In March 2026, IndyCar is bringing a whole new meaning to racing through the streets of Arlington.
While Arlington is known for its sports teams like the Dallas Cowboys, it will be home to the IndyCar Grand Prix of Arlington in 2026. This first-of-its-kind race brings the best IndyCar drivers from around the world to North Texas for a high-speed, high-adrenaline event. Fasten your seat belts — we’ll drive you through everything you need to know.
On the map
Arlington officials released the map on Tuesday, depicting a circuit course with pit stops, multiple turns, and grand stands. Most notably, the 2.73-mile track will weave its way through Arlington’s sports and entertainment districts, passing iconic locations like AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field.
Raceway renderings
No your eyes didn’t deceive you. Here’s a quick preview of what the raceway will look like in Arlington, complete with the Cowboys’ and Rangers’ stadiums in the backdrop.
Grand return
The event will bring IndyCar back to North Texas, continuing a legacy that dates back to the mid-20th century, when AAA Championship sanctioned five races at Arlington Downs Raceway between 1947 and 1950. Then, the IndyCar Series raced annually at Fort Worth’s Texas Motor Speedway from its debut in 1997 until last year — serving as the first race following the Indianapolis 500 — but the organization and track were unable to come to an agreement for 2024, so it fell off this year’s schedule.
Bringing the boom
“This announcement is an economic win for North Texas, and we’re looking forward to welcoming this incredible racing series and its fans for an unforgettable experience,” said Arlington Mayor Jim Ross.
While it’s too early to know how much of an economic boom this will have, we can look to other host cities for rough estimates. In Milwaukee, IndyCar reportedly generated $25 million for the local economy with a two-day race. On a larger scale, the Indy 500 reportedly contributes $1+ billion to Indiana each year.
