The best kept secret in racing has just announced their 2026 schedule.
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By Marshall Pruett - Sep 16, 2025, 10:00 AM ET
IndyCar announces 2026 schedule
The 2026 IndyCar Series schedule has landed and there are no major surprises to the 17-race calendar.
Iowa Speedway is gone after a dismal turnout along with The Thermal Club, Mexico City isn’t on the cards for next year, and while interest in holding a Washington DC street race exists, there’s nothing planned for next season. In a continuation from 2025, all races will be broadcast on the FOX network.
The significant development for IndyCar and its partners at FOX Sports is continuity and momentum with the calendar, which kicks off in Florida on the streets of St. Petersburg (March 1) and build momentum for three straight weeks, stopping in Arizona at Phoenix Raceway for a Saturday oval race as part of the NASCAR Cup weekend (March 7) before turning around and ushering in the inaugural Arlington Grand Prix street race in Texas (March 15).
Alabama’s Barber Motorsports Park moves forward by a month (March 29), giving IndyCar four races during March with the lone weekend break inserted to accommodate IMSA’s 12 hours of Sebring. Teams get a moment to breathe after Barber before heading to California where Long Beach holds its familiar mid-April position (April 19); the Indy Open Test lands later in the month (TBD).
By shifting Barber away from its May 4 position in 2025, IndyCar teams will get a chance to use the time between the Indy Open Test and the start of the Indy GP to prepare for the Indy 500 without the need to travel.
The Indianapolis Grand Prix (May 9) and the 110th Indianapolis 500 (May 24) feed directly into the Detroit Grand Prix (May 31) and World Wide Technology Raceway (June 7), which holds its primetime window under the lights in Illinois.
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is responsible for the next break in action, and once the French endurance racing classic is complete, IndyCar picks up with a popular close to the month at Wisconsin’s Road America (June 21) before sweeping into July with the now-standard holiday event at Mid-Ohio (July 5).
With the World Cup dominating next summer’s sporting activities, IndyCar’s schedule reflects the need to move some of its events to support FOX’s coverage of the soccer tournament, and as a result, the month looks very different from the most recent IndyCar calendar where five total races were held – including the Iowa doubleheader – in July.
In 2026, it’s Mid-Ohio and Nashville (July 19) as the only July races, but IndyCar and FOX have aligned the visit to Nashville Speedway to run directly after the World Cup final as a night race with the lead-in from the big match.
A trip to Oregon for the Portland Grand Prix (August 9) is next for IndyCar and then it’s a fast turnaround to the new Canadian street race on the outskirts of Toronto in the city of Markham (August 16).
Two reversions are in store for 2026, with the first taking place at Milwaukee where it will go back to the doubleheader format that worked well in 2024 (August 29-30) and then it’s a return to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca which resumes its position as IndyCar’s season finale (September 6) just as it served through 2023.
It’s two nighttime short oval races plus two at Milwaukee and six ovals altogether including the return of Phoenix with NASCAR. It’s five street races with debuts in Arlington and Markham, and six road courses, all run over a span of 189 days between March 1 and Sept. 6.
“Our growth is industry-leading and will only accelerate faster as we continue our powerful partnership with FOX Sports and increase investment in our events,” said Penske Entertainment CEO Mark Miles. “The 2026 IndyCar Series schedule provides a dynamic showcase for our sport and its stars, blending fan-favorite race weekends with incredible showcases at exciting new venues. We cannot wait for 2026.”
Broadcast times and the Indy NXT schedule are the next items planned for distribution by IndyCar.
2026 IndyCar schedule
Date Venue Television
Streets of St. Petersburg, Sunday, March 1
Phoenix Raceway, Saturday, March 7
Streets of Arlington, Sunday, March 15
Barber Motorsports Park, Sunday, March 29
Streets of Long Beach, Sunday, April 19
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course, Saturday, May 9
The 110th Indianapolis 500, Sunday, May 24
Streets of Detroit, Sunday, May 31
World Wide Technology Raceway, Sunday, June 7
Road America, Sunday, June 21
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Sunday, July 5
Nashville Superspeedway, Sunday, July 19
Portland International Raceway, Sunday, August 9
Streets of Markham, Sunday, August 16
Milwaukee Mile Race 1, Saturday, August 29
Milwaukee Mile Race 2, Sunday, August 30
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, Sunday, September 6
