2026 Thunder On the Beach: Cocoa Beach Offshore Powerboat Racing
Thunder On the Beach returns to Cocoa Beach, Florida for its 16th year as one of the premier offshore powerboat racing events on the East Coast. Running May 14–17, 2026, this is Round 3 of the IHRA Offshore National Championship — and it is shaping up to be the biggest Thunder yet. Eighty boats across thirteen classes, a $2 million series purse, and free beachfront viewing from some of the best sand in Florida.
Thunder On the Beach 2026 - Round 3 of the IHRA Offshore National Championship
The IHRA Offshore Racing Series has consolidated the sport under one banner, and Thunder On the Beach is the crown jewel of the spring calendar. After successful stops in St. Petersburg and Sarasota, the series heads to Brevard County where the Atlantic Ocean becomes a racetrack visible from the shoreline. The event is produced by OPA Racing in partnership with the Cocoa Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, and carries the full backing of the IHRA sanctioning body.
Full Event Schedule: May 14–17, 2026
Wednesday, May 14 — Boat Arrival & Inspection
- 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM — Boats arrive at Race Village (Flounder Drive, Cocoa Beach)
- 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM — Boat technical inspection & safety checks
- 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM — Captain’s Meeting at Race Village
Thursday, May 15 — Test & Tune / VIP Meet & Greet
- 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM — Final boat inspections
- 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM — Open water test & tune runs
- 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM — Driver autograph session at Race Village
- 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM — VIP Meet & Greet at Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier / Rikki Tiki Tavern
Friday, May 16 — Qualifying & Fan Fest
- 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM — Qualifying runs for all 13 classes
- 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM — Fan Fest at Race Village — vendor booths, sponsor activations, driver meet-and-greets
- 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM — Friday Night Block Party with live music by Saylor & the Captains
Saturday, May 17 — Race Day
- 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM — Driver briefing & final safety check
- 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM — Morning bracket races (Classes 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
- 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM — Midday break & spectator activities
- 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM — Afternoon bracket races (Super Stock, Extreme, Super Cat)
- 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM — Pro Class 1 Championship Race — the main event
- 5:00 PM — Awards ceremony at Race Village
The Numbers
- 80 registered boats across 13 classes
- $2 million total series purse with $650K in tow money
- Speeds topping 160+ mph in Pro Class 1
- Three female drivers competing — growing the sport
- IHRA owner Darryl Cuttell racing in the Extreme class
- International competitors from multiple countries
Race Classes
Thunder On the Beach features the full IHRA class lineup. Here are the thirteen classes hitting the water:
- Pro Class 1 — Top-tier catamarans, 160+ mph
- Super Cat — High-performance cats
- Extreme — Modified V-bottoms and cats
- Super Stock — Factory-built performance boats
- Class 3 through Class 7 — Tiered by engine size and boat type
- Super Vee Lite — Entry-level racing class
- Pro Watercross — Personal watercraft racing
- Bonus classes as entries dictate
Where to Watch
Admission is FREE. Spectators can watch from anywhere along Cocoa Beach. Bring a lawn chair, set up on the sand, and watch 80 boats tear up the Atlantic from a few hundred yards away. There is nothing like it.
VIP Experience at Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier / Rikki Tiki Tavern — $175 per day or $300 for the full weekend. Includes premium viewing, food, drinks, and driver access.
Race Village is located on Flounder Drive in Cocoa Beach — free and open to the public all four days. Walk the pits, see the boats up close, meet the crews.
Watch the Action
Here is a taste of what Thunder On the Beach brings to Cocoa Beach every year:
About the IHRA Offshore Racing Series
The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) took over sanctioning of offshore powerboat racing in 2026, unifying what had been a fragmented landscape of competing organizations. The result is a true national championship with consistent rules, a single points system, and broadcast coverage on Speed Sport 1 & 2 plus YouTube Live. Thunder On the Beach is Round 3 of the 2026 schedule, following St. Pete and Sarasota.
Plan Your Trip
Cocoa Beach is roughly 60 miles east of Orlando on the Atlantic coast — an easy day trip or weekend getaway. The town is loaded with hotels, restaurants, and beach bars. May in Cocoa Beach means mid-80s, ocean breezes, and some of the best weather Florida offers. If you are already planning to be at Kennedy Space Center or Port Canaveral, the races are right down the road.
Official Links & Resources
- Official Event Site: ThunderOnCocoaBeach.com
- IHRA Event Page: IHRA Thunder On the Beach
- IHRA Offshore Racing: IHRA.com
Note: The schedule above reflects the 2026 event as published. For the most current times and any day-of changes, check the official Thunder On the Beach site. Previous years have followed a similar format — see the OutboardListings Racing Network for a full 2025/2026 marine event calendar.
OutboardListings.com will be covering results and highlights from Cocoa Beach. If you are on the Space Coast this weekend — get to the beach.
Related: IHRA's 2026 takeover of offshore racing · 2026 St. Pete Grand Prix
