The 2026 Formula 1 season marks a new era for the sport, with a 24‑round calendar, fresh technical regulations, and an expanded use of sprint‑race weekends. Fans can expect more action than ever, from the streets of Madrid to the glitzy lights of Las Vegas, all wrapped into a tightly packed global schedule that runs from Australia in March to Abu Dhabi in early December.
2026 F1 calendar overview
Formula 1’s 2026 campaign is the longest season to date, featuring 24 Grands Prix and 6 sprint‑race weekends, with some rounds using the “Spray Sprint” and extra sprint formats introduced in recent years. The season opens in Melbourne and finishes in Abu Dhabi, with new circuits such as the Madrid Grand Prix joining the calendar for the first time.
The calendar continues F1’s push toward a more global footprint, balancing traditional European races with long‑haul trips to Asia, the Americas, and the Middle East. For fans in Europe, this means a mix of late‑night and early‑morning viewing windows, especially for races in the United States and Asia.
Formula 1 2026 race calendar
Below is a concise representation of the 2026 F1 race calendar, highlighting each Grand Prix, venue, and whether it is a sprint‑race weekend.
| Weekend | Race name |
|---|---|
| 6–8 Mar | Australian GP Melbourne, Albert Park |
| 13–15 Mar Sprint weekend | Chinese GP Shanghai International Circuit |
| 27–29 Mar | Japanese GP Suzuka |
| 10–12 Apr | Bahrain GP Bahrain International Circuit |
| 17–19 Apr | Saudi Arabian GP Jeddah Corniche Circuit |
| 1–3 May Sprint weekend | Miami GP Miami International Autodrome |
| 22–24 May Spray Sprint | Canadian GP Circuit Gilles Villeneuve |
| 5–7 Jun | Monaco GP Circuit de Monaco |
| 12–14 Jun | Spanish GP Circuit de Barcelona‑Catalunya |
| 26–28 Jun | Austrian GP Red Bull Ring |
| 3–5 Jul Sprint weekend | British GP Silverstone |
| 17–19 Jul | Belgian GP Spa‑Franchorchamps |
| 24–26 Jul | Hungarian GP Hungaroring |
| 21–23 Aug Sprint weekend | Dutch GP Circuit Zandvoort |
| 4–6 Sep | Italian GP Monza |
| 11–13 Sep | Madrid GP Madrid Circuit |
| 24–26 Sep | Azerbaijan GP Baku City Circuit |
| 9–11 Oct Sprint weekend | Singapore GP Marina Bay Street Circuit |
| 23–25 Oct | United States GP Circuit of the Americas |
| 30 Oct–1 Nov | Mexico City GP Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez |
| 6–8 Nov Sprint weekend | São Paulo GP Interlagos |
| 20–22 Nov | Las Vegas GP Las Vegas Strip Circuit |
| 27–29 Nov | Qatar GP Lusail International Circuit |
| 4–6 Dec | Abu Dhabi GP Yas Marina Circuit |
This grid reflects F1’s strategy of punching extra sprint content into iconic races such as the Chinese, Miami, Canadian, British, Dutch, Singapore, and São Paulo Grands Prix, while keeping classic events like Monaco and Monza in their traditional sprint‑free format. The introduction of Madrid as a new European venue adds another metropolitan street‑style race to the mix, following the success of city‑center layouts in Miami, Las Vegas, and Singapore.
Major changes in F1 2026
The 2026 season arrives alongside a new set of power units and sporting regulations designed to make the field more competitive and reduce cost gaps between teams. Power units in 2026 feature revised energy‑recovery and hybrid components, with a stronger emphasis on sustainability and efficiency, while the chassis rules continue to build on the ground‑effect‑style regulations introduced in 2022.
On the sporting side, sprint‑race weekends are more frequent than ever, with several rounds using a variety of formats (including the Spray Sprint) to generate extra drama and extra points‑scoring sessions. The FIA and Formula 1 have also tightened some technical and sporting rules around parc fermé periods, tyre‑allocation limits, and sporting‑conduct penalties to create a more predictable and fair competitive environment.
Where to watch F1 2026
Where you can watch F1 in 2026 depends heavily on your region, but the overall trend is a shift toward streaming platforms supplemented by traditional TV. The most important change for many fans is the Apple TV deal in the United States, which makes the Apple TV app the exclusive home for all F1 sessions (practice, qualifying, sprint races, and main races).
In the United Kingdom, Sky Sports F1 remains the primary broadcaster for live coverage, with some races and highlights also available on Channel 4 and its streaming platforms. In Australia, Kayo Sports and Foxtel cover the full season, giving subscribers access to every session and multiple camera angles.
For fans in Europe, coverage varies by country but typically falls into one of three buckets:
- A national sports‑pay‑TV provider (e.g., DAZN, Sky, or similar).
- A local broadcaster that shows selected races on free‑to‑air TV.
- The global F1 TV / F1 TV Pro streaming service, which offers live all‑sessions coverage, extra cameras, and on‑demand replays for most markets.
If you live in the EU, checking your local sports‑TV guide or the F1 website’s broadcast section is the best way to identify the exact channel or app for your country.
Practical tips for fans following F1 2026
To get the most out of the 2026 season, it helps to plan ahead, especially if you are juggling work or family life with late‑night races. Start by deciding whether you want full‑season access (all practice, qualifying, and sprint sessions) or just the main races; this will determine whether you need a premium subscription or can rely on a mix of live TV and repeats.
Consider using the official F1 app or website to track session times in your local time zone and set calendar reminders for key races and sprint weekends. If you are in a country where F1 is only partially available on free‑to‑air TV, you can also use legal streaming options or recorded‑on‑demand services within your region’s rules, rather than relying on unlicensed streams. For viewers in Europe, pairing a local broadcaster with F1 TV or a VPN‑friendly service can give you extra camera angles and commentary channels to enhance your viewing experience.
By combining the new 2026 calendar, the expanded sprint‑race format, and the right viewing setup, fans can enjoy one of the most dynamic seasons in modern F1 history from the comfort of their homes.