The NTT IndyCar Series announced its 2027 schedule on Monday, and Nashville is absent from the lineup. The decision means the Music City Grand Prix will not return to Middle Tennessee next year, ending a five‑year stretch that saw the race move from downtown Nashville to the Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon.
History of the Music City Grand Prix
IndyCar first revived a race in Middle Tennessee in 2021 after a 13‑year hiatus, staging the event on a downtown street circuit that ran through the heart of Nashville, including a crossing of the Korean Veterans Memorial Bridge. The downtown race ran for three consecutive years, from 2021 through 2023.
Construction projects near the downtown course forced a relocation in 2024, and the series moved the event to Nashville Superspeedway, a 1.33‑mile oval located in Lebanon, Tennessee. The superspeedway hosted the race in 2024 and again in 2025, drawing fans from across the state and providing a new venue for the series.
2027 schedule and organizers’ response
The newly released 2027 schedule lists races in traditional IndyCar markets across the United States and abroad, including a stop in Barcelona, Spain on July 18. No Nashville date appears, confirming that the series will not be racing in Middle Tennessee next season.
Organizers issued a statement expressing gratitude to the loyal fan base and partners who helped make the Music City Grand Prix a distinctive stop on the IndyCar calendar. They highlighted the “unforgettable celebrations” and the “positive impact” the event had on Nashville, Lebanon, and surrounding communities, noting that the race helped create new motorsport fans throughout the region.
What this means for local fans
While the absence of a 2027 race is disappointing for local enthusiasts, the statement from the organizers suggests that the series remains appreciative of the support it received. Fans can still look forward to future IndyCar events elsewhere in the country and may hope for a return to Middle Tennessee in later seasons, though no concrete plans have been announced.
For now, the focus shifts to other regional events and the continued growth of motorsports interest sparked by the Music City Grand Prix’s five‑year run.
Original reporting: NewsChannel 5 WTVF (Scripps) – local — read the source article.
