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