1966 Individual Speedway World Championship

The 1966 Individual Speedway World Championship was the 21st edition of the official World Championship to determine the world champion rider.

In the final in Göteborg New Zealander Barry Briggs equalled the record of Ove Fundin by winning his fourth World title. Norwegian Sverre Harrfeldt took silver and Pole Antoni Woryna took bronze. Ivan Mauger, a 26-year-old New Zealander who had won the European Final qualifier finished fourth.

Format changes
The format of the Championship changed for the 1966 event. With the final to be held in Sweden, six riders from Sweden would be eligible for the World Final by finishing in the top six of the Swedish finals. The remaining Scandinavian riders were pooled in with the British and Commonwealth riders and then the Continental riders, who ultimately would have only 10 places for the World Final.

Two Swedish finals were held during 1966, the three race qualifying for the World Final and another held on 7 October that was separate from the World Championship.

First round
Qualification results.

British & Commonwealth qualifying

 * Top 32 to British & Commonwealth semi-finals

Continental qualifying

 * Top 32 to Continental semi-finals

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Norwegian qualifying

 * 28 October 1965
 * 🇳🇴 Dælenenga idrettspark, Oslo
 * Top 5 to Nordic Final 1966
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Finnish qualifying

 * 30 July 1965
 * 🇫🇮 Kärpänen Speedway, Lahti
 * Top 3 (+1 seeded) to Nordic final 1966
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British & Commonwealth Final

 * 27 June 1966
 * 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Wimbledon Stadium, London
 * First 8 to British/Commonwealth/Scandinavian Final plus 1 reserve

Nordic Final

 * 19 May 1966
 * Selskov Stadium, Hillerød
 * First 7 to British/Commonwealth/Scandinavian Final plus 1 reserve

Continental Final

 * 25 June 1966
 * Slaný Speedway Stadium, Slany
 * First 9 to European Final plus 1 reserve

British/Commonwealth/Scandinavian Final

 * 14 July 1966
 * 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Owlerton Stadium, Sheffield
 * First 7 to European Final plus 1 reserve

Swedish Final

 * Top 6 to World final

European Final

 * 3 September 1966
 * 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Wembley Stadium, London
 * First 10 to World Final plus 1 reserve

World Final

 * 23 September 1966
 * 🇸🇪 Ullevi, Göteborg