Indian Racing Festival 2026: BIC and Navi Mumbai Street Circuit Set for Key Rounds

Bengaluru, India, October 8, 2026: The Indian Racing Festival (IRF) has announced its complete 2026 calendar, with the championship set for two major venue additions in the second half of the season. The Buddh International Circuit (BIC) in Greater Noida will host Rounds 4 and 5 on October 31-November 1 and November 28-29, before the season concludes with a night race at the Navi Mumbai Street Circuit on December 5-6.

The two venues will provide contrasting challenges for the remainder of the 2026 season, taking the Indian Racing Festival from a permanent international-standard circuit to a dedicated urban street-racing venue.

Buddh International Circuit to Host IRF for the First Time

The upcoming rounds at Buddh International Circuit will mark the first appearance of the Indian Racing Festival at BIC. The Greater Noida circuit previously hosted the Formula 1 Indian Grand Prix and will now welcome FIA-level single-seater racing after a 13-year gap.

Rounds 4 and 5 will give the F4 Indian Championship and Indian Racing League a high-profile permanent circuit for two crucial stages of the 2026 season.

The return of top-level single-seater racing to BIC also adds another significant chapter to the circuit’s motorsport history, while giving the IRF an opportunity to showcase its championships at one of India’s best-known racing venues.

Navi Mumbai to Host IRF 2026 Finale Under Lights

The 2026 Indian Racing Festival will conclude with a night race at the Navi Mumbai Street Circuit, near Palm Beach Road, on December 5-6.

The dedicated 3.69-km street circuit will take the IRF into an urban environment, with racing staged under lights and closer to audiences in the city. The Navi Mumbai finale will be the Festival’s second night race after Chennai hosted the championship’s first-ever night race in 2024.

The move is part of the IRF’s wider effort to take motorsport beyond traditional permanent circuits and bring the racing experience to new audiences.

Speaking about the 2026 calendar, Akhilesh Reddy, Chairman and Managing Director of Racing Promotions Pvt. Ltd. (RPPL), said the addition of BIC and Navi Mumbai reflected the organisation’s ambition to expand the reach of Indian motorsport.

“The 2026 Indian Racing Festival calendar reflects our ambition to take Indian motorsport into new spaces while continuing to raise the bar for the quality of racing and the experiences we create for fans.”

Reddy added that bringing the Festival to Buddh International Circuit and taking the season finale to the streets of Navi Mumbai represented an important step towards expanding the sport’s following in India.

IRF 2026 Season Moves to Chennai

The announcement comes as the Indian Racing Festival enters the next phase of its 2026 season.

The F4 Indian Championship has already completed its opening two rounds at Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore. Aris Kyriakou emerged as the early championship leader after a strong opening weekend, securing two runner-up finishes and a Race 3 victory.

Round 2 saw Goa Aces JA Racing’s Luviwe Sambudla take two wins, while Hyderabad Blackbirds’ Bhuvan Bonu won the remaining race. Kyriakou’s consistent podium finishes have kept him at the top of the standings, with 93 points compared to Sambudla’s 88 after two rounds.

The championship now heads to the Madras International Circuit (MIC) in Chennai on October 22-23 for Round 3. The Chennai weekend will also mark the 2026 season debut of the Indian Racing League, bringing both championships together as the Festival enters its next phase.

Indian Racing Festival 2026 Complete Calendar

The F4 Indian Championship, an FIA-certified single-seater championship, forms part of the FIA single-seater pathway and provides a platform for emerging racing talent. The Indian Racing League is a gender-neutral championship featuring Indian and international drivers.

With Buddh International Circuit and Navi Mumbai joining the calendar, the Indian Racing Festival is continuing its push to expand the reach of motorsport in India while creating new opportunities for drivers, teams, partners and fans.

The BIC and Navi Mumbai rounds will be streamed live on JioHotstar and Star Sports, giving fans access to the action from the final stages of the 2026 Indian Racing Festival season.