You’ve heard the roar. That high-pitched, spine-tingling scream of thirty-three engines hitting 230 mph on the front stretch. It’s the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500, and honestly, if you aren't prepared for how to watch it, you’re going to miss the most chaotic part of the morning.
People always assume they can just "find a stream" or flip on the same channel they used five years ago.
Wrong.
The media landscape for IndyCar has shifted massively. If you're looking to watch live Indy 500 action on Sunday, May 24, 2026, you need to know that FOX is now the exclusive home. Gone are the days of bouncing between NBC and Peacock for the main event. FOX is going all-in, treating the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing" with a massive six-hour broadcast window that starts way before the green flag even drops.
The Big Switch: Where to Watch Live Indy 500 in 2026
For decades, we were used to one way of doing things. But 2026 is the second year of a landmark deal. FOX Sports has the keys now.
Basically, every single seat in the house—including yours on the couch—is focused on the FOX main network. They are leaning into the "big event" feel. Think Super Bowl, but with more ethanol and less halftime show.
U.S. Viewing Schedule
The coverage starts early. Like, "get your coffee and breakfast burritos ready" early.
- 10:00 AM ET: Pre-race coverage begins on FOX. This is where you get the pageantry. The "Back Home Again in Indiana" singing, the military flyovers, and the nerve-wracking driver introductions.
- 12:45 PM ET (approx): The Green Flag. This is the moment.
- The Platform: If you have a digital antenna, cable, or a live TV streaming service (like YouTube TV, Fubo, or Hulu + Live TV), you’re set.
If you're a cord-cutter without a live TV bundle, the FOX Sports app is your best friend, though you'll usually need a provider login. What's interesting this year is how FOX is tying the race into their 2026 FIFA World Cup hype. They’re using the massive global reach of soccer to push the 500 to people who might typically only watch "cars turning left."
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What About Practice and Qualifying?
You can't just show up for the race and expect to know why the guy in Row 8 is a threat. The "Month of May" is a slow burn.
Practice sessions and the nail-biting PPG Presents Armed Forces Qualifying (May 16–17) won't always be on the main FOX channel. For those, you'll need to hunt down FS1 or FS2. It’s a bit of a scramble, but if you’ve got the FOX Sports app, it usually aggregates everything in one spot so you don’t have to keep track of which specific "S" channel is showing the fast Friday runs.
The Infamous Blackout: A Local's Nightmare
If you live in Central Indiana, you already know the drill. It's a weird, archaic tradition that feels like it belongs in the 1950s.
Unless the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) declares a total sell-out of every single grandstand seat, the live broadcast is "blacked out" in the local Indianapolis market. You can't watch live Indy 500 on your local FOX affiliate if you’re sitting in a house ten miles from the track.
Why? Because they want you at the track.
In 2025, they lifted the blackout because the fans showed up in droves. For 2026, the rumors are already swirling. State lawmakers have even tried to pass bills to ban these blackouts, arguing that if taxpayers fund the stadium, they should get to watch the race. But for now, the rule stands. If you’re in Indy, keep an eye on the news the week before the race. If IMS President J. Douglas Boles doesn't announce a sell-out, you might be listening to the radio broadcast on WIBC or waiting for the tape-delayed replay in the evening.
International Fans: Don't Get Left Behind
IndyCar isn't just an American thing anymore. With drivers like Pato O’Ward, Alex Palou, and Scott Dixon dominating the charts, the global demand is huge.
If you’re in the UK, Sky Sports F1 is usually the go-to. Down under in Australia? Stan Sport has been the heavy lifter for IndyCar content lately. The series uses a variety of partners globally, but the easiest way to check your specific country is through the official IndyCar Live streaming service. In many territories where a big TV deal doesn't exist, IndyCar sells a direct-to-consumer stream for practice, qualifying, and the race itself.
It’s actually a pretty sweet deal for international fans because they often get the "clean" feed without the constant "Side-by-Side" commercial breaks that we have to endure in the States.
The Tech Edge: Using the IndyCar App
Kinda surprisingly, one of the best ways to enhance your experience isn't even on your TV. It's the IndyCar App powered by NTT DATA.
It’s free. Use it.
While you watch live Indy 500 on the big screen, the app gives you:
- Live In-Car Cameras: You can literally ride along with Pato or Newgarden.
- Team Radio: You hear the engineers panicking or the drivers complaining about "push" in Turn 2. It’s raw and unfiltered.
- Real-Time Telemetry: Seeing the tire deg and fuel loads in real-time makes you feel like a strategist.
Actionable Strategy for Race Day
Stop waiting until 12:30 PM to figure this out.
First, check your hardware. If you’re using a streaming service like Fubo or YouTube TV, make sure your internet can handle a 4K stream (if available) without buffering. There is nothing worse than the screen freezing while someone is making a three-wide move into the Snake Pit.
Second, if you’re a local in Indianapolis, have a backup plan. Assume the blackout is on until you hear otherwise. This means either buying a ticket to the infield (the only tickets usually left at the last minute) or finding a friend outside the blackout zone who’s hosting a watch party.
Third, get the audio sorted. Sometimes the TV commentators talk too much. If you want the old-school feel, sync the IndyCar Radio Network broadcast with your TV. The radio guys have to describe the action with so much more energy because they can’t rely on you seeing the screen. It’s a totally different vibe.
Verify your FOX login now. Update the app on your Roku or Apple TV today. When the field of 33 takes the green, you don't want to be looking at a "Forgot Password" screen. You want to be watching the blur of color hitting the yard of bricks.