INDY NXT by Firestone Set to Build on Impressive Growth and Momentum

INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025) – INDYCAR has announced a 17-race schedule  for the 2026 INDY NXT by Firestone season, which includes a series’ record-tying four races in  March and the addition of three doubleheader weekends as INDYCAR’s developmental series  looks to even better prepare drivers and team personnel for the skills required to advance to  NTT INDYCAR SERIES competition. FOX Sports will also once again provide a broadcast  platform for every race, helping to build on record-setting growth across the previous season. 

The 17-race schedule is the most for the series since 2021 and also is highlighted by  participation in the much-anticipated inaugural INDYCAR Grand Prix of Arlington. The Sunday,  March 15 race on the new 14-turn, 2.73-mile Streets of Arlington circuit is a tentpole event  during the 2026 INDYCAR calendar. The weekend is a first-of-its-kind venture uniting three  championship organizations: INDYCAR, the Dallas Cowboys and REV Entertainment, the  official events partner of the Texas Rangers.

The thrilling mix of wheel-to-wheel action on ovals, road courses and street circuits in 2026  includes a total of five doubleheader weekends culminating with one at the season finale at the  renowned WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The historic road course returns as the season  finale for the 15th time in series history. 

For the second consecutive season, the 2026 schedule in the United States will be featured on  live television with all events broadcast on either FOX Sports’ FS1 or FS2. Additionally, all  practice and qualifying sessions also be featured on those networks. As part of a multiyear partnership between INDYCAR and FOX Sports, 2025 was a breakout year for INDY NXT with  every race being featured on live television for the first time. As a result, the 2025 season  generated well over five times more viewership than the previous season.

“Like with the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, the 2026 INDY NXT by Firestone season begins with  supercharged action in March and only grows more intense from there,” Penske Entertainment  Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles said. “Additional doubleheaders at fan favored events will  add to the challenge of winning a season-long championship, which again will be celebrated at  iconic WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

“Combined with the exceptional showcase of another full season of races on FS1 and FS2, we  again look forward to seeing the young stars of INDY NXT challenge for the title and advancing  to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.”

For the 16th time and fifth straight year, the season opens Sunday, March 1 on the sun splashed Streets of St. Petersburg, Florida. Challenging doubleheaders at Barber Motorsports  Park, Road America and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course add intrigue to the traditional series  doubleheaders on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course and Laguna Seca.

The schedule also includes visits to the ovals at World Wide Technology Raceway, Nashville  Superspeedway and the Milwaukee Mile, which all featured series records for on-track passes  in 2025.

All 17 races will, once again, take place during NTT INDYCAR SERIES event weekends. Since  taking over operational control of the development series in 2023, INDY NXT has enjoyed  unprecedented growth by averaging over 19 starters at each race and the largest fields since  the 2009 season.

Five of the seven race winners during the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season were former  INDY NXT drivers. The 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, featured 20 drivers  with INDY NXT experience. 

FOX Sports’ network assignments and tune-in times for the 2026 events will be announced at a  later date.

Outside of the United States, the streaming service INDYCAR LIVE will continue to provide live  coverage of all 17 INDY NXT races along with all practice and qualifying sessions.

2026 INDY NXT BY FIRESTONE SCHEDULE