After months of anticipation and conjecture, the IndyCar Series has formally revealed its 2026 schedule, offering clarity on what lies ahead for teams, drivers and fans alike. The newly confirmed calendar retains a familiar 17-race format while introducing notable structural refinements, a refreshed early-season flow and several high-profile additions that signal the championship’s continued commercial and sporting ambition.
One of the most striking features of the 2026 schedule is the aggressive opening phase. IndyCar will begin the season with four races in March, three of them on consecutive weekends, a deliberate shift aimed at generating early momentum and sustained media attention. The campaign opens on Sunday, 1 March, with the Firestone Grand Prix of St Petersburg, marking the fifth straight year that the streets of Florida’s Gulf Coast host the season opener.
From there, the series makes a long-awaited return to Phoenix Raceway on 7 March, its first appearance at the venue since 2018. The race will utilise the circuit’s reconfigured dogleg layout and forms part of a joint NASCAR–IndyCar weekend, a collaboration designed to cross-pollinate audiences and maximise exposure. The following weekend, on 15 March, IndyCar introduces an entirely new event: the inaugural IndyCar Grand Prix of Arlington. Run on a 14-turn, 2.73-mile street circuit, the race represents a partnership between IndyCar, the Dallas Cowboys and REV Entertainment, and marks the series’ return to the Dallas–Fort Worth area.
March concludes at Barber Motorsports Park on 29 March, before a brief pause in April ahead of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach on 19 April, the 42nd running of one of IndyCar’s most prestigious street races.
The traditional “Month of May” remains intact at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, featuring the road course race on 9 May, Indianapolis 500 qualifying on 16–17 May, and the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 on 24 May. Summer then delivers a diverse stretch of events, from Detroit’s downtown streets and World Wide Technology Raceway’s night-time oval to classic road courses at Road America and Mid-Ohio.
A notable date shift sees the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix move to 19 July at Nashville Superspeedway. The 400-mile oval race will be run under the lights and scheduled immediately after FOX’s broadcast of the FIFA World Cup final, offering a potentially vast lead-in audience.
August becomes the busiest month, featuring four events in succession, including Portland, the new Streets of Markham in Ontario, and a doubleheader at the Milwaukee Mile. The season finale moves to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on 6 September.
IndyCar 2026 Schedule Overview
| Date | Event | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1 March | Firestone GP of St Petersburg | St Petersburg Street Circuit |
| 7 March | Phoenix Grand Prix | Phoenix Raceway |
| 15 March | IndyCar GP of Arlington | Arlington Street Circuit |
| 29 March | Grand Prix of Alabama | Barber Motorsports Park |
| 19 April | Acura GP of Long Beach | Long Beach Street Circuit |
| 9–24 May | Month of May / Indianapolis 500 | Indianapolis Motor Speedway |
| 31 May | Chevrolet Detroit GP | Detroit Street Circuit |
| 7 June | Bommarito Automotive Group 500 | World Wide Technology Raceway |
| 21 June | XPEL Grand Prix | Road America |
| 5 July | Honda Indy 200 | Mid-Ohio |
| 19 July | Music City GP | Nashville Superspeedway |
| Aug–Sept | Portland, Markham, Milwaukee (DH) | Various |
| 6 Sept | Grand Prix of Monterey (Finale) | Laguna Seca |
All 17 races will again be broadcast live on FOX, including comprehensive coverage of Indianapolis 500 qualifying. Penske Entertainment president Mark Miles described the calendar as a “dynamic showcase” for the sport, while IndyCar president J. Douglas Boles highlighted the importance of the fast-starting schedule and the Phoenix NASCAR collaboration.
Start times and the accompanying INDY NXT by Firestone calendar are expected to be announced shortly, completing the picture for what promises to be one of IndyCar’s most strategically structured seasons in recent years.