2026 date confirmed, mid-February locked in for Australia's international enduro
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The 23rd running of Australia’s International Enduro will see another world-class field of GT machinery descend on Mount Panorama, Bathurst in New South Wales for the now traditional kicking-off point for the local motorsport season.
2026 will mark the 10th anniversary of the Bathurst 12 Hour becoming part of the Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC), the only global GT3 Championship. This year, Bathurst kicked off a global tour that includes key events including the ADAC Ravenol 24h Nürburgring, CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa, the Suzuka 1000km and the Indianapolis 8 Hour presented by AWS.
Significant effort has been made to ensure the Bathurst date remains clear of conflicts with major international events and those closer to home, including the Asian Le Mans Series and the NextGen NZ Championship in New Zealand. The Bathurst enduro will directly follow the final round of the Asian Le Mans Series and sits a fortnight prior to the final round of the summer-based New Zealand championship.
Tickets and Camping for the 2026 event will go on sale soon, with high demand expected. This year more than 2,600 campsites were sold with the Paddock, Reid / Sulman and McPhillamy Park campgrounds all selling out well in advance of the event.
More than 51,000 attended the event across the three days this year, the second most in event history.
The 2025 race was claimed by BMW in a spectacular 1-2 result for Team WRTs M4 GT3 entries, Brazilian Augusto Farfus joined by South African brothers Kelvin and Sheldon van der Linde in a narrow, 10-second win over their teammates, Valentino Rossi, Raffaele Marciello and Charles Weerts.
Two-time winners, Kenny Habul, Jules Gounon and Luca Stolz from SunEnergy1 Racing finished third.
2026 also sees a new, long-term renewal of the joint venture between Bathurst Regional Council and Supercars Australia as co-owners of the Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour, ensuring stability and future growth of the much-loved event.
The 2026 event will be the second in a multi-year partnership with event title partner, Meguiar’s.
Shane Rudzis, Event Director
“We are pleased to confirm the date for 2026 and lock the Meguiar’s Bathurst 12 Hour into its place as the opener for the Aussie motorsport season once again.
“We have worked very hard with our partners to ensure the race enjoys clear air to support the aspirations of international teams and drivers to compete here, as well as ensuring our locally based stars can be on the grid.
“We’re expecting another melting pot of teams and drivers from here and abroad as global GT racing continues to go from strength to strength. Along with our many partners who contributes to this fantastic event, we’re working hard to ensure it’s another brilliant showpiece for Mount Panorama and the state of New South Wales on an international stage.”
Ben Fry, Acting Mayor, Bathurst Regional Council
“Locking 13–15 February keeps the 12 Hour in its rightful slot; first cab off the GT rank and a shot of economic espresso for Bathurst after the January go-slow.
“A decade in the Intercontinental GT Challenge proves Mount Panorama isn’t a postcard; it’s a global benchmark. Every factory team that lands here spends dollars in town, firms our iconic status and writes Bathurst in the same breath as Spa and Suzuka.
“The extension of our joint-venture deal isn’t just paperwork; it’s the starter button on another decade of certainty. Bathurst brings the mountain, Supercars brings the grid, and together we’ll keep this race roaring and local tills ringing."
