INDYCAR confirms 17-race 2026 calendar on FOX. Phoenix and Arlington join the line-up. Nashville takes a prime-time slot after the FIFA World Cup Final.
INDYCAR 2026 calendar: full dates, venues, and broadcast schedule below
Seventeen races. Two new venues. And a broadcast window most sports would fight for.
INDYCAR’s 2026 schedule builds on the momentum of 2025. The year opens with four races in March, takes a prime-time gamble at Nashville directly after the FIFA World Cup Final, and wraps at Laguna Seca with the Astor Cup on the line.
Overview: 17 Races, Two New Venues, Primetime Nashville
Phoenix returns with a reconfigured dogleg oval. Arlington makes its debut with a 14-turn street circuit. All 17 races will air live on FOX, including both days of Indy 500 qualifying. Nashville headlines with a 400-mile night race immediately after the World Cup Final.
March Ignition
The season starts in St. Petersburg on March 1, the familiar curtain-raiser on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Phoenix follows a week later, running its 65th INDYCAR race but the first on the new layout. A shared weekend with NASCAR adds extra spotlight.
March 15 brings the Arlington debut. A 14-turn street circuit tied to the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers’ events arm. New market, new fans, and a bid to replicate F1’s Miami effect.
Barber Motorsports Park closes the month on March 29. Four races in five weeks make for a frantic start.
Into May: Long Beach to the Indy 500
Long Beach returns April 19 for its 42nd running. The 2025 edition drew more than 200,000 fans, proof of its pull.
From there the road to Indianapolis starts. The IMS Road Course on May 9. Two days of qualifying May 16–17. And the 110th Indianapolis 500 on May 24.
This time the calendar avoids a clash. Formula One confirmed the Canadian Grand Prix will start at 16:00 local after talks with INDYCAR and the FIA.(👉 see the full 2026 F1 sprint calendar here).
It means fans can watch both events live. A rare and welcome collaboration.
Summer Storylines: Detroit to Mid-Ohio
Detroit is back on May 31. The downtown layout has quickly cemented its spot on the calendar.
World Wide Technology Raceway stages its 10th night race on June 7. Road America follows on June 21. Mid-Ohio celebrates its 42nd run on July 5, drawing level with Long Beach for endurance.
Nashville in the Spotlight: Primetime After the World Cup
FOX will broadcast the FIFA World Cup Final (trophy ceremony included). Straight after, Nashville takes the green flag for a 400-mile night race under the lights. The Music City Grand Prix becomes a global shop window, with FOX banking on record viewership.
Closing Charge: Portland to Laguna Seca Finale
Portland returns August 9. A week later comes the new Streets of Markham in Ontario on August 16. A 12-turn, 2.19-mile layout with a double-sided pit lane and a mix of long straights and technical sectors.
The Milwaukee Mile follows with a doubleheader August 29–30. Two 250-lap races at the oldest oval in motorsport.
Laguna Seca closes the season on September 6. The Corkscrew. Elevation change. The Astor Cup decided in Monterey.
FOX Partnership: Rising Viewers, Wider Reach
The FOX deal is working. Average viewership climbed by 27 percent in 2025, with 1.36 million people tuning in on race days. No other big series in North America is growing this quickly. Interest is climbing in the UK too. Fresh tracks and fresh fans are waiting in 2026.
Full 2026 INDYCAR Schedule (dates, venues, FOX):
Sunday, March 1 – Streets of St. Petersburg – FOX
Saturday, March 7 – Phoenix Raceway – FOX
Sunday, March 15 – Streets of Arlington – FOX
Sunday, March 29 – Barber Motorsports Park – FOX
Sunday, April 19 – Streets of Long Beach – FOX
Saturday, May 9 – Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course – FOX
Sunday, May 24 – The 110th Indianapolis 500 – FOX
Sunday, May 31 – Streets of Detroit – FOX
Sunday, June 7 – World Wide Technology Raceway – FOX
Sunday, June 21 – Road America – FOX
Sunday, July 5 – Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course – FOX
Sunday, July 19 – Nashville Superspeedway – FOX
Sunday, August 9 – Portland International Raceway – FOX
Sunday, August 16 – Streets of Markham – FOX
Saturday, August 29 – Milwaukee Mile Race 1 – FOX
Sunday, August 30 – Milwaukee Mile Race 2 – FOX
Sunday, September 6 – WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca – FOX
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