IndyCar race in Barcelona confirmed for 2027

Penske Entertainment and Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya have confirmed the IndyCar Series will pay its first visit to the Spanish road course next summer.

The inaugural IndyCar Grand Prix of Barcelona is set for July 16-18 at the venue that hosts everything from Formula 1 to MotoGP to the World Endurance Championship and will serve as a homecoming race for reigning IndyCar champion Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing.

“I’m so excited to be part of IndyCar’s first race in Barcelona,” Palou said. “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.”

The multi-year agreement will give IndyCar its first international anchor since its trips to race around Brazil’s Sambadrome in Sao Paulo from 2010-13.

“The arrival of IndyCar is a major milestone and an exciting challenge for the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya,” said Pau Relat, the chairman of Fira de Barcelona and Fira Circuit. “Bringing one of the most prestigious and spectacular championships in global motorsport to our venue strengthens our international positioning, connects us with new audiences and markets, and reinforces our strategy of diversifying the circuit’s activity through world-class events. We are working with a long-term vision to make IndyCar Grand Prix of Barcelona a benchmark event on the international racing calendar for years to come.”

If there’s one person who’s relieved to bring IndyCar back to the international stage, it’s Penske Entertainment President and CEO Mark Miles.

Tasked with creating new international events soon after his arrival at the series more than a decade ago, Miles’ list of attempts that haven’t come to fruition include a return to Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico City, Monterrey (Mexico), Puebla (Mexico), Wuhan (China), Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Saudi Arabia and others. With Spain on the books, Miles' proverbial white whale has been landed.

“This is a monumental day for our sport,” Miles said. “We are pleased to be able to take our ultra-competitive brand of wheel-to-wheel racing to Europe and thrilled that we can showcase IndyCar in Alex Palou’s hometown. We have seen Alex’s remarkable skill and talent for several years and know his fans in Spain have been clamoring to watch him race in person.

“We cannot wait to see the IndyCar Series compete at one of the world’s most recognizable motorsports venues set against the backdrop of a very historic and breathtaking international destination like Barcelona.”

Asked for confirmation of which track layout will be used – the 2.894-mile, 14-turn version, or the 2.905-mile, 16-turn alternate with a chicane leading onto the front straight – RACER awaits the series’ response as to which configuration will be utilized for July’s event.