For the first time since 2013, IndyCar will have a race outside of North America. The series will hold a race at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Barcelona in 2027.
The race has been confirmed via the official government site of Catalunya, which has a presentation set for 9:30 a.m. (3:30 local) Friday.
"The President of the Generalitat of Catalonia, Salvador Illa, will lead the presentation of the NTT IndyCar Series at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya," the site's calendar reads when translating Catalan to English via Microsoft Copilot. "During the event, a tribute will be paid to Catalan driver Álex Palou. In addition to President Illa, the presentation will also feature remarks from Miquel Sàmper, Catalonia's Minister of Business and Labor; Pau Relat, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Fira de Barcelona and Fira Circuit; and Mark Miles, President and CEO of Penske Entertainment Corp., the owner of the IndyCar Series. Also attending the event will be Berni Álvarez, Catalonia's Minister of Sports, and Abel García, Secretary General of the Department of Sports."
IndyCar will race on the 2.9-mile road course next summer. Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya opened in 1991 and currently hosts races in Formula One, the FIA World Endurance Championship, European Le Mans Series and more.
The last time IndyCar raced outside of North America was May 5, 2013, when James Hinchcliffe won a race on the streets of São Paulo, Brazil. IndyCar's last race in Europe was Sept. 2, 2007, when Champ Car raced in Assen, Netherlands, before merging with IndyCar in 2008.
Palou, IndyCar's best driver, grew up in Sant Antoni de Vilamajor, Spain, which is less than 15 miles from the track. The five-time IndyCar champion will now offer the race's promoters a marketing tool for IndyCar's first trip to the country.
Next year will be the second full IndyCar season since Fox Corporation purchased a one-third stake in Penske Entertainment, IndyCar's parent company. Since Fox began broadcasting IndyCar in 2025 before buying a stake in the series, the broadcasting company has pushed Palou as its frontman. Most recently, Fox Sports CEO Eric Shanks orchestrated Palou's expanded presence at the Ohio State vs. Indiana football game and nominated the driver for the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.
The IndyCar schedule continues to evolve in recent years. In 2026, IndyCar raced at three street circuits it had never been to before in Arlington, Texas; Markham, Ontario; and Washington, D.C. The series will return to Arlington and Markham next year, and now it will add a race in Spain.
For years, IndyCar has been engaged in talks to expand its schedule beyond the United States and an annual race in Ontario. Talks of racing in Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Colombia have fallen short of becoming realities, but IndyCar is officially set to return to Spain.
Zion Brown is IndyStar's motorsports reporter. Follow him at @z10nbr0wn. Get IndyStar's motor sports coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Motor Sports newsletter. Subscribe to the YouTube channel IndyStar TV: IndyCar for a behind-the-scenes look at IndyCar and expert analysis.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IndyCar to race in champion Alex Palou’s home country in 2027 for first European race in 20 years