Upcoming Indianapolis 500 dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
The race, the date and the Speedway
The Indianapolis 500 is a 500-mile, 200-lap IndyCar race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana, run on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. The 111th running is scheduled for Sunday, May 30, 2027. The green flag has fallen around 12:30 p.m., and the race itself takes about three and a half hours.
- Field: 33 cars, starting in 11 rows of three.
- Crowd: the Speedway has 257,325 permanent seats, and total race-day attendance is commonly reported at 350,000 to 400,000, often cited as the largest single-day sporting event in the world.
- Setting: the Speedway sits about six miles west of downtown Indianapolis on roughly 253 acres.
The race is part of what fans call the Triple Crown of Motorsport, alongside the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Monaco Grand Prix.
Race day tickets and the Month of May
Indianapolis Motor Speedway sells tickets through its own ticket office. Returning ticket holders get first right to reorder, and for 2027, reorders and applications opened in 2026 ahead of a general on-sale in the fall. In recent years the most sought-after stands, including the Paddock, the Penthouses and several of the lettered stands, sold out through that process, which leaves resale as the main route to those seats.
- Reserved seat ticket: admission to the grounds, the infield viewing mounds and an assigned seat. Everyone, of any age, needs a seat ticket in reserved areas.
- Race Day general admission: admission to the grounds and the infield viewing mounds, without a seat. Children 15 and under get in free with a paid adult general admission ticket.
- Premium: the Green Flag Club in Pagoda Plaza, Turn 2 VIP, Tower Terrace and Hulman Terrace suites, and the Performance Center in the infield between Turns 3 and 4, which has a rooftop viewing deck.
The race is the end of a month. The 2027 schedule includes practice May 18 to 21 and May 24, qualifying May 22 and 23, Carb Day on Friday, May 28 (final practice, the pit stop competition and a concert) and Legends Day on Saturday, May 29 (autographs and the public drivers' meeting). Qualifying weekend is the best value at the track: the speeds are highest, and the crowds are a fraction of race day.
Where to sit at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The track is a rounded rectangle: two 5/8-mile straightaways, four quarter-mile turns and two short 1/8-mile chutes at the ends. No seat sees all of it, so the choice is about what you want to watch.
- Main straightaway (Paddock, Penthouse and Box stands, Tower Terrace, Pit Road Terrace): the start and finish, the Yard of Bricks, and pit stops. These carry the most demand, and they are where race strategy is easiest to follow.
- Turns and chutes: stands around the corners include the Vista stands, named by compass point (for example, Southwest Vista and Northwest Vista). Turn seats show cars setting up and diving into the corner, which is where passes happen at the start and on restarts. Northeast Vista is split into turn sections (1 to 25) and backstretch sections (26 to 37).
- Infield mounds: general admission viewing areas inside the oval. You see a slice of track and the cars flash past, so most general admission fans pick a spot and follow the race on a scanner.
Row height is the decision that matters most. Cars pass at well over 200 mph, and from low rows they are a blur behind the catch fence with little of the rest of the track in view. Higher rows show more of the oval and let you follow the order. Take a higher row in a lesser stand over a front row in a premium one.
Shade is the other factor. Per the Speedway, the upper rows of the Penthouse and Box seats are covered and have seatbacks. Stands G, H and J and all of the Vista stands are uncovered with no seatbacks, and Tower Terrace has benches with backs. Late May can be hot, so a covered row is worth paying for if you will be in your seat for four hours.
Coolers, shuttles and race day logistics
The Indy 500 is unusually generous about what you can carry in, and that changes how you plan the day. As of the 2026 race:
- Coolers: hard or soft coolers up to 18 by 15 by 15 inches are allowed, with food and drinks, including beer and wine, in non-glass containers.
- Also allowed: umbrellas that do not block views, collapsible wagons, binoculars, scanners and headsets, and lawn or folding camping chairs.
- Prohibited: glass, selfie sticks, drones, oversize bags and luggage. Smoking is banned in seating areas and on the infield mounds.
Bring hearing protection; the Speedway recommends it for all ages, and it is sold or rented at the track along with scanners and seat cushions. Allow at least 45 minutes to clear the gates, plus walking time across a very large facility.
Getting there takes planning, since race day parking sold out in 2026:
- Shuttles: paid round-trip school-bus shuttles run from Indianapolis International Airport and a downtown lot, dropping off across from Gate 2 between Turns 1 and 2. Return buses start with about 50 laps to go.
- Rideshare and taxis: race day drop-off and pickup at 10th Street and Polco Street.
- Bikes: bicycle parking outside Gates 1, 6 and 9, plus a group ride called Bike to the Indianapolis 500.
Rules change by year, so review the current gate regulations before you pack.
Milk, bricks and the Snake Pit
Race day comes with rituals that regulars expect:
- "Back Home Again in Indiana": sung before the start.
- The milk: the winner drinks milk in victory lane, a tradition dating to Louis Meyer's request after his 1936 win. Some fans bring small bottles to toast along.
- The Yard of Bricks: one yard of the original 1909 brick surface remains at the start and finish line, and winning drivers and teams traditionally kiss it.
- The Snake Pit: a separate EDM concert in the Turn 3 infield on race day, with its own stricter rules on what you can bring in.
There is no dress code. Dress for sun and heat, wear shoes you can walk miles in and bring sunscreen; the Speedway offers cooling and water refill stations.
The Brickyard's history
Indianapolis Motor Speedway opened August 14, 1909, and its original brick surface earned it the nickname the Brickyard. The first Indianapolis 500 was run in 1911. The 100th running in 2016 was an announced sellout.
- Ownership: Penske Entertainment has owned the Speedway since 2020.
- Other events: the Speedway also hosts NASCAR's Brickyard 400 and IMSA sports car races.
- Museum: the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, in the infield since 1976, recently reopened after a renovation and is air-conditioned, which makes it a good stop before the green flag.
Seat questions can go to the Speedway; its ticket FAQ covers stand features and ticket types. Every GoodSeats order is backed by a 100% guarantee.
Frequently asked questions
When is the 2027 Indianapolis 500?
The 111th Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for Sunday, May 30, 2027 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The green flag has fallen around 12:30 p.m. in recent years.
Which Indy 500 seats are covered?
According to the Speedway, the upper rows of the Penthouse and Box seats are covered and have seatbacks. Stands G, H and J and all Vista stands are uncovered.
Can I bring a cooler to the Indy 500?
Yes. As of the 2026 race, coolers up to 18 by 15 by 15 inches were allowed, with food and drinks, including beer and wine, in non-glass containers.
Do kids need a ticket for the Indy 500?
Children 15 and under are admitted free with a paid adult general admission ticket. Anyone sitting in a reserved stand needs their own seat ticket, regardless of age.
How long is the Indianapolis 500?
The race covers 500 miles over 200 laps and usually takes about three and a half hours, though the length varies with cautions and weather.
What is Carb Day?
Carb Day is the Friday before the race, featuring final practice, the pit stop competition and a concert. In 2027 it falls on May 28.