GRIDLIFE Laguna brings three-day celebration of cars, culture and music to Monterey

When the three-day festival takes over WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Sept. 18-20, nearly every corner of the historic circuit will become part of the experience.

Nearly 50 drift cars will tackle the Corkscrew, 500 Miatas will gather above Turn 1, championship contenders will chase some of the fastest laps of the weekend and music will carry from the paddock to the Lakebed and up the hill to Turn 8.`

In between, fans will find a new Mustang unveiling with RTR, Dodge Thrill Rides, drift karts, the Forza Horizon 6 Arcade, historic Mazda race cars, hundreds of show cars and some of the biggest names in modern drifting.

Since first arriving at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca four years ago, GRIDLIFE Laguna has continued to expand, bringing more cars, competitors and experiences to the 2.24-mile circuit each season.

This year, even when the gates close, GRIDLIFE isn't quite finished with planned after parties spilling out into Monterey.

NEARLY 50 DRIFTERS TAKE OVER LAGUNA SECA, DODGE EXPANDS GRIDLIFE PRESENCE

Few sights at Laguna Seca compare to a race car dropping through the Zanardi Corkscrew.

Few sights at Laguna Seca compare to a race car dropping through the Zanardi Corkscrew. Watching a train of drift cars do it sideways at speed something else entirely.

Drifting returns to the full course in 2026 with one of GRIDLIFE's largest collections of drift talent, bringing together 20 GRIDLIFE regulars and 25 special guests for a field approaching 50 drivers.

Vaughn Gittin Jr., Chris Forsberg, Matt Field, Justin Pawlak, Matt Coffman and Forrest Wang are among the drivers expected to join West Coast favorites, including members of Team Animal Style.

Dodge will also have a major presence throughout the weekend, both on and off the track.

A pair of Dodge and Hemmings SIXPACK-powered Charger Scat Pack drift cars will make their Laguna Seca debut, with professional drivers Corey Hosford and Micah Diaz behind the wheel showcasing the 750-horsepower builds in drift exhibitions.

Fans will also have the chance to experience Dodge performance from inside the car. Dodge Thrill Rides will put race fans in the passenger seat of the 550-horsepower Charger Scat Pacs for drifting demonstrations throughout the weekend.

For those interested in trying it themselves on a smaller scale, Electro & Co. Drift Karts will offer another opportunity to get sideways.

BIG REVEAL SET TO HAPPEN OFF THE TRACK FRIDAY

Some of the weekend's biggest moments won't happen during a race.

On Friday at noon, RTR will unveil its new custom-built Mustang that will make its on-track debut during the weekend.

Beyond the RTR reveal, the off-track experience continues with GRIDLIFE once again teaming up with Forza.

GRIDLIFE's Forza Horizon 6 Arcade combines racing simulators, classic arcade cabinets, ping pong and a Japanese-inspired environment into a social space away from the racetrack that’s free to all ticket holders.

500 MIATAS TAKE OVER TURN 1 WITH GRIDLIFE SHOWFIELD ADDING TO CORRALS

Miata Reunion joins GRIDLIFE Laguna in 2026, with 500 Mazda MX-5s expected to fill a dedicated area above Turn 1.

One of the world's most recognizable sports cars will have a gathering all its own.

Miata Reunion joins GRIDLIFE Laguna in 2026, with 500 Mazda MX-5s expected to fill a dedicated area above Turn 1.

The gathering will bring together generations of Miatas, from carefully preserved examples to highly modified street and track builds, alongside a dedicated car show, vendor village and special guests.

Mazda Motorsports will also reach deeper into the company's racing history with a Mazda Heritage Collection display featuring significant race cars from the brand's past.

The GRIDLIFE Showfield will showcase some of the West Coast's standout builds, while dedicated FCP Euro, Subimods and Hyundai N corrals will give individual enthusiast communities their own gathering spaces.

FROM THE PADDOCK TO THE CORKSCREW, THERE WILL BE MUSIC

The soundtrack to GRIDLIFE Laguna won't be confined to one stage.

For the first time, Friday night becomes part of the festival's major music programming, with A-Trak and a Chromeo DJ set from Dave 1 helping open the new Lakebed festival grounds.

Saturday, Dillon Francis headlines the NOS Energy Main Stage, with PAL 9000, DJ Cake, DNEB, Pabo Marx, M0SF3T, Dam Shake and Hi-Risk Hi-Reward also part of the weekend lineup.

Music will begin long before the headliners take the stage.

Compact Disco’s DJs will take over the paddock stage from noon to 5 p.m. each day, while Offis.Work will take over the top of the Turn 8 hill, turning one of motorsports' most famous corners into another music venue as cars race and drift through the Corkscrew below.

This year, when the music stops at the track, the party keeps going.

Compact Disco will host the official GRIDLIFE afterparties Friday and Saturday, extending the festival into Monterey after the on-track and main-stage music ends.

SEASON FINALE SHOWDOWNS EXPECTED

Nearly 100 TrackBattle Time Attack competitors are expected to chase the clock across seven classes.

For all the activity surrounding the racetrack, the reason GRIDLIFE comes to Laguna Seca remains at the center of the weekend:

Nearly 100 TrackBattle Time Attack competitors are expected to chase the clock across seven classes, with machinery ranging from the venerable Honda Fit to high-aero, 1,000-plus-horsepower track monsters that rank among the fastest Time Attack cars in the country.

A stacked field will take on Laguna Seca's 11 turns and dramatic elevation changes in pursuit of lap records and season championships. In TrackBattle Unlimited, Mike Dusold will look to lock down the championship during the season finale while chasing the fastest possible lap in his heavily modified, twin-turbocharged 1967 Chevrolet Camaro.

Joining GRIDLIFE TrackBattle, the rest of the racing lineup is just as stacked. More than 50 GRIDLIFE RUSH Series sports racers will compete in four races throughout the weekend, while Eibach GRIDLIFE Touring Cup and GRIDLIFE GT add fast-paced sprint racing to the schedule.

Racing begins Friday morning and continues through Sunday, with five different forms of motorsports taking to the circuit that has challenged drivers since 1957.

TICKETS AND CAMPING

GRIDLIFE Laguna roars to life Sept. 18-20 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

Weekend, single-day general admission and VIP experiences are still available with limited camping spots still open.

Click here to get tickets, and here to check out the event schedule. Catch the broadcast here.