24 Hours of Le Mans 2026: How to Watch in the US

One of the world’s most grueling and difficult auto races, the 24 Hours of Le Mans is about to pit some of the world’s top drivers and constructors against each other for a full 24 hours of non-stop racing action.

Engines began revving in Le Mans, France on June 10 as practices and qualifying kicked off, and the race itself will start Saturday, June 13. Can’t wait to watch all of the action on the course? Here’s how to watch the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the United States.

Don’t forget: You can watch 24 Hours of Le Mans and other exciting motorsports events on DIRECTV!

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When is the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans Being Held?

The 24 Hours of Le Mans started with practices and qualifying on June 10 and Hyperpole on June 11. The race itself will start at 10 a.m. ET on Saturday, June 13 and run a full 24 hours to end on June 14.

How to Watch the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the United States

Race fans located in the United States can watch the 24 Hours of Le Mans on truTV (DIRECTV Channel 246), on MotorTrend (DIRECTV Channel 281) or stream it on HBO Max.

How Does the 24 Hours of Le Mans Race Work?

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is one of the three races that make up the Triple Crown of Motorsports alongside Formula 1’s Monaco Grand Prix and IndyCar’s Indianapolis 500. The Monaco Grand Prix was contested on June 7 and won by Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli. The Indianapolis 500 happened on May 24 and was won by Felix Rosenqvist.

As an endurance race, the 24 Hours of Le Man is significantly longer than the other two races, requiring teams of multiple drivers and a different strategic approach aimed more at longevity than pure speed, with first place going to the car that covers the most distance before the race ends. Drivers operate in stints, changing who is behind the wheel during pit stops.

The race features three classes of cars, all racing on the same track at the same time. That dynamic requires careful attention to traffic management from the drivers, since the higher classes are usually a lot faster than the lower classes. Drivers must also operate during both the day and night, navigate different weather conditions and adapt to safety periods, mechanical issues and unexpected shifts in strategy.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans classes are:

Hypercar: The top tier prototype class. This class determines the race’s overall winner.

LMP2: A lower-cost prototype class

LMGT3: These modified versions of road car brands.

The race is held at the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France, a 13.6-kilometer (roughly 8.4 mile) course that consists of both permanent racetrack surfaces and local public roadways.

24 Hours of Le Mans Traditions

Le Mans is unique for many reasons beyond its duration. The French tricolor is waved at the start of the race, and a flyover of jets streaking blue, white and red smoke across the sky kicks off the event.

The race is also a true test of automotive engineering. When refueling, all cars must be shut off completely. This eliminates much of the danger of pouring fuel into a car that has been running at full speed for hours, but it also tests whether the car can restart and withstand the full challenge of the race. Drivers may swap out during a refueling stop, though mechanics are not permitted to work on the car while it is being refueled, keeping worker safety a priority.

What is Endurance Racing?

Endurance racing is a type of motorsport that requires teams and drivers to race continuously over a set period of time. The goal is to cover the most distance possible within the time limit, requiring a careful balance of speed, pit stops for refueling and driver/tire changes and vehicle reliability.

24 Hours of Le Mans Full Schedule for 2026

Here’s the full schedule for the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans along with where to watch live:

June 10

June 11

June 13

June 10

June 11

June 13

Who is Racing in the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans? Full Starting Grid

Here’s the full grid for the 24 Hours of Le Mans across all three classes in 2026.

2026 Hypercar Grid

2026 LMP2 Grid

2026 LMGT3 Grid

Are Any Current Formula 1 Drivers Racing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2026?

No, none of the current members of the 2026 Formula 1 grid are participating in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, though Red Bull Racing superstar Max Verstappen reportedly considered entering.

At least 15 former F1 racers are on the grid across the three classes, however.

Former F1 Drivers in 24 Hours of Le Mans Hypercar Class:

Robert Kubica – AF Corse

Kamui Kobayashi – Toyota

Nyck de Vries – Toyota

Sébastien Buemi – Toyota

Brendon Hartley – Toyota

Will Stevens – Cadillac Hertz Team Jota

Jack Aitken – Cadillac Hertz Team Jota

Sébastien Bourdais – Cadillac Hertz Team Jota

Stoffel Vandoorne – Peugeot

Paul di Resta – Peugeot

Antonio Giovinazzi – Ferrari AF Corse

Kevin Magnussen – BMW M Team WRT

André Lotterer – Genesis

Former F1 Drivers in the 24 Hours of Le Mans LMP2 Class:

Jack Doohan – Nielsen Racing

Pietro Fittipaldi – Vector Sport

Former F1 Drivers in the 24 Hours of Le Mans LMGT3 Class:

Logan Sargeant – Proton Competitio

Are Any NASCAR Drivers Racing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2026?

No active NASCAR drivers will be on the grid of the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans, but several of the drivers have raced in NASCAR before:

Jordan Taylor – Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing

Ricky Taylor – Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing

Sébastien Bourdais – Cadillac Hertz Team Jota

24 Hours of Le Mans Past Winners

Here are the drivers who have won the most recent 24 Hours of Le Mans races:

Most Wins by Manufacturer

Most Wins by Driver

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