The Formula 1 2026 season schedule has been released following an exciting 2025 finale that saw Lando Norris claim his first world championship in a tense battle. As teams scramble to prepare their next-generation cars, Formula 1 fans have a packed calendar ahead, boasting more drivers, fresh venues, and new teams joining the grid.
Expansion of the Grid and Notable Team Changes
After a brief winter break, teams and drivers have immediately jumped back into preparations, focusing on the development of groundbreaking 2026 cars. This season welcomes Cadillac as a new entrant, marking an expansion to 11 teams and 22 drivers. Audi also debuts in 2026, replacing the Sauber team on the grid, adding further intrigue to the team lineup for the upcoming races.
Preseason Testing Schedule and Details
Formula 1’s preparations for 2026 kick off with rigorous preseason testing at two major venues. Teams will first participate in a private, closed-door test at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya from January 26 to 30, a session organized independently by the Spanish circuit rather than Formula 1 or the FIA. Information such as lap times from this event will remain confidential, shared only among the participating teams.
After this, two separate rounds of public testing are scheduled in Bahrain: the first from February 11-13 and the second from February 18-20. These sessions will be broadcast as usual and divided into morning and afternoon blocks, providing fans with early insights into the pace and hierarchy among the teams as they roll out the latest new-era race cars.
Main Events and Race Dates Across the 2026 Calendar
The 2026 season begins two weeks post-testing, with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne opening the campaign from March 6-8. This global series features 23 additional race weekends spanning multiple continents. The United States stands out as the host nation for three Grands Prix—in Miami, Austin, and Las Vegas—underscoring Formula 1’s growing presence in North America. Spain introduces a Madrid event, expanding the race destinations within the calendar.
This year’s schedule is highlighted by six sprint weekends, with added points and on-track action at select rounds such as the British Grand Prix at Silverstone and the Singapore Grand Prix at Marina Bay. These weekends are expected to bring heightened competition and additional strategic elements for teams and drivers.
Full 2026 Formula 1 Season Race List
Below is the complete rundown of all races and notable events spanning the season:
1. March 6-8: Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne
2. March 13-15: Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai (sprint weekend)
3. March 27-29: Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka
4. April 10-12: Bahrain Grand Prix, Sakhir
5. April 17-19: Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Jeddah
6. May 1-3: Miami Grand Prix, Miami (sprint weekend)
7. May 22-24: Canadian Grand Prix, Montreal (sprint weekend)
8. June 5-7: Monaco Grand Prix, Monaco
9. June 12-14: Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, Barcelona
10. June 26-28: Austrian Grand Prix, Spielberg
11. July 3-5: British Grand Prix, Silverstone (sprint weekend)
12. July 17-19: Belgian Grand Prix, Spa-Francorchamps
13. July 24-26: Hungarian Grand Prix, Budapest
<span style=“margin-left:15px;”>F1 summer break
14. August 21-23: Dutch Grand Prix, Zandvoort (sprint weekend)
15. September 4-6: Italian Grand Prix, Monza
16. September 12-14: Spanish Grand Prix, Madrid
17. September 24-26: Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Baku*
18. October 9-11: Singapore Grand Prix, Marina Bay (sprint weekend)
19. October 23-25: United States Grand Prix, Texas
20. October 30-November 1: Mexico City Grand Prix
21. November 6-8: Sao Paulo Grand Prix
22. November 19-21: Las Vegas Grand Prix
23. November 27-29: Qatar Grand Prix, Lusail
24. December 4-6: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Marina
*Azerbaijan Grand Prix will be held on Saturday to coincide with the country’s national day.
Season Highlights and Anticipations
With Lando Norris securing his maiden title after last year’s showdown and teams like Audi and Cadillac bringing fresh energy to the championship, anticipation is high for the competitive balance across the grid. Drivers are expected to navigate classic circuits like Suzuka, Monza, and Spa-Francorchamps, while also tackling new challenges at Madrid and the existing urban street races of Miami, Singapore, and Las Vegas.
The introduction of six sprint weekends and the addition of new teams will likely reshape team dynamics, intensify the race for points, and maintain fan engagement throughout the season. As the opening round approaches in Australia, all eyes turn to see how the latest technical and team changes will impact strategies and outcomes during the fast-evolving Formula 1 2026 season.
