When the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring puts the Nürburgring in the spotlight of the motorsport world from 14 to 17 May 2026, the area around the track will traditionally be crowded. Very crowded. That’s why, this year more than ever, the following applies to fans: those who plan well will get more out of the weekend. Fortunately, there is plenty of help available: the schedule for fan activities and attractions can be found not only on the homepage but also in the new event guide (maps.24h-rennen.de) – where it is linked to an interactive map of the entire festival area. At the same time, visitors should always allow for a time buffer when travelling to the venue, moving around the festival grounds, dealing with entry procedures and attending popular programme items. The 24h is a major motorsport festival – and at a festival of this scale, a little patience is sometimes as essential as sturdy shoes and weatherproof clothing.
The first major gathering of the 24h week is Adenauer Racing Day on Wednesday. From 16:00 to 198:00, Adenau town centre becomes a stage for fans, teams and vehicles. This traditional kick-off brings the 24h atmosphere from the paddock right into the heart of the racing town at the Ring, offering the chance to soak up the spirit of the event at the ‘family gathering of the 24h community’ even before the racing gets underway. Even though Max Verstappen won’t be able to make it, there’s everything a racing fan could wish for: interviews, autograph and selfie opportunities, and fantastic racing cars up close. Handy for visitors: a fan shuttle runs between the Nürburgring and Adenau. The bus connects the info°center at the start/finish line with the centre of Adenau, making it easier to visit without having to search for a parking space on site.
Thursday: Racing at last!
When the RCN takes over the motorsport wake-up call on the Nordschleife on Thursday morning, many fans will already have been on site for days around the world’s most beautiful race track – after all, the on-site campsites open their gates as early as Monday morning. Following the RCN, the sporting part of the weekend begins for the 24h participants with the first qualifying session from 13:15 to 15:15. In the evening, the second qualifying session follows from 20:00 to 23:30 – and with it the first big moment for everyone who loves the atmosphere of this endurance classic, somewhere between a barbecue party and a racing highlight. At the same time, the central fan areas will also open on Thursday: the ring°boulevard opens at 9:00, and the RAVENOL Ferris wheel starts running at 10:00. A packed programme of shows, talks, meet-and-greets and presentations is also already in place in the paddock and the event areas.
Friday: Top Qualifying and Fan Evening
On Friday, the new Top Qualifying format will shape the sporting programme. The first to third and decisive sessions of the battle for pole position will be completed by early afternoon. In between, Qualifying 3 – in which the Top Qualifying participants are not allowed to take part – will provide further excitement, before the DHLM holds its race in the afternoon: visitors will then be treated to three hours of historic racing action. In the evening, it is traditionally the fans’ big moment: from 19:30 to 21:00 pm, the pit lane and track will open for a pit walk and track walk. At the same time, a major autograph session featuring many drivers takes place in the pit lane. Max Verstappen will not be able to attend in person, but his team-mates and team staff will be there to hand out autograph cards from the four-time Formula 1 world champion. Those looking for more action and spectacle should head to the Müllenbachschleife at the same time, where the Falken Drift Show is taking place: just the right programme to get you in the mood for the most legendary 24 Hours of the Eifel.
Saturday and Sunday: Now the clock is ticking
On Saturday, the tension builds step by step right up to the start. After the warm-up and the second race of the Touring Car Legends, car parades will take to the Nordschleife from 12:30, and shortly afterwards the starting grid will form before the 24h begins at 15:00. From then on, the race of the year will finally take centre stage for a day and a night. But there’s plenty on offer away from the track too: the ring°boulevard remains open, and the RAVENOL Ferris wheel will be in operation until late into the night.
Open Grid: 24h starting grid with new rules
The starting grid for the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring is traditionally one of the big fan moments before the race: Anyone with a valid ticket can see the cars up close shortly before the start. As the crowds have grown in recent years, new rules apply this time: on Saturday, access is exclusively via Paddock 3 below the Hohenrain chicane at the B258 roundabout at the entrance to Nürburg. Visitors can gather there from 12:30. From 13:10, entry to the grid will be via this point, where fans can mingle until 14:10. Four exits are available for the subsequent return journey: Heading in the direction of travel, an exit on the left at the level of the start-finish building leads towards ring°werk. Experience shows that the main grandstand itself is already fully occupied at this point and no longer accessible. Another exit is located on the left at the level of the underpass by the Kongress-Hotel; from there, visitors can, for example, head for the grandstands in the area of the PAGID Racing curve. On the right-hand side of the track, two gates – at the start and end of the pit lane – lead back to the Grand Prix paddock. There, the area by the video wall near the RAVENOL Ferris wheel is a good spot to watch the race start.
Key fan information at a glance
Times, schedules and programme highlights may change at short notice even during the festival week. Fans can therefore stay up to date with the latest information at any time via the official channels before and during their visit. The fan schedule provides the key programme highlights, the EventGuide helps with finding your way around the site, and the WhatsApp channel delivers the most important up-to-date information directly to your mobile device. The FanGuide also brings together key information for visiting the ADAC RAVENOL 24h Nürburgring – it is distributed on-site free of charge as a compact postcard-sized booklet or is available as a PDF in several languages via the 24h website. The live page offers a comprehensive information hub featuring a live stream, live updates, timing and more.