union has officially presented the schedule for speedway competitions for the upcoming 2026 season. Racing on domestic tracks will begin as early as the last weekend of March, offering fans a concentration of prestigious friendly and championship tournaments. The most important changes concern the admission of foreign juniors to league competitions and modifications to the youth training system, which are expected to significantly impact the sport's level and rider availability.

Official PZM Calendar

The 2026 speedway season will begin on 28 March with the IMME tournament in Łódź, followed by a series of memorials in Leszno, Bydgoszcz, and Ostrów.

Revolution in Junior Formations

League authorities have allowed foreigners to start under youth numbers, ending the long-standing monopoly of Polish juniors in the PGE Ekstraliga.

New Training System

16 rounds of the Team Ekstraliga 500R Cup and 8 rounds of the individual tournament are planned, placing greater emphasis on developing young squads.

The Polish Motor Union has published the complete speedway sports calendar for 2026, causing considerable excitement among fans and experts. Official racing will begin on the last weekend of March, provided weather conditions allow. Speedway fans can prepare for an exceptional concentration of events in a short time. On 28 March, the IMME named after Zenon Plech will take place in Łódź. Just one day later, on 29 March, fans will have to choose between the Kryterium Asów in Bydgoszcz, the Alfred Smoczyk Memorial in Leszno, and competitions in Ostrów Wielkopolski. Significant changes have occurred in the structure of youth competitions and squad regulations. After a 16-year break, the PGE Ekstraliga has decided to allow foreigners to compete under junior numbers. This decision is a response to the shortage of young Polish talents and aims to raise the sporting level of youth races. In the training sphere, a new format for the Individual Ekstraliga 500R Cup has been announced, which in 2026 will consist of eight rounds. Each elite club will organize one tournament. Meanwhile, the Team Ekstraliga 500R Cup will expand to 16 rounds, providing aspiring speedway riders with significantly more opportunities for regular starts. Speedway in Poland enjoys the highest attendance in the world, and the tradition of memorial tournaments, such as the one dedicated to Alfred Smoczyk, dates back to the early post-war years, forming the foundation of speedway culture in regions like Greater Poland and Kuyavia. An interesting highlight of the season will be the debut of a young Briton. Cooper Rushen, the new signing for Fogo Unia Leszno, will start in the Smoczyk Memorial exactly on his 16th birthday. This will be his first official appearance on a 500cc motorcycle in an international lineup. The city of Łódź will become one of the central points of the season, hosting not only the IMME tournament but also a round of the prestigious SGP series, which is already translating into huge ticket demand. Experts predict that the 2026 season, thanks to changes in junior regulations, could be a breakthrough for the balance of power in the Polish league. „Thanks to the publication of the calendar, we know the exact dates and locations of all events. Everything will start as early as the end of March.” — PZM Statement Number of Rounds in 2026 Training Cycles: Team Ekstraliga 500R Cup: 16, Individual Ekstraliga 500R Cup: 8, U24 Ekstraliga: 18 Inauguration of the 2026 Speedway Season: 28 March 2026 — IMME im. Zenona Plecha in Łódź; 29 March 2026 — Alfred Smoczyk Memorial in Leszno; 29 March 2026 — Kryterium Asów in Bydgoszczy; 4 April 2026 — MPPK in Gdańsk

Mentioned People

  • Cooper Rushen — Young British speedway rider for Fogo Unia Leszno, who will make his debut in Poland on his 16th birthday.
  • Zenon Plech — Legendary Polish speedway rider, after whom the IMME tournament is named.