Engines are revving back up at Nashville Superspeedway, and the 2026 Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix is shaping up to be the biggest one yet. If you’re an IndyCar fan planning a trip to Lebanon, Tennessee, this July, here’s everything you need to know: the schedule, the drivers to watch, ticket options, and how to make the most of your Nashville Grand Prix weekend.
When Is the 2026 Music City Grand Prix?
The 2026 Music City Grand Prix takes place July 18–19 at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tennessee, just outside downtown Nashville. This year brings a major change: the race has moved to a new date and now airs on FOX immediately following the FIFA World Cup Final, with the checkered flag flying under the lights for the first time in event history.
The race distance has also expanded, with the NTT INDYCAR SERIES field battling it out over 400 miles, 300 laps around the 1.33-mile oval, making this the longest and most anticipated Music City Grand Prix to date
Full Race Weekend Schedule
Saturday, July 18 — Practice & Qualifying
- 8:00 AM ET — Public Gates Open
- 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM — NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice 1
- 10:30 AM – 11:25 AM — INDY NXT by Firestone Practice
- 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM — VINTAGE INDY
- 1:00 PM — INDY NXT by Firestone Autograph Session
- 2:05 PM – 3:05 PM — NTT INDYCAR Series Qualifying
- 3:35 PM – 4:20 PM — INDY NXT by Firestone Qualifying
- 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM — NTT INDYCAR Series High Line Practice
- 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM — NTT INDYCAR Series Practice 2
Sunday, July 19 — Race Day
- 11:00 AM — Public Gates Open
- 11:00 AM — VINTAGE INDY
- 11:15 AM — NTT INDYCAR Series Autograph Session (Located in the Fan Zone)
- 12:00 PM — INDY NXT by Firestone Race
- TBD — Pre-Race Concert
- 4:30 PM — Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix Presented by OnlyBulls
- FIFA World Cup Final watch party in the Fan Zone
- Match Day at the Pub (soccer viewing experience)
- Concert showcase at the Pub
It’s a rare doubleheader of sports entertainment; soccer fans can catch the World Cup Final live in the Fan Zone before the green flag drops on the IndyCar race that evening. Match Day at the Pub, created in partnership with FOX Sports, gives fans a dedicated trackside spot to watch the match without losing touch with race weekend around them, and the Concert Showcase at the Pub keeps the music going all weekend with a lineup that includes deadmau5 and country duo Backbeat Troubadours, all included with your race ticket.
IndyCar Tickets & Pricing for the 2026 Grand Prix
Here’s what’s available for the weekend, from grandstand seats to behind-the-scenes add-ons (pricing subject to change):
Weekend Grandstand — $125 Full weekend access to both days, including the concerts and Match Day at the Pub soccer viewing experience.
Weekend Grandstand, Kids — $15 Ages 12 and under get the full weekend when paired with a ticketed adult.
Weekend Premium Plus Grandstand — $190 Elevated seating overlooking the start/finish line, with reserved parking, tip-up seats, and expanded food and beverage options.
Weekend Garage Pass — $120 Up-close access to the teams and cars in the garage area, open to all ages.
Weekend Pit Pass — $195 Behind-the-scenes access to pit road, available to fans 18 and older. Quantities are limited.
Ultimate Fan Pass — $500 The full VIP treatment: garage and pit lane access during live race action, a guided garage tour on race day, and an event hat. Ages 18+, and tickets are extremely limited.
Weekend Tailgate Parking — $120 A dedicated 25′ x 40′ spot to park and tailgate just steps from the track, with room for up to two vehicles.
Weekend Reserved Parking — $120 A guaranteed spot close to the action for quick, easy access to the speedway.
Gray Line Tennessee Shuttle — $29.95 Round-trip motorcoach service from downtown Nashville, available Sunday only.
Garage and Pit Passes are limited, so if behind-the-scenes access is on your race weekend wish list, it’s worth locking those in early!
Drivers to Watch at Nashville Superspeedway
All eyes will be on reigning Astor Challenge Cup champion Alex Palou, who heads into the 2026 Music City Grand Prix as the driver to beat. Close behind him in the standings conversation are Kyle Kirkwood, Christian Lundgaard, and David Malukas, all expected to contend for the win on the high-banked 1.33-mile oval.
Getting to Nashville Superspeedway
Nashville Superspeedway sits in Lebanon, Tennessee, about 30 minutes from downtown Nashville. If you’d rather skip driving and parking altogether, Gray Line Tennessee runs round-trip motorcoach shuttles between downtown Nashville and the speedway for under $30 on race day, a convenient option if you’re staying in the city and want to soak up the downtown atmosphere before and after the race.
Where to Stay for the Music City Grand Prix
Race weekend draws IndyCar fans in from all over, and Nashville accommodations fill up fast, especially anywhere close to downtown or along the shuttle route to the speedway. Booking a GoodNight Stay gives your group a home base with actual room to spread out: space to cook breakfast before qualifying, a living room to unwind after a full day at the track, and enough beds that nobody’s fighting over a pull-out couch.
Whether you’re in town for the full weekend or just race day, the earlier you book your GoodNight Stay, the better your pick of homes near downtown Nashville and the speedway shuttle route!
Book Ensemble (35 Mins to Nashville Superspeedway)
Make It a Music City Weekend
Between the racing, the live music, and a front-row seat to the FIFA World Cup Final, the 2026 Music City Grand Prix is shaping up to be one of the best sports weekends Nashville has ever hosted. If you’re planning the trip, why not turn it into a full getaway? GoodNight Stay has homes throughout the Nashville area, close enough to catch the shuttle downtown, spacious enough for the whole crew, and ready whenever you are.
