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sport · Friday 31 July 2026 · Various 
Mid Antrim 150 Motorcycle Road Race 2026
At Clough Circuit · Clough, Ballymena, Co. Antrim
At Clough Circuit · Clough, Ballymena, Co. Antrim
The Mid Antrim 150 is one of Northern Ireland’s oldest motorcycle road races, first held in 1946 on the public roads around the village of Clough in County Antrim. After a ten-year absence - interrupted by financial difficulties and a particularly grim episode in 2022 when oil, glass and nails were laid on the circuit overnight to sabotage the event - it returns in July 2026 under a revived club with a five-year plan. For fans of Irish road racing this is a genuine occasion: a beloved meeting that many thought had gone for good, back on the calendar and officially sanctioned by the Motor Cycle Union of Ireland.
Racing takes place over two days - Friday 31 July and Saturday 1 August - on the 3.5-mile Clough circuit, which uses closed public roads through the Co. Antrim countryside near Ballymena. Speeds can reach close to 200mph on the faster sections, making this a proper short-circuit spectacle rather than a tightly controlled track day. The 2026 meeting contributes points to the Ulster and Irish Road Racing Championships, so expect competitive fields across classes including Supersport - the Saturday Supersport race has title sponsorship from Wilsons, confirming serious class-by-class competition. Practices and qualifying run across the weekend before the main races, and the festival atmosphere typical of Irish road racing - fans lining hedgerows and walls close to the action - is a large part of what makes these events unlike any other motorsport.
Clough is roughly 10km east of Ballymena town centre, off the A42. From Belfast, take the M2 motorway north and pick up the A26 towards Ballymena; journey time from Belfast is around 45 minutes. From Dublin, the A1/M1 to Newry and then north on the A26 is the most straightforward route - allow two to two-and-a-half hours. Road closures will be in force on both race days, so follow the diversion signs and allow extra time. Public transport options to Clough itself are limited; driving or arriving by organised coach is the practical choice. Parking will be signposted locally.
Ballymena is a solid market town with good cafes and restaurants around the town centre, worth an hour before or after the racing. There is more to see in Ballymena and across Co. Antrim.
Heading to Clough Circuit in Ballymena? Antrim has plenty more to see. Read the Ballymena area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.