Trackside at Circuit de Monaco – 2026 Monaco Grand Prix

Advice for F1 fans about attending the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix at Circuit de Monaco. Opening times, entry gates, full schedule and more

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The 2026 Monaco Grand Prix is on June 4-7

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If you’ve never been to Monaco, the unique layout of the principality takes some getting used to. The compact city is essentially built on the side of a steep hill, and a network of stairs, lifts, escalators and tunnels help you get from A to B. Learning in advance the best route to your seating location, as well as which roads are closed, will save you taking lots of unnecessary steps or getting lost. The heart of the circuit, and where most of the best viewing areas can be found, not to mention restaurants, bars and shopping, is along the harbor, particularly close to Rue Grimaldi. The circuit roads close early each morning on race weekend, but open up in the early evening after the day’s racing has finished. When the roads have been reopened, it’s much easier to walk around the track and take in the unique atmosphere.

Circuit de Monaco: Entry, Prohibited Items & Orientation

Road Opening/Closing Times: Given that the Monaco circuit is located on the cramped streets of a functioning city, access is a little different than at other F1 races. The circuit itself is closed to traffic and pedestrians each morning on Grand Prix weekend between 05:00-07:00, then reopened after the on-track finishes, between 19:30-21:00 (check daily times in the schedule below). Note that track closing times in the morning are likely to be adhered to, but track opening times in the evening can be more flexible. On-track accidents, for example, can cause delays in the reopening of the track, while sometimes the track is opened earlier.

Entry Gates: When the track is closed, ten entry gates provide access. See below for recommended entrance gates for each grandstand. Inside the circuit, a series of bridges, walkways & tunnels provide access to the grandstands as well as bars, restaurants and hotels. Ample signage will help you find the way. Access to some bridges and tunnels is restricted to fans holding a ticket for the grandstands in that section.

Prohibited Items: The following items are not allowed in the grandstands and spectator areas: Glass bottles and cans, Pets, Bulky items such as: suitcases*, pushchairs, bikes, scooters, helmets, camera tripods, etc., Any object that can cause harm to another spectator: firearms, knives or blades and generally any blunt object that can be used to cut whether metal or otherwise. (*It is strongly recommended that you do not bring luggage to the Grand Prix as there are no lockers or left luggage facilities.)

Parking: If you are staying with most other fans outside the principality, we recommend taking the train to Monaco on race weekend. If you do decide to drive yourself, then Thursday and Friday are the best days to do this, when there are less fans and less traffic. Recommended parking for race weekend is at Parking Des Salines. Parking costs only €10 per day on race weekend. From this carpark, you can walk to the circuit in 15 minutes or take a free shuttle. Check the walking and shuttle maps here. Book your parking at Parking Des Salines in advance via this link.

MONAPASS: It’s worth downloading the Monapass app, which allows you to check public transport schedules, purchase bus and parking tickets, and rent a Monabike (electric bike sharing) in the principality.

Recommended Entrance Gates at Circuit de Monaco

Gate 1 (Av. de la Porte Neuve): Le Rocher (General Admission)

Gate 2 (Av. du Port): Grandstands N, O, P, V

Gate 3 (Rue Sage): Grandstands T1, T2, T3, Loge, Gordon Ramsay at La Terrasse

Gate 4 (Rue Princess Caroline): Grandstands X1, X2

Gate 5 (Square Gastaud): Grandstand L

Gate 6 (Rue Suffren Raymond): Grandstands H1, H2

Gate 7 (Rue Princesse Antoinette): Grandstands E, H3, H4, K4, K5, K6, Belvedere

Gate 8 (Rue Grimaldi): Grandstand A, K1, K2, K3, Z1

2026 Monaco Grand Prix Schedule

On-Track Schedule: The preliminary 2026 timetable is published below. Please note that there is track action over four days at the Monaco Grand Prix, though the F1 cars are only in action from Friday to Sunday.

Support Categories: Formula 2, Formula 3 and Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup are the confirmed support categories at the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix.

Pit Lane Walks: Only Paddock Club and ACM Hospitality ticket holders are able to participate in pit lane walks at the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix.

Thursday, June 4

07:00: Track Closed

13:25-14:10: Formula 3 – Practice Session

14:45-15:30: Formula 2 – Practice Session

16:00-16:45: Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup – Practice Session

19.30: Track Open

Friday, June 5

07:00: Track Closed

11:05-11:45: Formula 3 – Qualifying Session (Groups A & B)

13:30-14:30: Formula 1 – Practice Session (FP1)

15:10-15:50: Formula 2 – Qualifying session (Groups A & B)

17:00-18:00: Formula 1 – Practice Session (FP2)

18:45-19:15: Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup – Qualifying Session

21:00: Track Open

Saturday, June 6

06:30: Track Closed

10:45-11:30: Formula 3 – Sprint Race

12:30-13:30: Formula 1 – Practice Session (FP3)

14:15-15:05: Formula 2 – Sprint Race

16:00-17:00: Formula 1 – Qualifying Session

19:30: Track Open

Sunday, June 7

05:00: Track Closed

07:55-08:45: Formula 3 – Feature Race

09:35-10:40: Formula 2 – Feature Race

11:55-12:30: Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup – Race

13:00-13:30: Formula 1 Drivers’ Parade

13:40-13:50: Honour Lap – HSH The Prince and Princess of Monaco

14:44-14:46: National Anthem

15:00-17:00: Formula 1 Louis Vitton Grand Prix de Monaco 2026 (78 laps or 2 hours)

21:00: Track Open

Monaco Grand Prix Fan Zone (MGP Live) @ Place D’Armes

The trackside atmosphere at Monaco is fantastic and there is plenty to do in the principality, particularly when the on-track action has finished for the day. The main fan zone (known as MGP Live) is located on Place D’Armes. Here you’ll find interactive displays, live music, appearances by the F1 drivers, big screen and more. This is a public area and you don’t actually need a race ticket to check it out. Note that the area is quite small and can become very congested, especially at peak times and when the F1 drivers are making appearances.

All twenty F1 drivers normally appear on stage once over the race weekend, along with other famous such as team principals and retired F1 legends. Most F1 driver interviews take place on Friday or Saturday. The appearance schedule for the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix can be found in the image below. The appearance schedule for the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix will not be confirmed until race week. Opening times for the fan zone are also subject to confirmation for 2026. Last year, it was open from Thursday to Sunday, 08:00-21:00.

Monaco After Dark

It’s definitely worth staying around after dark as Monaco comes alive on Grand Prix weekend with a great party scene, much of it on the streets. The main entertainment hub can be found in the Harbor area, where the best bars and restaurants, not to mention the super yachts, are located. Even if you don’t know the right people to get into the VIP parties, spending a few hours on Friday or Saturday night in Monaco is an experience not to miss. Make sure you don’t leave Monaco before you have had a drink at the famous La Rascasse bar on the corner of the same name near the pits entrance; bookings are essential on race weekend. Various other street parties break out on race weekend in the principality.

Food & Drink at Circuit de Monaco

It’s no problem to bring your own food and drinks into the circuit if you wish, with the exception of glass bottles. The quality and choice of trackside food stalls is not too bad in Monaco. Most grandstands have reasonably-priced catering stalls underneath. You’ll pay around €5-6 for a hot dog or sandwich and €7 for a draft beer (check a recent pricelist). Don’t forget you are in a city, so supermarkets, cafes, restaurants and bars are located all around the circuit. The largest supermarkets near the circuit are the Casino Supermarket at 17 Bd Albert 1er and Carrefour at Centre Commercial Fontvieille, 27 Av. Albert II. If the Monaco prices are beyond your budget, there are cheaper places to each further from the action, especially ”over the hill’ in Fontvieille, including a McDonalds. Both temporary and permanent toilet facilities are also dotted around the circuit, though you’ll need to queue at peak times.

Walking the Track in Monaco

Once the on-track action is finished, the streets of the principality are opened each evening on race weekend to both foot and vehicular traffic. No trip to the Monaco Grand Prix would be complete without walking the length of the circuit and taking in the sights! The best night to do this is on Saturday after qualifying, when the track opens at around 19:30, and the atmosphere is electric.