Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield has been named Grand Marshal for the final day of the 2026 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on Sunday, 31 May.
Sheffield only took office on 1 January as the city’s 76th mayor. Sheffield has also become the first woman elected mayor in the city’s more than 300-year history.
As a lifelong Detroiter and fourth-generation city resident, she spent 12 years on Detroit City Council from 2013 to 2025, and in 2022 became the youngest person to serve as council president. Her early months as mayor have focussed on the people, neighbourhood investment, public safety and support for vulnerable residents. She also launched the Detroit Small Business Technology Fund.
But the Grand Prix is clearly using the announcement to prove the event is more deeply ingrained into the area instead of just being a race.
The 2026 meeting will run from 29-31 May on the 1.7-mile, nine-turn Streets of Downtown Detroit circuit along the Detroit Riverwalk. With this being the 36th Grand Prix event in the city’s history, Sunday’s race, the Chevrolet INDYCAR Grand Prix, is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. ET and will air live on FOX
The weekend will also boast the IMSA SportsCar Championship and Indy NXT.
Sheffield is expected to take part in several performances over the weekend, including waving the green flag before the Indycar Series race, of which more than half of the site open free to fans.
On top of this, the Small Business Straightaway once again supports the event’s place in being part of Detroit’s community.
“There is so much excitement and energy across the City of Detroit, and we are proud that the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear highlights the passion, pride and power of our community,” said Michael Montri, President of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear.
“We are honored to welcome Mayor Mary Sheffield – whose leadership reflects the spirit of Detroit – to help us celebrate what will be an incredible final day of the 2026 Grand Prix on Sunday, May 31.”
“It is truly an honor to be named the Grand Marshal for the 2026 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear,” said Sheffield. “This is such an important event for Detroit that shows our city at its best across the country.
“Now that it is back downtown where it belongs, the race is accessible to all fans, and it brings tens of thousands of visitors onto the streets of the city to enjoy and support our great small businesses.”
