The 2026 NTT IndyCar Series season is just around the corner, and it’s already shaping up to be one of the most aggressive schedule shakeups in recent years. With the season set to begin on March 1 on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, there’s no easing into the action … three consecutive race weekends will kick off a 17-race calendar that includes some bold additions and surprising cuts.

Three Tracks Dropped

Gone from the calendar are Thermal Club, Iowa Speedway, and the iconic Toronto street course at Exhibition Place. Thermal Club, which hosted a non-points exhibition in 2024 and was upgraded to a full points race in 2025, was scrapped after lukewarm fan response and logistical challenges. Iowa, once a short oval staple with its Hy-Vee-sponsored doubleheaders, has been cut due to dwindling attendance and shifting priorities toward NASCAR. And after nearly four decades on the calendar, Toronto is out … replaced by a flashier new venue.

New Races for 2026

The most headline-grabbing addition? A brand-new street course in Arlington, Texas, winding through the entertainment district between Globe Life Field and AT&T Stadium. This race will follow a return to Phoenix Raceway, making its first IndyCar appearance since 2018 … and in far more favorable early-March weather.

Canadian Fans, Meet Markham

Toronto’s loss becomes Markham, Ontario’s gain. The new 12-turn, 2.19-mile street course is a fresh take for Canadian IndyCar fans and features a unique double-sided pit lane … only the second in IndyCar after Detroit’s 2023 redesign.

Season Finale Back at Laguna Seca

The legendary WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca returns as the season finale for the first time since 2023, bumping Nashville Superspeedway to mid-July after its two-year run closing the championship.

With a tighter early-season schedule, bold new venues, and strategic market shifts, IndyCar’s 2026 schedule is sending a clear message: tradition isn’t sacred … growth is.