Where Is the Great Food Truck Race Going Next?

The next leg of The Great Food Truck Race (Season 19) is heading through the Great Smoky Mountains and Southern Tennessee/Kentucky/Virginia corridor , with the season finale set at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

Quick Answer: The Upcoming Route

  • Season 19 premiere: Sunday, July 26, 2026, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Food Network.
  • Starting point: Nashville, Tennessee.
  • Main region: The route threads through the Great Smoky Mountains , hitting cities with “vibrant food scenes” along that stretch.
  • Finale location: Louisville, Kentucky , at Churchill Downs, where the race ends on September 6, 2026.

So if you’re asking “where is it going next” in the current season: after Nashville, the trucks are rolling into the Smokies and surrounding mountain/river towns, then finishing in Louisville.

Season-by-Side Context

Season 18 (2025) – Just Completed

  • Route: Savannah, Georgia → New York City , along the Atlantic coast.
  • Finale: Norfolk, Virginia.
  • That season wrapped in fall 2025, so the “next” route is the 2026 Smokies/Louisville one.

Season 17 (2024) – Gulf Coast

  • Route: Houston, Texas → Miami, Florida along the Gulf Coast.
  • Finale: South Beach Wine & Food Festival in Miami.

Why Louisville Matters

Louisville is not just a random stop:

  • It’s the home of the Kentucky Derby and Churchill Downs.
  • The 2026 season was specifically announced as filming in Louisville for the first time ever, with local viewing events promoted in May 2026.

What This Means for Fans and Food Trucks

  • If you’re in Nashville or the Smokies region: You may see trucks in early weeks of the season (late July–August 2026).
  • If you’re in Louisville: You’re in for the finale on September 6, 2026, with likely fan events around Churchill Downs.
  • For truck owners hoping to join: Past seasons have featured teams from places like Detroit, New Jersey, and various Southern cities, showing the show casts nationwide. The new season is described as a “battle of savory and sweet,” suggesting more dessert-oriented trucks than ever.

How to Watch

  • TV: Food Network, July 26–September 6, 2026, Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
  • Streaming: Next day on HBO Max.
  • Live streaming services: Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, fuboTV, Sling TV, etc. (as used for past seasons).

Bottom line: The next Great Food Truck Race route begins in Nashville, cuts through the Great Smoky Mountains and nearby food-heavy towns, and ends in Louisville at Churchill Downs. If you’re tracking the show this summer, that’s where the trucks are going next. Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.