INDYCAR SERIES set to race at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in July 2027

Fira Circuit, the Fira de Barcelona subsidiary that manages and operates the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, has reached an agreement to host the NTT INDYCAR SERIES at the Catalan circuit from next year. Under the name INDYCAR Grand Prix of Barcelona, the championship will hold its first race at the Circuit on 18 July 2027.

The agreement marks a new milestone in the Circuit’s international history, as it adds one of the world’s most renowned motor racing competitions to its calendar.

The announcement event was held today at the Circuit’s facilities, chaired by the President of the Government of Catalonia, Salvador Illa, and attended by the Chairman of the Board of Fira de Barcelona and Fira Circuit, Pau Relat; the President and CEO of Penske Entertainment Corp., the company that owns the INDYCAR SERIES, Mark Miles; and the Catalan Minister for Business and Employment, Miquel Sàmper. During the event, tribute was also paid to the Catalan driver Àlex Palou, who won his fifth NTT INDYCAR SERIES title this year.

An agreement that strengthens the Circuit’s international standing

The agreement signed between Fira Circuit and Penske Entertainment, with the support of the Catalan Government, will see the INDYCAR Grand Prix of Barcelona added to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES calendar from 2027. The event will mark the championship’s return to Europe for the first time since 2007, when it raced at the Assen circuit in the Netherlands. It will also be the first time that the championship races outside of North America since 2013.

This addition reinforces the Circuit’s position as a benchmark venue for major international motorsport events and advances its strategy of diversifying and enhancing its activities. It also expands the Circuit’s sporting offering with a competition characterised by speed, show, and equality amongst competitors.

A new INDYCAR experience

Fira Circuit is already working to ensure that this first event, to take place from 16 to 18 July 2027, becomes much more than just a sporting competition. Fans will be able to discover one of the world’s major motorsport disciplines first-hand and enjoy an immersive experience throughout the weekend, from free practice and qualifying sessions to the race itself.

One of the event’s key distinguishing features will be the opportunity to get up close to the drivers and teams, alongside top-tier support series and an extensive programme of activities designed to enrich the audience’s experience. Further details on ticket sales will be announced shortly.

The arrival of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES also represents an opportunity to raise Catalonia and Barcelona’s international profile, particularly in the North American market, and to generate economic activity linked to tourism, hospitality and services.

Tribute to Àlex Palou

The event also included a tribute to Àlex Palou, the Catalan driver and reigning champion of this competition. Palou took his first steps in the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya Young Drivers’ Programme and embarked on a career that saw him compete across Europe and Japan, before winning the Indianapolis 500 – the most legendary race on the calendar – and securing his fifth NTT INDYCAR SERIES title this year, his fourth in a row. Seeing the driver compete at the Circuit will undoubtedly be one of the major highlights for fans.

Pau Relat, Chairman of the Board at Fira de Barcelona and Fira Circuit:

“For Fira Circuit, signing this agreement to bring INDYCAR to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya represents a major step forward and an exciting challenge. Hosting one of the most prestigious and spectacular competitions in world motorsport will strengthen our international standing and connect us with new audiences and markets. It will also bolster our strategy to diversify the activities at this venue by attracting new sporting, cultural and corporate events. We are working with a long-term vision to ensure that INDYCAR in Barcelona becomes a flagship event on the international calendar in the years to come.”

Mark Miles, President and CEO of Penske Entertainment Corp., the company that owns the INDYCAR SERIES:

“Today is a momentous day for our sport. We are delighted to bring our racing format—known for wheel-to-wheel racing and intense competition—to Europe, and we are especially excited to showcase INDYCAR in Àlex Palou’s hometown. We’ve been witnessing his extraordinary talent for years, and we know that his fans in Spain have been eager to see him compete live. We’re thrilled to see the NTT INDYCAR SERIES race at one of the world’s most renowned motorsports venues, set against the backdrop of a destination as historic and spectacular as Barcelona.”

Àlex Palou, five-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion and former member of the Circuit’s Young Drivers Program:

“I’m so excited to be part of INDYCAR’s first race in Barcelona. It is an amazing opportunity, and it means so much to me to have a race at home in Barcelona, it’s hard to put into words. I know the fans are going to love it, and I think we are going to put on a great show. We’re going to try hard with the team at Chip Ganassi Racing to bring home the trophy in July.”