IndyCar adds 2027 Barcelona race, first non-North American stop since 2013

The NTT IndyCar Series has confirmed a new stop at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for its 2027 season, marking the first time the championship has raced outside North America since 2013. The race is scheduled for July 18 and represents a significant expansion for the series, which has not held a foreign event since 2007. This 2007 race predates the merger of Champ Car and the Indy Racing League that created today's IndyCar Series.

The announcement coincides with the release of the second phase of the 2027 schedule, in which every race will be broadcast on Fox for the third consecutive year. The addition of the Spanish venue is particularly notable for defending five-time series champion Alex Palou, who is a native of Spain. Palou recently clinched his fourth straight title and fifth overall with a doubleheader victory at the Milwaukee Mile. The presence of a generational talent like Palou offers a strong hook for international audiences, with the prospect of a home victory on his native soil adding to the event's appeal.

The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is already a well-known fixture on the Formula One calendar and is frequently used for preseason testing. It also features on the MotoGP schedule. The track will begin hosting IndyCar races every other year. While Formula One races at the circuit have faced criticism in recent years for a lack of on-track overtaking due to the track's flow and limited heavy braking zones, IndyCar vehicles are generally better suited to close racing. The series expects to see competitive action around the circuit despite the track's layout.

To accommodate the new Spanish race, other events were removed from the 2027 calendar. The Freedom 250 Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway will not take place next season. That event had always been marketed as a one-off, though its late announcement meant it was not part of the initial schedule. Despite the success of this summer's race in Washington, D.C., no return date for that venue has been set for 2027.