The Gran Turismo World Series returns this weekend as the 2026 season gets underway in Milan, bringing the world’s best Gran Turismo 7 competitors back onto the live stage for the first time this year.
The action starts with the Manufacturers Cup, streaming live on May 23 from 8:00 a.m. PDT.
Originally scheduled to begin in Abu Dhabi earlier in the season, the opening round was cancelled due to the escalating military conflict in the region. Milan now takes over as Round 1, setting the stage for another year of top-level GT esports competition.
Familiar stars and new challengers
The Gran Turismo World Series remains the highest level of Gran Turismo competition, combining the Nations Cup and Manufacturers Cup formats across a demanding live event schedule. Drivers qualified through intense online stages earlier in the year, earning their place among the fastest competitors in the game.
Several familiar names return to the grid, including Takuma Miyazono, one of the most successful GTWS drivers of all time. Miyazono arrives in Milan after another impressive result in real-world motorsport, finishing fourth in the VT2-RWD class at this year’s Nürburgring 24 Hours.
The event format continues to reward consistency as much as outright pace, with sprint races, strategy decisions, tire management, and qualifying performance all playing a role across the weekend.
Two championships, one world stage
The Gran Turismo World Series is split into two separate championships, each testing drivers in different ways. The Nations Cup sees elite competitors represent their countries and territories using a wide range of machinery, including the futuristic Gran Turismo Red Bull X2019 created through the collaboration between Gran Turismo and Red Bull Racing.
Alongside it sits the Manufacturers Cup, where drivers race on behalf of automotive brands in closely fought Gr.3 competition. The category features race-prepared production-based cars developed specifically for Gran Turismo, combining the style and intensity of real-world GT racing with the close competition that has defined the series for years.
Fanatec returns as official steering wheel partner
Fanatec continues its long-running involvement with the series as the Official Steering Wheel Partner of the Gran Turismo World Series, with all competition rigs equipped with Gran Turismo DD Extreme hardware.
Developed alongside Polyphony Digital, the Gran Turismo DD Extreme has become the centerpiece of GTWS live competition. Earlier this year, a firmware update increased the wheel base output from 15 Nm to 18 Nm of peak torque, delivering even greater performance for the drivers competing on stage.
Gran Turismo 7 also added FullForce support late last year, bringing a new layer of high-frequency force feedback detail to compatible Fanatec direct drive systems. The feature gives competitors more detailed feedback, particularly in terms of road texture and tire slip.
A new season begins - watch live!
The Milan opener marks the start of another season where fractions of a second separate victory from defeat. With returning champions, new contenders, and a packed live audience, the Gran Turismo World Series is back in full swing.
You can watch a recap of last year's competition below:
For more information, check out the official page: https://www.gran-turismo.com/us/gt7/events/gtws2026/milan/
Live streams in multiple languages are always available on the official Gran Turismo TV YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GRANTURISMOTV/streams
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