Two of the national NASCAR series are set for a potential trip to Montreal during the 2026 season, according to a daily newspaper in Canada.
The Journal de Quebec (The Quebec Journal) reported earlier in March that "intensive negotiations" have taken place since last fall as NASCAR examines a return to Montreal. NASCAR's return to Canada would first feature the Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series teams in 2026.
The Cup Series teams would then follow in 2027 while taking on Circuit Gilles Villeneuve for the first time.
The newspaper reported that NASCAR representatives visited Montreal at the end of January to examine Notre Dame Island, which is the home of Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. The Journal de Quebec also noted that the Government of Quebec has gotten involved in the negotiations.
The outlet provided a timeline for when this return to Montreal would take place. It noted that the NASCAR races would take place "a few weeks" after Formula One's Canadian Grand Prix in May 2026.
NASCAR has not competed in Montreal since the 2012 Nationwide -- now Xfinity -- Series season. This event marked the sixth and final time that the second-tier series had taken on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve road course. Justin Allgaier won this final race after a battle with Jacques Villeneuve and Sam Hornish Jr.
Allgaier is the only active NASCAR driver with a win at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. The now-retired Kevin Harvick won the inaugural Nationwide Series race in Montreal in 2007 after leading two laps. Ron Fellows then won in 2008.
Carl Edwards (2009), Boris Said (2010), and Marcos Ambrose (2011) were the other three drivers who celebrated a win at the 2.709 mile road course.
A return to Montreal has been rumored for multiple years. There was the possibility that the Cup Series would head to Circuit Gilles Villeneuve for the first time in 2024, but the negotiations fell through, according to The Athletic. NASCAR then put Iowa Speedway on the Cup Series schedule.
The 2025 season also remained a possibility for a trip to Montreal. However, NASCAR opted to head to Mexico City for its first international points race since 1958.
NASCAR has continued to say that heading to international markets is a priority. Cup Series Managing Director Brad Moran specifically mentioned multiple destinations during an appearance on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio this week.
"We'd love to get to Brazil and Canada and Europe," Moran said while discussing an upcoming trip to Mexico City. "And Mexico is our first stop on the global stage."