Road Racing · Spectator event · Free roadside Causeway Coast
North West 200
Superbikes at over 200mph on closed coastal roads between Portrush, Portstewart and Coleraine — the biggest outdoor sporting event in Northern Ireland.
Superbikes at over 200 miles an hour, inches from the wall, on closed public roads between three seaside towns. The North West 200 is the biggest outdoor sporting event in Northern Ireland — and you can watch it for free.
What it is — road racing on the famous 8.9-mile "Triangle" circuit between Portrush, Portstewart and Coleraine, with the Atlantic as the backdrop. Superbikes, Supersport, Superstock and Supertwins, and the biggest names in road racing.
When — race week is mid-May; 2027 dates are to be confirmed (2026 ran 4–9 May). Practice and qualifying run midweek, and the big races are on the Saturday.
Cost — roadside viewing is free, from numerous points around the circuit; grandstand seats, paddock passes and hospitality are paid, from the official ticket office.
Stay in the designated spectator areas. These are race bikes at astonishing speed on live roads — watch only from the marked areas, behind the barriers, and follow the marshals. Never cross the circuit when the roads are closed.
Mind the road closures. The circuit is the public road, so it closes for practice and racing — arrive and park before closures, or you'll be locked out of your spot until the roads reopen.
Bring ear protection — it's thrillingly loud, so ear defenders for young children make it a much happier day.
Where to watch
The Triangle, and how to see it
The circuit runs the coast roads between the three towns, and there's a spot to suit every kind of visit. Here's the lie of the land.
🏁The grandstandsStart/Finish, Amici Corner and Metropole all have grandstands with big screens and commentary, so you follow the whole race, not just the bit in front of you. Ticketed seats, food and bars.
🌀The chicanesMather's Cross, Magherabuoy and Juniper Hill chicanes slow the bikes for close, dramatic viewing — big free standing areas, always busy, brilliant for overtaking.
🌊The clifftop spotsBlack Hill and the coastal stretches give you the racing with the Atlantic behind it — the shot that makes the North West unlike anywhere else.
🔧The paddockA paddock pass gets you close to the bikes and the riders between races — a highlight for young motorbike fans.
📅Practice days vs race dayMidweek practice and qualifying are quieter and easier to move around — a relaxed way to see the bikes at speed. Saturday is the main event: all the races, the biggest crowds, the full atmosphere.
🎪The fan villageA trade and fan village and race-week entertainment in the towns each evening round out the week beyond the racing itself.
Plan your visit
Getting there, and the road closures
Roadside viewing is free, so for a standing spot there's nothing to book — but grandstand seats and paddock passes are worth buying ahead from the official ticket office. The critical thing is the road closures: because the circuit is the public road, it closes for practice and racing, so you must arrive and park before the roads shut or you'll be stuck outside your area until they reopen. Use the official park & ride and car parks, or take the train to Coleraine or Portrush (from Belfast, change at Coleraine) to sidestep the closures entirely. Then pick your spot early.
Check the 2027 dates and road-closure map.
The 2027 dates weren't confirmed at the time of writing — race week is expected mid-May (2026 ran 4–9 May). The exact schedule and the road-closure times are published on the official site closer to the event; check northwest200.co.uk and plan your arrival around the closures.
Before you go
What to wear and bring
🎧Ear protectionIt's very loud, so ear defenders for children (and earplugs for you) make a long day at the roadside far more comfortable.
🧥Layers & waterproofsYou're outside all day on an exposed coast in May — bright one minute, breezy the next, so bring layers and a coat.
🪑A fold-up chair or rugIf you're at a free standing area for a few hours, something to sit on makes the wait between races easy.
🥪Food, drink & sun coverThere's food at the main areas, but snacks, water and a hat are handy at the quieter spots on a bright day.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Dates
Race week is mid-May. The 2027 dates are to be confirmed (the 2026 event ran 4–9 May). Practice and qualifying are midweek; the main races are on the Saturday. Check the official site for the confirmed 2027 schedule.
Cost
Roadside viewing is free from numerous points around the circuit. Grandstand seats, paddock passes and hospitality packages are paid, from the official ticket office.
Where
The "Triangle" circuit on closed public roads between Portrush, Portstewart and Coleraine, on the Causeway Coast in Co. Antrim / Co. Londonderry.
Getting there
Use the official park & ride and car parks, and arrive before the roads close. The train serves Coleraine and Portrush (from Belfast, change at Coleraine) — a smart way to avoid the road-closure trap.
Safety
This is fast racing on live roads. Watch only from the designated spectator areas, stay behind the barriers, follow the marshals, and never cross the circuit when roads are closed. Keep a close hold of children near the course.
Family
A genuinely thrilling family spectator day — free viewing, big screens, food and the paddock — best enjoyed with ear defenders for little ones and a spot in a safe designated area.
Watch at home too
Practice and racing are shown live on the BBC (iPlayer and BBC Sport NI), handy if you want to catch races you couldn't get to.
Weather
Coastal mid-May — bright but changeable. Bring layers, waterproofs and sun cover, as you'll be outdoors all day.
Questions
The North West 200, answered
When is the North West 200 2027?
Race week is mid-May — the 2027 dates are to be confirmed (2026 ran 4–9 May). Practice and qualifying are midweek, and the main races are on the Saturday. Check northwest200.co.uk for the confirmed dates.
Is it free to watch?
Roadside viewing is free from numerous points around the circuit. Grandstand seats, paddock passes and hospitality are paid, bought from the official ticket office.
Where's the best place to watch?
The grandstands (Start/Finish, Amici, Metropole) come with big screens and commentary; the chicanes like Mather's Cross give close, dramatic free viewing; and the clifftop spots give you the racing with the Atlantic behind. Pick by whether you want comfort or the free standing atmosphere.
Is it safe to bring children?
Yes, as a spectator day — but treat it seriously. Watch only from the designated spectator areas, stay behind the barriers, keep a close hold of children near the course, follow the marshals, and never cross the circuit when roads are closed. Bring ear defenders for the noise.
How do I deal with the road closures?
The circuit is the public road, so it closes for practice and racing. Arrive and park before the closures, use the official park & ride, or take the train to Coleraine or Portrush so you're not caught out. Check the closure times on the official site.
What classes race?
Superbikes (the headline class), Supersport, Superstock and Supertwins, contested by the biggest names in road racing across the week.
Getting there
The Triangle circuit runs between Portrush, Portstewart and Coleraine on the Causeway Coast. Use the official park & ride and arrive before the roads close, or take the train to Coleraine or Portrush. Check the official site for the road-closure map.
The North West 200 was first run in 1929, and it took its name from the original race distance — the riders covered roughly 200 miles. Nearly a century on, it's grown into the largest annual outdoor sporting event in Northern Ireland, drawing crowds said to be over 150,000 to the coast roads of the Triangle each May, where the bikes touch 200 miles an hour between the hedges and the sea.
It belongs to a rare and dwindling breed. Road racing on closed public roads once had a trio of great names — the Isle of Man TT, the Ulster Grand Prix and the North West 200 — and with the Ulster Grand Prix now gone, the TT and the North West are the two that carry the tradition on. For a spring weekend, the Causeway Coast becomes the centre of the road-racing world. Find a safe spot, bring the ear defenders, and feel the ground shake.