Ontario Hosting 2026 Indy Race in Markham
MARKHAM — The Ontario government is investing $1.5 million to support the 2026 Ontario Honda Dealers Indy in Markham, strengthening Ontario's position as a premier destination for world-class sporting events while supporting jobs, tourism and economic growth. As the only Canadian stop on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES calendar, the event will take place from August 14 to 16, 2026 and is expected to draw more than 150,000 attendees over the three-day weekend, generating tens of millions in economic activity for the province through sport tourism, hospitality and event services.
“The Indy's debut in Markham marks an exciting new chapter for one of Canada’s most recognized annual motorsport events,” said Natalie Pierre, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Sport. “Following a landmark summer of international sport, Ontario has once again demonstrated that we are where the world comes to compete. Supporting this iconic event as it hits the track in Markham, our government is building on that momentum, growing sport tourism and reinforcing Ontario’s reputation as a premier destination for major sporting events.”
The Ontario Honda Dealers Indy is IndyCar’s second-oldest street race and will make its debut in Markham this year after nearly 40 years at Exhibition Place in Toronto. In 2025, the event generated more than $85 million for Ontario’s economy and welcomed over 160,000 visitors. The government’s investment will help support event operations, enhance the fan experience, attract more international visitors and generate significant economic benefits for the province.
“Bringing the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy to Markham represents an exciting new chapter for our event, and the investment from the provincial government is pivotal in making it a reality,” said Jeff Atkinson, President of the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham. “This support not only allows us to deliver a world-class motorsport experience for fans, but also drives significant tourism, supports local businesses, and showcases Markham and the entire region on a global stage.”
This investment builds on the government’s work to help communities unlock the economic benefits of sport tourism while creating more opportunities for children, youth and families to participate in sport and recreation. Through investments like the $500 million Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund (CSRIF), Ontario is building and upgrading facilities across the province, ensuring more people have access to quality spaces to play, compete and stay active while helping communities attract major sporting events that drive local economic growth.
Quick Facts
• Ontario invested $1.5 million to support the 2026 RBC Canadian Open at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon. The signature Canadian event was expected to attract over 130,000 attendees and generate tens of millions in economic activity for the province.
• Through the Ontario Sport Hosting Program, the province supports national and international amateur sporting events that drive tourism, strengthen local economies, showcase Ontario's world-class venues and provide athletes with valuable high-performance competition opportunities.
• Ontario invested $97 million in funding and provincial services to support Toronto’s role as a host city for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ and FIFA Fan Festival™ Toronto, creating over 8,700 jobs in Ontario and generating more than $1.3 billion in economic activity across the province. As part of that funding, Ontario invested $20 million to build the new Centennial Park sport training facility, which served as an official training site for the event before transitioning into a permanent community sport and recreation space.
• Ontario is investing $500 million through the Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund to build new and upgrade existing facilities, helping communities stay active and healthy, while creating jobs and attracting major sporting events that drive local economic growth. •
Quotes
"For the people of Markham-Stouffville, welcoming the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy to our community is an exciting opportunity. This world-class event will bring thousands of visitors to Markham, creating new opportunities for local businesses, supporting jobs and giving families the chance to experience one of Canada’s premier motorsport events close to home. This is a major moment for Markham-Stouffville and I am incredibly excited to see our residents and local businesses at the heart of it."
- Paul Calandra
MPP for Markham—Stouffville
"Bringing the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy to Markham-Unionville is an exciting milestone and a tremendous opportunity for our local community. This $1.5 million investment will help attract visitors, support local businesses, create jobs, and showcase Markham-Unionville as a world-class destination for major sporting events. I look forward to welcoming racing fans from across Ontario and beyond as this iconic event begins an exciting new chapter in our community."
- Billy Pang
MPP for Markham—Unionville
"The Ontario Honda Dealers Indy coming to Markham is an exciting opportunity for our community. This world-class event will attract visitors, support local businesses, and showcase Markham on the international stage. Our government is proud to support initiatives that strengthen the local economy and enhance Ontario’s reputation as a premier destination for major sporting events."
- Logan Kanapathi
MPP for Markham—Thornhill
"I’m proud that our government is supporting the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy as it begins an exciting new chapter in Markham. This world-class sporting event, hosted here in York Region, will attract visitors, boost tourism and strengthen our local economy by supporting local businesses and showcasing our community to audiences from across Canada and beyond."
- Laura Smith
MPP for Thornhill
Wesley Austin
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Wesley Austin 7/27/2026 |
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