The 2026 Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup calendar is locked in with minimal changes, as Indianapolis Motor Speedway is set to return to the single-make series’ schedule for the first time since 2017.

IMS, which returned as a regular on the IMSA calendar in 2023, will feature Mazda racing alongside the Michelin Pilot Challenge and the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship during its September weekend.

The addition of IMS resulted in the removal of Barber Motorsports Park, as the series will not return to the Alabama road course following its return to the circuit this year for the first time since 2018.

With Barber off the calendar, the Mazda MX-5 Cup will join IndyCar for its season-opening weekend on the Streets of St. Petersburg—the only clashing weekend between the two series.

The MX-5 Cup season kicks off at Daytona International Speedway during the Rolex 24 weekend in early January before heading across the state to St. Pete at the end of February. The season continues its usual trek with stops at Mid-Ohio, CTMP, and VIR before making its return to IMS in September. The regular season will conclude as usual next year at Road Atlanta in October.

Although it is not listed on the initial calendar, it is possible that the Mazda MX-5 Cup could add one more race to their schedule—a non-points event at Martinsville.

Recently announced for October of this year, the Mazda MX-5 Cup race at Martinsville drew quite a visual spectacle for fans and returned for its second year. While it remains unconfirmed for 2026, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the cars return to the paperclip track in Virginia next year.