Full 2026 IndyCar and Indy NXT schedules with FOX broadcast timings

About halfway through the offseason, IndyCar and FOX announced the broadcast schedule for the series' new era in 2026. The new era isn't from a technical or competitive point of view, which will arrive in 2028, but from the broadcast POV, with FOX now owning a third of the American open-wheel racing series.

In 2025, FOX came aboard as the series' exclusive broadcasting partner, with NBC passing the baton. In the first year of partnership, the media giant, led by CEO Eric Shanks, delivered on its promise of providing the series with a significant rise in viewership. The series witnessed a 27% year-on-year growth in average viewership, with 1.362 million viewers per race.

Heading into 2026, FOX has a deeper understanding of the series' audience, the demographics, and other crucial data points, which would have factored into deciding the broadcast timings for 2026 for both IndyCar and its feeder series, Indy NXT. That said, let's take a look at the full broadcast schedule for both series.

2026 IndyCar schedule and FOX broadcast timings

2025 IndyCar Big Machine Music City Grand Prix at Nashville - Source: Getty

The 2026 season kicks off with the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 1, and after listening to fan feedback, there will be no gap between the first and second races of the season. 2026 will kick off with three consecutive race weekends, with Phoenix following St. Pete, and the inaugural Arlington GP third in line.

Like in 2025, FOX will provide extensive six-hour coverage for the Indy 500 on May 24, with the show beginning at 10 am. The race at WWTR (Gateway) will remain the only nighttime race, kicking off at 9 pm. One of the focal points, the Nashville race, will get a lead-in from the FIFA World Cup final on FOX on July 19, and the only race for which the time hasn't been announced.

As for the rest, this is what the 2026 IndyCar on FOX schedule looks like:

2026 Indy NXT schedule and FOX broadcast timings

Indy NXT by Firestone Race - Source: Getty

Indy NXT, the feeder series to IndyCar, has produced several talents that went on to win races and championships in the premier category. The junior series will have a 17-race calendar, but it is less diverse in terms of the tracks it races on. The 2026 Indy NXT schedule features five double-headers, including at Barber, IMS road course, Road America, Mid-Ohio, and Laguna Seca.

Of the three new races on the 2026 IndyCar schedule - Phoenix, Arlington, and Markham (Toronto's replacement) - Indy NXT will follow the series only at the Texan outing in Arlington. All Indy NXT races will take place on the same weekend as IndyCar, and will precede the senior series' feature events.

You can look at the 2026 Indy NXT schedule, TV channel details, and broadcast timings in the table below:

Edited by Yash Kotak