(Indianapolis) – INDYCAR will race through the heart of the nation’s capital for the first time in history in August 2026, following an executive order signed Friday directing the creation of a street circuit around Washington, D.C., and the National Mall.
The event, officially named the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., is scheduled for Aug. 21–23, 2026, and will be part of the nationwide celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. The race will be sanctioned as part of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and is expected to feature a temporary street circuit winding past some of the country’s most recognizable monuments.
According to the executive order, the race route will be designated by the White House Task Force on Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday, with INDYCAR administering the event in coordination with the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Department of the Interior, and the District of Columbia.
“This race, the first motor race ever to be held in our nation’s capital near the National Mall, will showcase the majesty of our great city as drivers navigate a track around our iconic national monuments,” President Donald J. Trump said in the order announcing the event.
INDYCAR officials say the race will be free to attend, with public viewing areas set up along the course. Like all NTT INDYCAR SERIES events, the Freedom 250 will be televised nationally, with FOX Sports handling the broadcast.
The race adds a high-profile, one-of-a-kind venue to a series best known for the Indianapolis 500, which has been contested annually since 1911 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Indy 500 remains the world’s largest single-day sporting event, routinely drawing crowds of more than 300,000 spectators.
Roger Penske, whose Penske Corporation owns INDYCAR and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, called the Washington, D.C., event a historic moment for the sport.
“This will be a truly memorable event that celebrates our country’s independence and the legacy of patriotism, innovation and excellence that powers motorsports across America,” Penske said.
Details about the exact course layout, race weekend schedule and supporting events are expected to be released during a formal kickoff announcement in the coming weeks.