Ontario backs Markham Indy race with $1.5 million tourism investment

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Ontario supports Markham Indy

Highlights

Ontario is investing $1.5 million to support the 2026 Ontario Honda Dealers Indy in Markham, the only Canadian race in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.
The Markham event is projected to attract more than 150,000 attendees over three days and generate tens of millions of dollars in economic activity.
In 2025, the race brought over 160,000 visitors and more than $85 million to Ontario's economy, highlighting the province's focus on sport tourism and infrastructure development.

Markham race funding and event plans

As reported by the Ontario Newsroom, the provincial government says the funding supports the 2026 Ontario Honda Dealers Indy in Markham, the only Canadian stop on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES calendar. Officials say the money will help cover event operations, improve the fan experience, attract more international visitors and strengthen Ontario's profile as a host for large-scale sporting events.

The Ontario Honda Dealers Indy is IndyCar's second-oldest street race and is making its Markham debut after nearly 40 years at Exhibition Place in Toronto. Natalie Pierre, parliamentary assistant to the minister of sport, says the move opens a new chapter for one of Canada's best-known annual motorsport events and builds on Ontario's recent momentum in international sport hosting.

Jeff Atkinson, president of the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham, says provincial support is central to staging the event and expanding its tourism reach. He says the race is intended to deliver a world-class motorsport experience while promoting Markham and the wider region to a global audience.

Tourism and regional economic impact

Ontario says the race is expected to draw more than 150,000 attendees over the three-day weekend and generate tens of millions of dollars in economic activity for the province. The projected benefits span sport tourism, hospitality and event services, areas that typically see direct gains from major live events.

In 2025, the event generated more than $85 million for Ontario's economy and attracted over 160,000 visitors, providing a benchmark for the government's investment case. The funding also fits into a broader strategy to help communities use sport tourism to support jobs and local business activity.

The province links the race support to wider recreation and infrastructure spending, including the $500 million Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund. Ontario says those investments are aimed at improving access to sports facilities while helping communities compete for events that can drive longer-term local economic growth.

In our earlier coverage of Canada’s Rural Development Action Plan consultation for 2026, we outlined how Ottawa gathered input from rural, remote, northern and Indigenous communities on reshaping federal support. The feedback emphasized place-based program design, simpler access to tools, and investment in local capacity, with success measured by long-term community retention and sustainability.

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