Formula 1: 2026 Race Calendar
By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw
The Formula 1 2026 Race Calendar has been announced as follows:
Australia - 6-8 March
China - 13-15 March
Japan - 27-29 March
Bahrain - 10-12 April
Saudi Arabia - 17-19 April
Miami - 1-3 May
Canada - 22-24 May
Monaco - 5-7 June
Spain (Barcelona) - 12-14 June
Austria - 26-28 June
Great Britain - 3-5 July
Belgium - 17-19 July
Hungary - 24-26 July
Netherlands - 21-23 August
Italy - 4-6 September
Spain (Madrid) - 11-13 September
Azerbaijan - 25-27 September
Singapore - 9-11 October
United States (Austin) - 23-25 October
Mexico - 30 October-1 November
Brazil - 6-8 November
Las Vegas - 19-21 November
Qatar - 27-29 November
Abu Dhabi - 4-6 December
The schedule remains at 24 races and several changes have been made, with a view to streamlining transport and reducing carbon emissions, thereby making the sport eco-friendlier.
The changes also chime with the new Formula 1 rules, which require revised engines to run on 100% sustainable fuels.
Thus, Canada, traditionally held in early June, moves to 22-24 May, the date expected to be filled by Monaco, which will now be held on 5-7 June.
This change will ensure that Canada follows the Miami race on 1-3 May, creating what the Formula 1 organisers describe as "significant freight efficiencies as some equipment can move directly from one to the other".
Every race from Monaco on the first weekend in June to the new Madrid event (see below) will then be held in Europe, before Azerbaijan, on 25-27 September, which begins the final intercontinental part of the season.
The 2026 season begins in Melbourne, Australia, on 6-8 March. The Bahrain Grand Prix, which has become the most common opening race, will again be held in April, due to the timing of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Bahrain and the Saudi Arabian races will be held a week apart, but, unlike this year, there will be a two-week gap between the Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix in March folowing Australia, rather than the one-week gap in the present season.
The British Grand Prix will be held on 3-5 July, and the season will mark the final appearance of the Dutch Grand Prix, which will be held at Zandvoort on 21-23 August.
The traditional Spanish race in Barcelona remains on 12-14 June, fulfilling the last year of its existing contract.
The season ends with two groups of three races on consecutive weekends: the US Grand Prix in Austin on 23-25 October, to be followed by Mexico and Brazil, and then the Las Vegas Grand Prix on 19-21 November, to be followed by Qatar and Abu Dhabi, which will bring the 2026 season to a close on 4-6 December.
There will be a new Madrid Grand Prix, to be held on 11-13 September, as the final race of an uninterrupted European section of Formula 1. It will replace the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix held at Imola in Italy.
Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw may be contacted by e-mail at ‘
