Toronto's IndyCar race moving to Markham in 2026

The roar on Toronto's lakeshore is no more as the annual NTT IndyCar Series weekend races north.

Green Savoree Racing Promotions, which puts on the annual event, told CBC Toronto exclusively Tuesday it is moving the IndyCar Series race to downtown Markham in 2026. The organizers and city have signed a five-year deal to hold the Markham race.

The event will happen Friday, Aug. 14 to Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026.

"We looked all around Ontario from Niagara Falls all the way through to Oshawa to Ottawa, you name it, to host this wonderful event," Jeff Atkinson, president of the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Markham told CBC Toronto. "It really all came back to Markham. The city was very excited, as were we, to host the event here."

The Toronto race had been a staple of the IndyCar Series for nearly 40 years, being held at Exhibition Place since 1986, making it one of the longest-standing races on the U.S.-based racing series schedule. It was cancelled once in 2008 and again in 2020 and 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Organizers say Toronto's hosting duties for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at BMO Field, along with various changes happening at Exhibition Place meant holding the event in Toronto was no longer feasible.

"We've been on one-year deals at Exhibition Place going into the 2025 race," Atkinson said. "Moving forward, we don't want to go just one year at a time. We want to build a foundation.

Atkinson said the organization looked at its attendance numbers when considering where to move the event and found most of its audience has an easier commute to downtown Markham.

"Whether it be car or transit, this is a great place to host an event."

Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti says it will be the city's largest sporting event and "solidifies Markham's status as a leading global city."

"Around this time next year, the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham will transform the streets of our city into a car racing crucible, testing the limits of some of the world's fastest car drivers and welcoming the world to watch it all unfold," he said Wednesday.

The soon-to-be finalized 3.52-kilometre circuit will sit partially on the Unionville GO property, which will run train service for fans throughout the weekend, and race past York University's Markham Campus. The track will feature 12 turns and a split pit road.

It's more than a half-kilometre longer than the layout used in Toronto. Organizers say it will also have more space for fans.

"There's going to be lots of great sightlines. We ran out of space at Exhibition Place and actually needed to add seats but we were unable to do so.

"It's a very competitive race circuit," Atkinson said. "You're going to see a lot of technical turns and a lot of high speed as well as we navigate these streets that are really creating a beautiful race circuit for the drivers."

The race is sponsored by the Ontario Honda Dealers Association. Honda Canada is headquartered in Markham, making the race an attractive location for the automotive manufacturer. Race promoters say tourism opportunities played a role in awarding Markham the event.

"We have great restaurants here in Markham and a lot of hotel accommodations for fans," Atkinson said. "Ultimately, the event brings probably a $40 to $50 million economic impact to a community."

Scarpitti says the city expects upwards of 150,000 visitors over the three-day event, along with 250 international media members.

Organizers say they're also prepared to deal with the challenges that come with building a temporary race track in a new community, including resident concerns about traffic disruptions and noise. They say they will listen to residents and will work with the city on a traffic management plan to make sure locals can move freely around their community.

Further details including various support series for the event, entertainment and indoor amenities will be announced in the coming months.