Counting Crows set for 2026 Miller Lite Carb Day concert at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May

Concert announcement adds a major rock booking to the Indianapolis 500’s final practice day

Counting Crows will headline the 2026 Miller Lite Carb Day Concert at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, extending the track’s long-running practice-day tradition of pairing on-track action with a large-scale infield show. Carb Day is scheduled for Friday, May 22, 2026, two days before the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 24.

Carb Day serves as the final on-track practice for IndyCar teams ahead of race day and also includes the Pit Stop Challenge, which puts crews head-to-head in timed stops. The concert is staged inside the speedway’s infield and is integrated into the day’s ticketed admission rather than sold as a separate standalone event.

How admission works: general entry, pit wristbands and VIP options

Indianapolis Motor Speedway structures Carb Day as a layered-access event. A standard Carb Day General Admission ticket includes access to the speedway grounds and also includes general admission access to the Carb Day Concert area. The venue also sells upgrades that move spectators closer to the stage and provide additional amenities.

• General admission provides movement between infield viewing mounds and access to selected grandstands on a first-come basis, along with concert general admission.
• A Concert Pit wristband is sold as an upgrade for closer stage access; separate gate admission is still required if the wristband is purchased alone.
• A VIP concert option includes both speedway admission and a private viewing platform near the stage, along with dedicated services and included drink/snack items.

IMS also maintains a youth admission policy for Carb Day: children 15 and under are admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult in general admission areas.

Carb Day remains one of the most heavily attended days at IMS outside of the Indianapolis 500 itself, combining the final competitive tune-up with entertainment and fan events.

Why Counting Crows fits the Carb Day format

Counting Crows, formed in the early 1990s and widely known for hits including “Mr. Jones” and “Accidentally in Love,” joins a Carb Day concert lineage that has generally emphasized rock-oriented bookings. In recent years, the concert has typically been scheduled for late afternoon following track activities, positioning the performance as a capstone to the day’s practice sessions and the Pit Stop Challenge.

Operational details that matter for attendees—such as the day’s full timetable, gate times, stage-area policies, and any restrictions tied to upgraded wristbands—are expected to be communicated through official event materials as Carb Day approaches. For 2026, the concert announcement places a nationally recognized touring act into one of the signature entertainment slots of the Month of May calendar.