Formula 1 has unveiled the 24-race calendar for its 2026 season, beginning in Australia on March 8 and ending in Abu Dhabi on December 6.
The FIA and Formula 1 have officially confirmed the 2026 F1 calendar, with 24 races set to take place over the course of 40 weeks. The 2026 season marks the start of a new era for the sport, being the first year of a major regulations overhaul, in which the grid will expand to eleven teams as new American constructor Cadillac make their debut.
After a series of flyaway races from March to May, the European Formula 1 season kicks off in June with the Monaco Grand Prix. Like in 2025, the Las Vegas Grand Prix – which is held on the Las Vegas Strip on a Saturday night – will be the only race of the season to not take place on a Sunday.
2026 Formula 1 Calendar
First Appearance for Madrid, Last Appearance for Zandvoort
There is one new addition to the Formula 1 calendar in 2026, with Madrid – and the new Madring circuit – replacing Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya as host of the Spanish Grand Prix. The all-new Spanish Grand Prix moves to a new slot on the calendar and is set to take place on September 13.
Meanwhile, Catalunya – which has been host of the Spanish race since 1991 – will remain on the schedule and will host the newly-titled Barcelona Grand Prix in June. 2026 is the final year of Catalunya’s current contract to host F1 races. Its future beyond that is in doubt.
2026 will be the final appearance on the F1 calendar for Zandvoort. The host of the Dutch Grand Prix announced in December 2024 that 2026 will mark the final time F1 races at the track, having re-joined the schedule after a 36-year absence in 2021.
The Australian Grand Prix will be the first race of the year, having returned to the season-opening slot – with a record attendance of over 465,000 – for the first time since 2019 this year.
F1 Calendar Rationalisation Continues
As part of Formula 1’s ongoing mission to achieve its net zero carbon emissions objectives by 2030, the F1 calendar continues to undergo rationalisation and regionalisation. Previous calendar shuffles have seen the Japanese Grand Prix move to April, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix move to September and the Qatar Grand Prix move to the end of the year to be paired with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
For 2026, the key area of change is the start of the European season. Previously, F1 began its European season after the Miami Grand Prix, before heading back over the Atlantic Ocean after a couple of European races for the Canadian Grand Prix in June. That has changed for 2026.
To eliminate the unnecessary air travel, Canadian Grand Prix organisers agreed a deal with Formula 1 in November 2024 to move its race from its traditional June slot to May. Meanwhile, the Monaco Grand Prix agreed a similar deal as part of its new longer-term contract which sees the iconic race in the principality move from its long-established place on the last weekend of May to the first weekend of June.
The 2025 Canadian Grand Prix will take place on May 24, meaning there will be a direct clash with the Indianapolis 500. The two races are set to run around the same time, with the famous 500-mile race starting just before the F1 action in Montreal gets underway.
Pre-Season Testing Dates Not Yet Announced
Formula 1 is yet to confirm dates and circuits for pre-season testing for the 2026 season. So far, it has confirmed that there will be three separate three day tests as teams get to grips with their new machinery in the first year of F1’s latest regulation changes.
Autosport reports that Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will host the first test in late January. The event will be held behind closed doors over five days, with teams able to shakedown their new cars on any three days in the five-day window. It is then believed that two three-day tests will take place in Bahrain in mid-February, before Ramadan begins on February 18.
Speaking about the new calendar, Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said:
“We are excited to welcome Madrid to the calendar, and to see huge automotive brands like Audi, Cadillac and Ford join the Formula 1 grid. It promises to be an unforgettable season, where once again we will come together at 24 amazing global venues to watch the best drivers in the world push themselves to the limit and produce incredible wheel to wheel racing for our millions of fans watching around the globe.
I want to thank all our fans for their passionate support and the FIA, with all the volunteers, marshals and officials, as well as the promoters, partners, sponsors, host cities and the local motor racing federations for their commitment and support in delivering this schedule in what I know will be another historic year for Formula 1.”
In addition to the 24 Grands Prix, Formula 1 will again host a selection of Sprint races in 2026. Although unconfirmed, it is likely there will be six rounds utilising the Sprint format next year. It has already been confirmed that the Dutch Grand Prix will run the F1 Sprint format in 2026, as part of its final appearance on the calendar.
When Will Tickets for 2026 Formula 1 Races go on Sale?
Tickets for races on the 2026 Formula 1 calendar are highly unlikely to go on sale before the 2025 race at each track takes place. In recent years, the Austrian Grand Prix has been the first event to place tickets on sale for the following year, with tickets for next year becoming available soon after each year’s race in early July. Read more: When Do 2026 Formula 1 Tickets Go On Sale?
It’s also possible to secure access to the following season’s Grands Prix early, sometimes even before the current season’s race takes place. F1 Experiences is already on sale for 2026 races in China, Japan and Bahrain, and you can also place a deposit for most races on next year’s calendar.
For all the latest information on tickets for races on the 2026 Formula 1 calendar, subscribe to the F1Destinations mailing list. Check the boxes for the races you are interested in attending and we will send you event updates and ticket information as soon as it is available.
