Full weekend schedule & trackside tips for F1 fans attending the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix at Bahrain International Circuit
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The 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix is scheduled for April 10-12
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The 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix will take place during the second week of April, after Ramadan. With most of the on-track action taking place late in the afternoon and at night (avoiding the worst of the daytime heat), you can have a lazy start to the day in Bahrain and still make it to Sakhir Circuit in time for the best racing. The first F1 practice sessions run during the day, but qualifying and the race take place after night falls. Sunset in Bahrain during April is around 6pm.
Entry & Orientation at Bahrain International Circuit
Entry Gates: Most entry gates and free parking spaces are located behind the Main Grandstand at Bahrain International Circuit.
Prohibited Items: Spectators may be subject to bag searches upon entering the circuit. No animals will be admitted to the Venue or any car parks. The following articles must not be brought within the Venue – knives, fireworks, drones, smoke canisters, air-horns, flares, weapons, dangerous or hazardous items, phone jammers, radio scanners, walkie-talkies, laser devices, bottles, glass vessels, and any article that might be used as a weapon and/or compromise public safety or items including protest (of a political, religious or other nature) or offensive slogans or messages. Any person in possession of such items will be refused entry to the Venue. Read the full Terms & Conditions
Trackside Parking: Parking passes are issued for every three tickets purchased. Additional parking passes can be purchased via the call centre on 1745 0000. “Please do not arrive and attempt to park at BIC unless you have your car pass with you, as entry will not be permitted otherwise. Your pass will also need to be stuck to your windscreen and you will be directed to your allocated car park.”
Additional Parking: Due to high demand and the fact that trackside parking is already sold out for the 2025 Bahrain GP, organizers have announced a new parking facility at the nearby Rashid Equestrian & Horseracing Club. This parking area will be open to all ticketholders, and shuttle buses (every 10 minutes) will be on hand to deliver fans from the parking area to the circuit
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2026 Bahrain Grand Prix Schedule
On-Track Timetable: The full schedule for the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix will not be confirmed until around six weeks before race weekend. Sunset on race weekend is at approximately 18:00 local time. The 2025 schedule is listed below for information purposes.
Support Categories: Formula 2, Formula 3 and Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East are already confirmed for 2026 (same support categories as 2025)
Pit Lane Walks: A pit lane walk for 3-day ticket is normally held on Thursday from 19:00-20:30. TBC for 2026. (F1 Experiences also has a pit lane walk for selected guests on the same day, just before the public pit lane walk). Guests in the Formula 1 Paddock Club can take part in daily pit lane walks at selected times from Friday to Sunday
Friday
09:45-10:30: Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East – First Practice Session
10:55-11:40: Formula 3 – Practice Session
12:05-12:50: Formula 2 – Practice Session
13:00-14:00: Paddock Club – Pit Lane Walk & Track Tour
14:30-15:30: Formula 1 – Free Practice 1 (FP1)
16:00-16:30: Formula 3 – Qualifying Session
16:55-17:25: Formula 2 – Qualifying Session
18:00-19:00: Formula 1 – Free Practice 2 (FP2)
19:30-20:15: Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East – Second Practice Session
20:25-21:25: Paddock Club – Pit Lane Walk & Track Tour
Saturday
12:05-12:35: Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East – Qualifying Session
13:15-14:00: Formula 3 – Sprint Race (19 Laps or 40 minutes + 1 Lap)
14:15-15:00: Paddock Club – Pit Lane Walk & Track Tour
15:30-16:30: Formula 1 – Free Practice 3 (FP3)
17:15-18:05: Formula 2 – Sprint Race (23 Laps or 45 minutes + 1 Lap)
18:10-18:40: Paddock Club – Track Tour
19:00-20:00: Formula 1 – Qualifying
20:45-21:15: Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East – First Race (11 Laps or 25 minutes)
21:20-22:20: F1 Experiences Champions – Club Grid Walk & Trophy Photo
21:20-22:20: Paddock Club – Pit Lane Walk & Track Tour
Sunday
11:45-12:15: Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East – Second Race (11 Laps or 25 minutes)
12:55-13:45: Formula 3 – Feature Race (22 Laps or 45 minutes + 1 Lap)
14:25-15:30: Formula 2 – Feature Race (32 Laps or 60 minutes + 1 Lap)
15:40-16:40: Paddock Club – Pit Lane Walk
16:00-16:30: Formula 1 Drivers’ Parade
17:44-17:46: National Anthem
17:47-17:48: Air Display – Fly Past
18:00-20:00: Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix 2026 (57 laps or 120 minutes)
Trackside Concerts at the 2026 Bahrain GP
It’s been confirmed that superstar DJ Martin Garrix will be headlining the concert on Friday April 10 at the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix. Headliners for Saturday and Sunday have not yet been announced.
Concerts are held on the big stage in the Fanzone, behind the Main Grandstand. The concerts normally start soon after the end of the on-track action, which means they begin at around 21:00 and finish by 23:00. Concerts normally take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday night.
Recent Headliners in Bahrain
Headliners at recent editions of the race have included mainly DJs rather than band performances, including DJ R3HAB, Peggy Gou and Axwell (2025), Zedd and Diplo (2024), DJ Snake and Craig David (2023), and DJs Afrojack and Don Diablo (2022).
Driver Appearances at the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix
Please check the above images for the appearances schedule at the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix. F1 drivers, F1 Team Principals and F2 drivers will be appearing on the main stage in the fan zone on Friday and Saturday. Driver appearances on the stage in the fan zone will not be confirmed until a few days before the start of race weekend at the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix.
Fan Zone at the Bahrain International Circuit
When there’s nothing interesting happening on the track, the F1 Fan Zone behind the Main grandstand is the place to go for food, drink, merchandise and entertainment. Taking a leaf out of Singapore, Bahrain have organized a big roster of roaming entertainment acts (for kids and adults), including circus performers and comedians. You can also take a free ride on a 42-metre tall Ferris Wheel offering expansive views of the circuit.
