IndyCar adds Barcelona race for 2027
IndyCar will add a race at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the 2027 season. The inaugural Barcelona Grand Prix is scheduled for July 18 and will be the series' first event outside North America since 2013. Barcelona native Alex Palou will have a home race.
IndyCar has scheduled a 2027 Spanish round at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, with the first running set for Sunday, July 18. The event gives Barcelona-born Alex Palou, a five-time champion with Chip Ganassi Racing, a home race and marks the series’ first Spanish visit.
The Barcelona date would be IndyCar’s first race beyond North America since James Hinchcliffe’s 2013 São Paulo street-course win, and its first European stop since Assen in 2007. The circuit’s availability follows Formula 1’s planned shift to a Madrid street venue for 2027, leaving Barcelona with a permanent-track opening. Additional 2027 schedule details are pending.
The Barcelona race could broaden IndyCar’s visibility among European motorsport fans and give Spanish audiences a chance to see Palou compete at home. It may also bring added visitors and business to the circuit and surrounding area, while increasing travel and logistical demands for teams. For local fans, the event could become a rare top-tier open-wheel opportunity after Formula 1’s Barcelona departure, though its lasting social impact will depend on attendance, accessibility, and how the event is integrated into the region.