IndyCar reveals 17-race 2026 season with March opening

IndyCar unveiled its 17-race schedule for the 2026 season on Tuesday with three new events, a record four races in March and the 110th Indianapolis 500 on May 24.

Spain's Alex Palou, the reigning Indy 500 champion, will attempt to capture his fourth consecutive IndyCar season crown and fifth in six campaigns next year.

Dropped from this year's 17-race line-up were two events at Iowa and another at Thermal near Palm Springs, California.

Added to the line-up were events at Phoenix and Arlington, Texas, plus a second race at the Milwaukee Mile oval.

A Canadian street race usually contested in Toronto was moved to suburban Markham.

A front-row ticket to The Fastest Racing on Earth.

The 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule has officially dropped 🫳 pic.twitter.com/rBsElVPCGM

— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) September 16, 2025

"The 2026 schedule provides a dynamic showcase for our sport and its stars, blending fan-favourite race weekends with incredible showcases at exciting new venues," said Mark Miles, Penske Entertainment president and chief executive.

The 1 March season opener at St. Petersburg, Florida, launches a busy early schedule with Phoenix Raceway on 7 March, the Texas street race at Arlington on 15 March and Alabama's Barber Motorsports Park on 29 March.

The Long Beach Grand Prix will be 19 April followed by a 9 May event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course ahead of the famed oval classic and 31 May street race at Detroit.

7 June brings an oval race in suburban St. Louis and two weeks later the turns of Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, followed by Mid-Ohio on 5 July and Nashville Superspeedway on 19 July.

The final stretch includes Portland on 9 August, Markham a week later, the Milwaukee double on 29-30 August and the season finale on 6 September at the Laguna Seca road course.