Freedom 250 Grand Prix Brings First INDYCAR Race to National Mall

The National Mall will become a racecourse this weekend as the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. brings the NTT INDYCAR SERIES to the heart of the nation’s capital for the first time.

The free, two-day motorsports event will be held Aug. 22-23, 2026, as one of the signature celebrations marking America’s 250th anniversary.

Racing will take place against a backdrop that includes the Washington Monument, the U.S. Capitol, and other landmarks surrounding the National Mall.

The event is being administered by INDYCAR in coordination with the America 250 Task Force, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Executive Office of the Mayor of the District of Columbia.

Saturday’s schedule will include INDYCAR practice and qualifying, along with IROC practice and races.

The main Freedom 250 Grand Prix will take place Sunday, Aug. 23, with live national television coverage on FOX.

Organizers are describing the event as the first-ever NTT INDYCAR SERIES race on the National Mall.

Because the race is being held in one of Washington’s busiest and most visited areas, organizers are encouraging spectators and other visitors to plan ahead.

Event resources include a two-day schedule, a list of prohibited items, and transportation information covering transit and traffic changes. Additional information about course maps, road closures and visitor access is expected to be posted as it becomes available.

For those planning to attend, the event is free and open to the public.

The Freedom 250 Grand Prix combines one of America’s major racing series with the broader commemoration of the nation’s 250th anniversary, placing high-speed competition in a setting normally associated with monuments, museums and national ceremonies.

The weekend also gives visitors another reason to head to Washington as America 250 events continue across the country.