CHICAGO (WGN) – The NASCAR Chicago Street Race will not be returning to Chicago in 2026.

NASCAR made the official announcement on their website Friday afternoon.

Officials said the event will “hit pause in 2026 to afford us the time necessary to work collaboratively with the City of Chicago to explore a new potential date and to develop a plan that further optimizes operational efficiencies.”

NASCAR added the current goal is to return to the streets of Chicago in 2027.

NASCAR Chicago Street Race President Julie Giese issued the following statement on the decision:

Thank you for all that you have done to make the NASCAR Chicago Street Race one of the most iconic events in global sports. Together, we have built and grown an expanded community of fans that consists of longtime NASCAR enthusiasts and first-time racegoers from around the globe, and for that, we are immensely grateful.

Following the success of the first three years, the Chicago Street Race will hit pause in 2026 to afford us the time necessary to work collaboratively with the City of Chicago to explore a new potential date and to develop a plan that further optimizes operational efficiencies, with a goal to return to the streets of Chicago in 2027.

As we look to 2027, we will work towards that goal in partnership with the City of Chicago, and will maintain our Chicago office to ensure that our community engagement work continues to deliver real, tangible benefits to local residents through continued partnerships with organizations like Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Park District, Boys & Girls Clubs, After School Matters, local hospitals, and others.

Thanks to Mayor Brandon Johnson and the City of Chicago, City Council, the Chicago Sports Commission & Choose Chicago and the State of Illinois, along with each department and civic organization, for their ongoing partnership.

We would also like to thank the residents and businesses of Chicago for their continued support of our dual mission to drive vital tourism revenue while introducing our sport to new fans. Their positive collaboration has been instrumental in making the Chicago Street Race the one-of-a-kind, world-class event that it has become.

We are grateful to our founding partners, Arby’s, BlueCross Blue Shield of Illinois, and XUMO, and our official partners for making this monumental event possible.

But above all, we are grateful for you – our fans – who have helped us build something truly unique. This event was designed to not only bring our sport to new places for the first time, but to also support the city by celebrating the best of Chicago on a global stage. We’re proud to have done just that in our first three years and look forward to the next chapter of racing.

Julie Giese – President, Chicago Street Race