In April 2024, the King of the Baggers racing program stretched into new territory when it competed during the MotoGP Grand Prix of the Americas in Austin, Texas, in front of an international audience. That debut was followed by Harley-Davidson taking its baggers to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain in November 2024 to join a MotoGP testing session. Capitalizing on the new attention from European racing fans, Harley-Davidson and MotoGP have announced the new 2026 Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup.
The six-round series was unveiled at the Red Bull Ring in Austria. Bringing a uniquely American perspective to tracks around Europe, the series now invites prospective teams, riders, and sponsors as it begins preparations for the 2026 season.
“The launch of the Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup signals a bold new era for Harley-Davidson and for the sport of motorcycle racing,” said Jochen Zeitz, chairman, president, and CEO, Harley-Davidson. “This series is about pushing limits of our machines, our riders, and our brand on a global stage. We’re proud to partner with MotoGP to bring this vision to life.”
The series kicks off at Circuit of the Americas, March 27-29, and the championship round is scheduled at the Red Bull Ring in Austria, Sept. 18-20. Find the full 2026 race calendar below.
- Grand Prix of The Americas – Circuit of the Americas (USA): March 27–29
- Grand Prix of Italy – Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello (Italy): May 29–31
- Grand Prix of the Netherlands – TT Circuit Assen (Netherlands): June 26–28
- Grand Prix of the United Kingdom – Silverstone Circuit (UK): August 7–9
- Grand Prix of Aragon – MotorLand Aragón (Spain): August 28–30
- Grand Prix of Austria – Red Bull Ring (Austria): September 18–20 – Championship Round
“We’re always looking for ways to innovate and expand, both at the track for our record crowds as we continue our evolution, and to grow the reach of the sport even further – staying faithful to what fans love about MotoGP but finding ways to connect with new audiences,” said Carlos Ezpeleta, chief sporting officer of MotoGP. “The Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup fulfills the brief. It will be a fantastic addition to race weekends for fans onsite at the same time as connecting our sport to one of the most iconic lifestyle and cultural brands in North America – and the world.”
American Rider is excited to see performance bagger racing making waves internationally, and we’ll be following the series as teams and riders are announced. Subscribe to our enewsletter to stay up-to-date on all American V-Twin news.
