After a 2025 schedule which was my least favorite in a while. I feared the 2026 schedule would be even worse. Fortunately, I think it is a somewhat better lineup with many things to like. There are some disappointments as well.

Iowa is out, and Mexico City will not have a race. It is sad that the series didn’t try harder to make Iowa viable in 2025. Mexico City’s absence has been blamed on the World Cup, but I think the reason runs deeper than that. I think Liberty Media had something to do with IndyCar not running there.

Let’s start with what I don’t like and then end on a positive note.

The most glaring error is reinstalling Weather tech Raceway at Laguna Seca as the season finale. Why the series wants any road course as the final race of the year is a head scratcher. That is not the type of track to decide your champion. Laguna Seca has very few passing opportunities, the outcome is usually decided by qualifying, and the champion is crowned after 6 pm eastern time on a Sunday night.

The final belongs on an oval where the points leader has a chance to have a challenge to clinch the title. Nashville has been a great final venue the last two years. Milwaukee would be even better. There is an energy at The Mile which exudes the importance of a season finale with a championship on the line.

Even though Alex Palou had wrapped up the title the week before Milwaukee, there was still a lot of energy in the crowd. Imagine if that trace were to decide the champion.

After a rousing March with four races in five weeks, April has just one race with a three week gap on either side of it. Any momentum gained in March will be hard to sustain.

While the Nashville race immediately follows the World Cup final and has the potential to draw a huge audience, we have another three week gap following that race. Looks like another momentum killer.

I’m concerned that a Milwaukee double header will take some of the steam out of the crowd that we saw this year. I am not a fan of double headers as it means one less venue for the series.

The St.Pete opener will share the weekend with NASCAR Trucks. I don’t usually mind sharing weekends with the truck series, but I think it’s inappropriate to have them at IndyCar’s opening race. The Opener should be an IndyCar standalone event.

Some Good Stuff

I am thrilled to have the series return to Phoenix even though I wish it were a solo program. I am not going to complain too much, because we get to race at Phoenix! I’ll save my thoughts on this after thta weekend.

I am happy that there are no conflicts with Sebring or Le Mans in 2026. The world’s top drivers should be free to compete in all of the world’s top events.

Two new events– Arlington, Texas, and Markham, Ontario, join the schedule. It’s good to add new venues to the calendar, and it will be interesting to see how those weekends go. Texas has been in the planning stage for more than a year, but Markham has just 11 months to be ready.

I like the split of six ovals, six road courses, and five street courses.

Gateway and Nashville will finish under the lights. Nashville has been extended to a 400-mile race.

In many ways the 2026 schedule is a typical calendar. There are some things to like, and some things that just do not seem to be right. We may change our minds on somethings as the season goes on, but I promise you, it will not be a dull ride