Markham INDYCAR 2026: Full Schedule, Race Time, TV Coverage & Streaming Guide

Markham INDYCAR 2026: Quick Schedule and Viewing Guide

*The race promoter’s detailed schedule listed Practice 1 at 3:05 p.m., while INDYCAR’s event and radio pages rounded the broadcast window to 3:00 p.m. ET. That five-minute difference reflects track-session timing versus broadcast-window timing rather than two separate sessions.

For readers new to the series, our INDYCAR racing guide explains the championship format. Our INDYCAR drivers guide is useful if you are learning the grid.

Full Markham INDYCAR 2026 Weekend Schedule

The event ran across three days, with INDYCAR joined by NASCAR Canada, USF Pro 2000, USF2000 and Radical Cup Canada. The official promoter schedule used Eastern Time, which is also the most useful time zone for a U.S.-focused audience.

Friday, August 14 — Published schedule

Friday was designed as the opening track-learning day. That mattered more than usual because nobody had previous race data from the Streets of Markham.

Street circuits change throughout a weekend as rubber builds on the racing line. Therefore, an early Friday setup can feel very different by qualifying on Saturday afternoon.

Saturday, August 15 — Published schedule

Qualifying was one of the most important sessions of the weekend because overtaking on a brand-new street course is always difficult to predict.

A clean grid position gives the driver control over the first pit window. Starting deep in the field exposes the car to more contact and yellow-flag risk.

Our qualifying explainer covers the general logic, while what grid position means explains why starting place matters.

Sunday, August 16 — Race day

INDYCAR’s own schedule page listed the race session at noon ET because that is the broadcast window. The promoter schedule was more granular and listed the race itself at 12:22 p.m.

For viewers, the safest rule is simple: be on FOX by noon ET. Do not wait until 12:22, because pre-race coverage, driver introductions and the final build-up happen before the start.

What Time Was the Markham INDYCAR Race in 2026?

Markham and the U.S. East Coast share Eastern Time in August. Therefore, there is no conversion needed for viewers in New York, Washington, Boston or much of the eastern U.S.

The race distance was 90 laps and 197.1 miles. That makes each lap roughly 2.19 miles, matching INDYCAR’s official circuit length.

Why the noon FOX slot mattered

INDYCAR and FOX positioned Markham in a strong Sunday daytime window. It followed Portland on the 2026 calendar and came before the late-season run toward Milwaukee and Laguna Seca.

The race was also the only NTT INDYCAR SERIES event in Canada for 2026. That increased its value to both the series and Canadian partners.

Markham INDYCAR 2026 TV Coverage and Streaming

United States: FOX

FOX was the exclusive U.S. television home for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in 2026. Every championship race appeared on the FOX broadcast network.

For Markham, FOX’s announced coverage time was noon ET. This was a network broadcast rather than a cable-only race.

That matters because viewers with access to a local FOX station could watch without needing FS1 or FS2 for the race itself.

Streaming: FOX One and FOX Sports platforms

FOX One was promoted across the 2026 INDYCAR schedule as a streaming option. FOX’s own INDYCAR viewing guides also listed FOX One, the FOX Sports app and FOXSports.com for live streaming of race-weekend programming.

Live-TV streaming services that carry local FOX stations can also provide the network broadcast, although availability depends on market and package.

Common examples include YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo and DIRECTV STREAM. Viewers should always check whether their local FOX affiliate is carried before race day.

Canada: TSN

INDYCAR’s official 2026 international-broadcast announcement listed TSN as the returning Canadian broadcaster.

That is especially relevant for Markham because the race was held in Ontario. Canadian viewers should use TSN’s event listings for the exact channel or digital feed assigned to the weekend.

International viewers: INDYCAR LIVE and local partners

INDYCAR says its 2026 international coverage reaches more than 200 countries and territories.

INDYCAR LIVE remains the series’ direct-to-consumer platform in markets where rights allow. It can carry full races, practices, qualifying, onboard feeds and on-demand content depending on territory.

Rights vary by country, so the official international-broadcaster page is the best reference for availability.

INDYCAR Radio

The official INDYCAR Radio schedule listed Markham coverage across the weekend. Practice 1 had a 3:00–4:30 p.m. ET radio window, Practice 2 ran 10:00–11:30 a.m., qualifying 2:25–4:00 p.m., warmup 8:30–9:30 a.m. and race coverage noon–2:30 p.m.

INDYCAR Radio is useful for fans who cannot watch live. It is also valuable at the circuit because commentary can explain pit sequences and strategy that are difficult to follow from one grandstand.

For a broader comparison of race viewing, our motorsport streaming guide explains how network and streaming rights typically differ.

Streets of Markham Track Guide

Markham was not simply a renamed Toronto race. It was a completely new temporary circuit.

INDYCAR lists the track at 2.19 miles, or 3.52 kilometers, with 12 turns. The race distance was 90 laps and 197.1 miles.

Where is the circuit?

The temporary track was built in the eastern precinct of Markham’s downtown district. The event promoter’s fan FAQ points visitors toward Markham Centre near Unionville GO Station.

The City of Markham described the event as the largest sporting event York Region had hosted.

Why a brand-new street course is difficult

Teams arrive without years of setup notebooks. Simulator work can estimate braking loads and ride-height needs, but real asphalt always changes the picture.

Street circuits also punish small errors. There is less runoff, concrete walls sit close to the racing line and grip evolves dramatically from Friday to Sunday.

Our grip guide and handling explainer show why that matters.

Double-sided pit lane

The Markham layout includes a double-sided pit lane. This is unusual compared with traditional single-sided pit lanes and changes how crews and cars move through pit sequences.

Pit-lane design matters because a 90-lap street race is heavily influenced by pit timing. A yellow flag at the wrong moment can turn a strong strategy into a loss.

Our pit-stop guide explains the basic strategy.

Where passing was expected

Street-circuit overtaking usually depends on long braking zones. The official ticket guide highlighted Turn 3 as a high-intensity area where cars charge into a 90-degree left-hander.

That kind of corner is exactly where a driver can use the draft and late braking to attempt a move.

For the aerodynamic side, see our slipstream explainer and downforce guide.

What Else Raced at Markham in 2026?

The weekend was built as a motorsport festival rather than a single INDYCAR race. Several support categories filled the schedule.

NASCAR Canada Series

NASCAR Canada brought stock-car racing to the new street course. Its Friday programme combined practice and qualifying, followed by a Saturday race.

That gave fans a very different style of racing from the open-wheel main event. The heavier touring-style cars use more body contact and produce different braking patterns.

USF Pro 2000

USF Pro 2000 sits on the development ladder toward INDY NXT and ultimately INDYCAR.

Young drivers race on the same street layout, which gives fans a chance to watch prospects learning the same walls, kerbs and braking zones as the senior series.

USF2000

USF2000 is another step on the American open-wheel development ladder. It had practice and qualifying Friday, then races on Saturday and Sunday.

Radical Cup Canada

Radical Cup Canada added sports-car racing to the weekend. Its schedule included practice and qualifying Friday and races on Saturday and Sunday.

The mix of categories also helped rubber in the new track, although different tyre constructions can make grip changes less predictable.

Why INDYCAR Moved From Toronto to Markham

INDYCAR had raced in Toronto since 1986, but the traditional Exhibition Place layout was not available for 2026.

That forced the Canadian event to move. Markham became the new home under a multi-year agreement involving the City of Markham, Green Savoree Toronto ULC and INDYCAR.

The series said the 2026 event marked the 38th year INDYCAR had competed in Ontario and the 40th INDYCAR SERIES race in the province.

What Markham offered

Markham Centre gave the promoter room to create a fresh 12-turn street course. It also provided access to Unionville GO transit and a growing downtown district.

That allowed the event to remain in the Greater Toronto Area while creating a new identity rather than simply copying the old Exhibition Place experience.

The five-year commitment

The City of Markham announced that the new partnership would bring the race to Markham for five years beginning in 2026.

A multi-year agreement matters because a temporary street event takes time to optimize. Traffic plans, spectator access, grandstand placement and track infrastructure usually improve after the first year.

Late Weekend Update: Friday Running Was Disrupted

This distinction is important because schedule pages often remain indexed after an event. A timetable tells you what was planned; a race-weekend report tells you what actually happened.

For a first-year street event, final barrier placement and circuit inspection are major operational tasks. Unlike a permanent circuit, the venue has to be built inside active city infrastructure and then certified for racing.

The disruption did not change the event’s historic importance. Markham still represented a new Canadian chapter for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.

How to Use This Schedule for Future Markham Weekends

The 2026 programme provides a useful template for what a Markham INDYCAR weekend can look like, but future editions should not be assumed to use identical session times.

Street events evolve. Organizers can adjust gate times, support categories, practice lengths and broadcast windows after reviewing the first year.

Check the promoter schedule first

The event’s own schedule is the best place for gate times, autograph sessions, support races and local activities.

Check INDYCAR for championship sessions

INDYCAR’s event page is the strongest source for the official championship practice, qualifying, warmup and race windows.

Check FOX for U.S. television

FOX publishes the network and cable assignments closer to race weekend. This matters because practice or qualifying can move between FS1 and FS2 even when the race stays on FOX.

Use INDYCAR Radio as a backup

Radio is especially useful for street races because schedule changes can happen quickly. It also provides live timing context when television coverage is unavailable.

Our racing flags guide and Safety Car guide help explain why street-race schedules can stretch beyond their original windows.

Markham INDYCAR 2026 FAQs

Conclusion: Markham Gave INDYCAR a New Canadian Street-Race Home

The 2026 Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham was more than a calendar replacement. It introduced an entirely new 2.19-mile, 12-turn circuit and kept Canada’s long-running INDYCAR tradition alive.

The official published weekend ran August 14–16. INDYCAR’s core schedule placed Practice 1 on Friday afternoon, Practice 2 and qualifying on Saturday, then warmup and the 90-lap race on Sunday.

For U.S. viewers, the key number was noon ET. That was FOX’s race-coverage start. The promoter’s detailed timetable listed the race itself at 12:22 p.m. ET.

FOX remained the U.S. television home, with FOX One promoted for streaming. In Canada, INDYCAR’s 2026 international-broadcast announcement listed TSN as the returning partner. International fans could also check INDYCAR LIVE availability by territory.

The event also introduced one of the most interesting new layouts on the calendar. A double-sided pit lane, 12 corners and nearly 200 miles of racing created a very different challenge from the old Toronto street course.

Friday’s disruption showed the difficulty of launching a new temporary circuit, but it also highlighted why accurate schedule reporting matters. The published timetable and the actual running order are not always identical.

For future Markham weekends, the most reliable routine is simple: check HondaIndy.com for the full festival timetable, INDYCAR.com for official championship sessions, and FOX for the final U.S. broadcast assignment.