2026 Formula 1 Calendar Released: Key Changes and Race Schedule
The Formula One Management (FOM) and the FIA have officially unveiled the 2026 Formula 1 calendar, featuring 24 race weekends. The season kicks off on 8 March in Melbourne, Australia, and concludes on 6 December in Abu Dhabi.
Notably, the calendar adjusts to accommodate the Ramadan holiday, allowing Melbourne to retain the season opener position over Bahrain. Following the Australian Grand Prix, teams will head to Shanghai, with the Chinese Grand Prix serving as a double-header with the subsequent event in Japan at Suzuka.
Notable Changes
A significant alteration this season is the scheduling of the Canadian Grand Prix on 22-24 May, which coincides with the Indianapolis 500. This move was made for logistical reasons concerning freight between Miami and Montreal. Additionally, the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at Imola has been removed from the schedule due to contract issues.
The Monaco Grand Prix will now take place on the first weekend of June, after moving from its traditional late May slot to facilitate scheduling for Miami and Canada. The Barcelona race will also be held in June, although it will lose the "Spanish Grand Prix" title and instead be referred to as the Madrid event next year.
Schedule Overview
The calendar will see a balanced mix of venues, with races resuming after a summer break. The first half concludes with the Hungarian Grand Prix at the end of July. Following the break, the series resumes with a closely packed schedule that includes six race weekends in seven weeks, notably featuring two triple-headers: an American slate in Austin, Mexico City, and São Paulo, followed by Las Vegas, Qatar, and the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
Six sprint events are anticipated for 2026, along with three pre-season tests in Barcelona and Bahrain, aimed at familiarizing teams with the new regulations surrounding cars and power units.
Complete 2026 F1 Calendar
| Date | Country | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 6-8 March | Australia | Melbourne |
| 13-15 March | China | Shanghai |
| 27-29 March | Japan | Suzuka |
| 10-12 April | Bahrain | Sakhir |
| 17-19 April | Saudi Arabia | Jeddah |
| 1-3 May | USA | Miami |
| 22-24 May | Canada | Montreal |
| 5-7 June | Monaco | Monaco |
| 12-14 June | Spain | Barcelona |
| 26-28 June | Austria | Spielberg |
| 3-5 July | United Kingdom | Silverstone |
| 17-19 July | Belgium | Spa |
| 24-26 July | Hungary | Budapest |
| 21-23 August | Netherlands | Zandvoort |
| 4-6 September | Italy | Monza |
| 11-13 September | Spain | Madrid |
| 25-27 September | Azerbaijan | Baku |
| 9-11 October | Singapore | Singapore |
| 23-25 October | USA | Austin |
| 30 October – 1 November | Mexico | Mexico City |
| 6-8 November | Brazil | São Paulo |
| 19-21 November | USA | Las Vegas |
| 27-29 November | Qatar | Lusail |
| 4-6 December | Abu Dhabi | Yas Marina |
As the season approaches, teams will prioritize preparations to maximize performance amid the upcoming regulatory changes.
