The XINSURANCE Great Lakes Grand Prix returns to Washington Park in Michigan City, Indiana, from Monday, July 27 to Sunday, August 2, 2026. Now in its 17th year, the event is free to attend, with offshore powerboat racing visible from Washington Park Beach and the surrounding shoreline.
The Grand Prix forms round two of the Race World Offshore UIM World Championship Series, which opened at Atlantic City in June and moves on to Clearwater after Michigan City. XINSURANCE is title partner of the series.
What Spectators Will See
Racing itself takes place on Saturday, August 1 and Sunday, August 2, with boats from a dozen classes competing off the beach. Twin-engine Super Cats and Class 1 boats headline the fleet, alongside Super Stock, 500R Factory Stock, Super Vee, Mod Vee and five Bracket classes covering a wide range of hull sizes and speeds, from around 60 mph up to close to 140 mph.
Event organisers describe the fastest entries in the field as nearing 200 mph. Each race day opens with a National Anthem and a flyover before the fleet takes to the water, and teams stage in the dry pit and wet pit areas at Washington Park throughout the week, giving spectators a chance to meet drivers and crews up close.
Turn coordinates, most recently published by race organisers:
| Point | Latitude | Longitude |
| Turn 1 | 41°43.891′ | 86°54.280′ |
| Turn 1A | 41°43.967′ | 86°54.408′ |
| Turn 1B | 41°44.075′ | 86°54.370′ |
| Turn 2 | 41°44.806′ | 86°52.230′ |
| Turn 2A | 41°44.733′ | 86°52.101′ |
| Turn 2B | 41°44.616′ | 86°52.148′ |
| Start/Finish | 41°44.216′ | 86°53.254′ |
| Safety Position 1 | 41°44.238′ | 86°54.460′ |
| Safety Position 2 | 41°44.969′ | 86°52.333′ |
Coordinates are the most recently published race course data and are subject to final confirmation by race organisers ahead of the 2026 event.
2026 Race Week Schedule
Race Week runs the full seven days, with ticketed parties, community events and free entertainment alongside the racing. Local time below is Central Daylight Time.
| Monday, July 27 | ||
| Community Appreciation Kick-Off, Shoreline Brewery (ticketed) | 6:00 PM CDT | |
| Tuesday, July 28 | ||
| Kid’s Day, Washington Park Zoo & HEROES Museum | 10:00 AM CDT | |
| Family Movie, Washington Park | 8:00 PM CDT | |
| Wednesday, July 29 | ||
| Grand Prix Golf Outing, Michigan City Municipal Golf Course (ticketed) | Noon CDT | |
| Thursday, July 30 | ||
| Opening Ceremony, Stop Zero Beach Cantina | 5:30 PM CDT | |
| VIP Party, Stop Zero Beach Cantina (ticketed) | 6:00 PM CDT | |
| Live Band, Washington Park Boardwalk | 7:00 PM CDT | |
| Friday, July 31 | ||
| Food Court & Entertainment Alley Open | 11:00 AM CDT | |
| Grand Prix BrewFest, Washington Park Boardwalk (ticketed) | 3:00 PM CDT | |
| Shoreline Brewery After Party, Washington Park Boardwalk | 7:00 PM CDT | |
| Saturday, August 1 (Race Day) | ||
| Four C’s Car Show, Washington Park Entrance | 8:30 AM CDT | |
| Offshore Testing | 9:30 AM CDT | |
| Block Party Opens, Downtown Franklin Street | Noon CDT | |
| National Anthem, Flyover & Race 1 (Bracket Class) | 12:30 PM CDT | |
| Race 2 (Bracket Class) | 1:30 PM CDT | |
| Race 3 (Cat Class) | 3:00 PM CDT | |
| Boat Parade & Flyover, Franklin Street | 6:00 PM CDT | |
| Live Band, Washington Park Boardwalk | 7:00 PM CDT | |
| Sunday, August 2 (Race Day) | ||
| National Anthem & Flyover | 10:30 AM CDT | |
| Race 1 (Vee Class) | 11:00 AM CDT | |
| Race 2 (Cat Class) | 11:45 AM CDT | |
| Race 3 (Outboard Class) | 1:00 PM CDT | |
| Race 4 (Cat Class) | 2:00 PM CDT | |
| Race 5 (Cat Class) | 3:30 PM CDT | |
Times shown are Central Daylight Time (Michigan City local time). The “Your Time” column converts automatically to your device’s local time zone.
Venue and Getting There
Washington Park sits at 115 Lake Shore Drive, Michigan City, IN 46360, on the southern shore of Lake Michigan. The park’s beach and boardwalk give free public viewing of the entire race course, and the adjoining marina and lighthouse pier are open throughout the week.
Free parking and a continuous shuttle run from the Blue Chip Casino, Hotel & Spa at 777 Blue Chip Drive on both race days, dropping off at Washington Park and, during Saturday’s Block Party, at 7th and Washington streets downtown. Limited paid parking is also available directly at Washington Park from 6am on event days.
Race Week Beyond the Racing
New for 2026 is Kid’s Day on Tuesday, July 28, with free activities at Washington Park Zoo and the HEROES Museum and a family movie in the park that evening. A drone show sponsored by Google and Graff Auto Campus lights up downtown Franklin Street on Saturday, August 1, as part of the Block Party and Boat Parade.
Other fixtures include the Community Appreciation Kick-Off at Shoreline Brewery, a golf outing benefiting Michigan City Emergency Management volunteers, and BrewFest on the Washington Park Boardwalk. VIP experiences run through the week at Stop Zero Beach Cantina and the Boardwalk; BrewFest and VIP tickets are sold separately from general admission.
An Economic Driver for La Porte County
Jack Arnett, CEO of the La Porte County Convention & Visitors Bureau:
This event continues to be one of the most significant tourism drivers in our region and a major summer highlight for Michigan City. The XINSURANCE Great Lakes Grand Prix brings together visitors, residents, sponsors, and volunteers in a way few events can. It’s really become a signature part of the summer here.
The Grand Prix generated an estimated $29 million in economic impact for La Porte County last year, according to the CVB.
Full 2026 points standings for every class are on the Race World Offshore standings page.
Follow the 2026 Race World Offshore Season
Powerboat News is covering the full XINSURANCE UIM World Championship Series season, from Atlantic City through to Key West.
Race World Offshore Coverage
John Moore is the editor of Powerboat News, an independent investigative journalism platform recognised by Google News and documented on Grokipedia for comprehensive powerboat racing coverage.
His involvement in powerboat racing began in 1981 when he competed in his first offshore powerboat race. After a career as a Financial Futures broker in the City of London, specialising in UK interest rate markets, he became actively involved in event organisation and powerboat racing journalism.
He served as Event Director for the Cowes–Torquay–Cowes races between 2010 and 2013. In 2016, he launched Powerboat Racing World, a digital platform providing global powerboat racing news and insights. The following year, he co-founded UKOPRA, helping to rejuvenate offshore racing in the United Kingdom. He sold Powerboat Racing World in late 2021 and remained actively involved with UKOPRA until 2025.
In September 2025, he established Powerboat News, returning to independent journalism with a focus on neutral and comprehensive coverage of the sport.
