The Childcare Cost Relief Act of 2026 amends federal childcare funding rules to provide additional support to states and territories facing disproportionately high childcare costs. When the total federal funding available for the Child Care and Development Block Grant program increases from one year to the next, affected states and territories would receive 2 percent of that funding increase before it is distributed through the standard allocation process. The bill targets aid to states and territories where childcare costs consume a notably high percentage of median household income and where the childcare workforce may not adequately meet demand. The Secretary of Health and Human Services must identify which states and territories qualify for this additional funding each year and report to Congress on childcare cost percentages, workforce capacity, and other relevant data. The legislation takes effect in the first fiscal year following its enactment and does not apply to emergency or supplemental appropriations.