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Indy 500 dates, 2026 schedule, Indianapolis weather, UK race start time for IndyCar's biggest event and how to watch or stream on Sky Sports

Find out the schedule, weather and how to watch the Indy 500 from Indianapolis; watch the Indy 500 from 3pm (race start at 5.30pm) on Sunday, live on Sky Sports ahead of Formula 1's Canadian Grand Prix on the same day

Monday 18 May 2026 10:50, UK

Alex Palou, of Spain, drives through the first turn during practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Image: Alex Palou won last year's Indy 500 (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

The Indy 500 - one of the highlights on the motorsport calendar - is here and you can watch it all across Sky Sports.

IndyCar championship leader Alex Palou will be aiming to defend his title in a race that is often unpredictable and known as "the greatest spectacle in racing" thanks to the bravery of 33 drivers going wheel to wheel at over 200mph on a 2.5-mile oval.

Palou is on pole position from former Manor F1 driver Alexander Rossi after a thrilling qualifying, while two-time Indy 500 winner Josef Newgarden has work to do from 23rd.

There are four other former Formula 1 drivers in the field - Takuma Sato, Marcus Ericsson, Romain Grosjean and Mick Schumacher.

You can watch every session live on Sky Sports, including coverage of the race itself on Sunday ahead of Formula 1's Canadian Grand Prix.

Indy 500 weather

The weather this week in Indianapolis weather is mixed but Sunday's race is currently set to be dry with temperatures reaching 27 degrees.

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The Indy 500 fortnight usually sees some massive crashes, as Colton Herta showed last year in qualifying

Sky Sports F1's Indy 500 schedule

Monday May 18
6pm: Indy 500 Practice Seven

Friday May 22
4pm: Indy 500 Practice Eight*
8.10pm: Pit Stop Challenge

Sunday May 24
3pm: 110TH RUNNING OF THE INDY 500 (Race start at 5.30pm)*

*live on Sky Sports Mix

Alex Palou, of Spain, celebrates after winning the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Image: Alex Palou is aiming to become just the seventh driver to defend their Indy 500 crown (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

How to watch or stream the Indy 500 in the UK and Ireland

Got Sky?

TV: Sky Customers can watch on Sky Sports F1 with the race start itself on Sunday May 24 at 5.30pm

App: Sky Customers can also watch on the Sky Sports app - with the option to go onboard with any driver!

Not got Sky?

Stream: Non-Sky Customers can stream the action with a NOW Day or a cancel-anytime Month pass

How to watch the Indy 500 on mobile with the Sky Sports app

Sky Sports Subscribers can:

  1. Download or open the Sky Sports app
  2. Head to the 'Watch' section for build-up from 3pm on Sunday May 24
  3. Tap on the Sky Sports F1 or Sky Sports Mix channel
  4. Sign in with your Sky iD (*you'll only need to do this once)

*Sky iD help: How to find or create your Sky iD

What is NOW?

NOW is an instant streaming service offering access to all 12 Sky Sports channels, every Sky Sports+ stream, and much more.

It's an app, so customers can sign up and stream instantly across over 60 devices. It offers contract-free membership options, so customers can cancel anytime!

You can choose between a Month or Day Membership. See the latest NOW membership prices.

More information about NOW can be found here.

Watch the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix and Indy 500 on a bumper weekend on May 22-24 across Sky Sports. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime

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