IndyCar releases final TV ratings for 2026, up 23% from previous year
The 2026 IndyCar season saw a 23% increase in television viewership compared to the previous year, with several races surpassing one million viewers. The series credited its partnership with FOX Sports for the growth in reach and production quality.
Why it matters
The significant rise in ratings indicates a resurgence in popularity for IndyCar, potentially influencing future sports broadcasting rights and marketing strategies.
Felix Rosenqvist won in the closest Indianapolis 500 finish in history, Alex Palou claimed his fifth title in the past six years, Scott McLaughlin secured the final win of the year at Laguna Seca, and the 2026 IndyCar season is officially over after 18 rounds of racing.
IndyCar on FOX saw a +23% jump from 2025 (1.362mil), and +57% from numbers in 2024 (1.073mil). IndyCar also boasted about a bump in viewership from the key 18-49 demographic.
They averaged 1.681 million viewers per race, with the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 averaging 6.635 million viewers and the Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington, D.C. being another highlight with an average of 3.282 million viewers -- a record for any non-Indy 500 race since 1995.
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