Everything you need to know about attending 2026 Formula 1 pre-season testing at Bahrain International Circuit
Two pre-season tests will take place in Bahrain ahead of the 2026 F1 season, on February 11-13 and February 18-20
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With new technical regulations coming into force ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season, it’s been confirmed that two three-day test sessions will be held at Bahrain International Circuit. These tests in Bahrain will take place in February 2026, following a private test at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain on January 26-30. The 2026 F1 season begins in Australia on March 5-8, before Formula 1 returns to Bahrain on April 10-12 for the fourth race of the new season.
It’s already confirmed that the second of the two pre-season tests in Bahrain (on February 18-20) will be open to the public. Fans who purchased discounted early-bird tickets for the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix before September 7 also received free entry to the pre-season test. It’s not yet been announced if the first pre-season test in Bahrain on February 11-13 will also be open to the public. Tickets are not yet on sale for either of the pre-season test sessions in Bahrain, but in recent years, affordable access has been made available for around $30 USD per day (only the Main Grandstand was open, however). Circuit hospitality suites above the pits are also also expected to be available for purchase. This was priced at $1,449 USD per day during 2025 testing.
Why Attend Pre-Season Testing in Bahrain?
Attending F1 pre-season testing will place you among the first people in the world to see the new generation of 2026 Formula 1 cars on track! Of course, it’s called testing for a reason. Not all the cars will be on track for the whole eight hours of each day’s running. Some cars may endure reliability issues which keep them consigned to their garages. Not all of the big name drivers will be taking to the track in each session, though most teams alternate their full-time drivers between the morning and afternoon sessions. While not every lap will be taken at full speed or on the limit of the car’s capabilities, F1 testing is a great opportunity to get close to the cars, teams and drivers in a relaxed environment. If you can’t make it to the track for testing, you will still be able to follow all three days of action live across F1 TV and via F1’s global TV partners.
BIC Hospitality Lounge & Oasis Terrace
Hospitality tickets are sold with access to a lounge above the pits with a viewing balcony, as well as access to the Oasis Terrace at Turn 10. Having experienced the Oasis Terrace firsthand (it’s also part of Paddock Club offer during the Bahrain GP), we can safely say that this area – pictured below – is one of the calendar’s best-kept trackside viewing secrets. Highly recommended for getting close to the cars, especially if you like taking photos.
F1 Pre-Season Testing Schedule
Start and finish times have not yet been confirmed for the two pre-season test sessions in Bahrain ahead of the 2026 F1 season. An example of a previous schedule for F1 testing in Bahrain is listed below for information purposes:
11:00: Gates Open
10:00-14:00: Formula 1 – Testing
14:00-15:00: Break with hospitality pit lane walk
15:00-19:00: Formula 1 – Testing
19:00: Gates Close
Attending F1 Testing & the Bahrain Grand Prix
If you’ve got the time, attending both F1 testing and the Bahrain Grand Prix is a great way to immerse yourself in the world of Formula 1 as the season gets underway. It’s more logistically challenging to do that in 2026 however, unless you live locally. Rather than the Bahrain Grand Prix following one week after testing (which it did until 2024), it will once again be the fourth race of the new season some six weeks later. After the final test session in Bahrain (February 18-20), the 2026 F1 season kicks off with races in Australia (March 5-8), China (March 13-15) and Japan (March 27-29) before returning seven weeks later for the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix (April 10-12).
Race weekend attendances at the Bahrain Grand Prix have been rising in recent years, though it’s still one of the lowest attended races on the entire F1 calendar, and even less people will be trackside at the test sessions. F1 Experiences packages are now on sale for the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix, and race tickets are expected to go on sale soon. Organizational issues and lengthy queues that fans experience at many better attended races is not a concern at the Bahrain Grand Prix, where it’s easy to get to the circuit, you can purchase reasonably priced tickets and accommodation, and the racing under lights is frequently close and exciting.
