Madrid will make its debut in the 2026 Formula 1 season with a Grand Prix scheduled between September 11 and 13, while the Circuit de Catalunya will be maintained between June 12 and 14, as confirmed by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) and the championship organizers on Tuesday.
The calendar will consist of 24 Grand Prix races, with the addition of the Spanish capital as the main novelty. However, organizers indicate that the Madring circuit is still pending the necessary homologation to host the ‘Great Circus’.
«With Madrid and Barcelona, Spain becomes one of the most powerful countries in the circuit. Welcome to this region of all,» wrote the regional president, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, on her social media.
The circuit, named Madring, will be 5.4 kilometers long, with 22 curves around the Ifema Madrid fairgrounds and the grounds designated for expansion in Valdebebas. It is a technical track with very complex sections, including the banked curve, the ‘Monumental’, which aims to be an icon of the championship.
The World Championship will start in Australia from March 6 to 8 and end in Abu Dhabi on December 6. Among the changes, to facilitate transfers and transportation of infrastructure, the Canadian Grand Prix will be held after Miami, from May 22 to 24. This change will lead to a European tour of nine races starting in early June with the Monaco Grand Prix, followed by Madrid and then Azerbaijan.
After the Monaco race, the Montmeló race will take place from June 12 to 14. Montmeló had its presence guaranteed until 2026 by contract, so Spain will once again have two Grand Prix races of the F-1 World Championship more than a decade later. Between 2008 and 2012, the Spanish GP at the Catalan circuit and the European GP in Valencia coexisted. This time, the Emilia-Romagna GP held in Imola, Italy, is dropped from the calendar.
The final stretch of the championship will focus on America, with four Grand Prix races, two in the United States (Austin and Las Vegas), one in Brazil, and one in Mexico, before concluding in Asia with races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
«Domenicali: «It promises to be an unforgettable season»
«2026 will be a new era for Formula 1 where we will witness a new set of regulations for our sport, with cars and engines powered by 100% sustainable fuel,» emphasized Stefano Domenicali, CEO of Formula 1, on the championship’s website.
The Italian expressed his enthusiasm for welcoming Madrid to the calendar and seeing major automotive brands like Audi, Cadillac, and Ford join the Formula 1 grid. «It promises to be an unforgettable season, where once again we will gather in 24 incredible global venues to see the best drivers in the world push themselves to the limit and produce incredible wheel-to-wheel racing for our millions of fans around the world,» he added.
«I want to thank all our fans for their passionate support and the FIA, with all volunteers, officials, and commissioners, as well as promoters, partners, sponsors, host cities, and local motorsport federations for their commitment and support to comply with this calendar in what I know will be another historic year for Formula 1,» Domenicali concluded.
On the other hand, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the FIA, believes that next year’s World Championship «marks a significant new chapter» for F-1. «A new race, new teams, and the arrival of new manufacturers mark the beginning of a new era of innovation and competition. With 24 Grand Prix races on five continents, the season truly reflects the global nature of our community, while the improved geographical flow of the calendar shows our joint commitment to making the championship more efficient and sustainable,» he underlined.
«The debut in Madrid, the arrival of iconic brands like Audi, Cadillac, and Ford, and the introduction of the next generation of F-1 cars powered by advanced 100% sustainable fuels signal a new and exciting era in racing,» emphasized the leader, thanking «everyone involved in organizing this incredible season and creating a calendar that continues to drive the sport on all fronts.»
–2026 F-1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CALENDAR.
March 6-8 Melbourne (Australia).
March 13-15 Shanghai (China).
March 27-29 Suzuka (Japan).
April 10-12 Sakhir (Bahrain).
April 17-19 Jeddah (Saudi Arabia).
May 1-3 Miami (United States).
May 22-24 Montreal (Canada).
June 5-7 Monaco.
June 12-14 MONTMELÓ (BARCELONA).
June 26-28 Spielberg (Austria).
July 3-5 Silverstone (United Kingdom).
July 17-19 Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium).
July 24-26 Hungaroring (Hungary).
August 21-23 Zandvoort (Netherlands).
September 4-6 Monza (Italy).
September 11-13 MADRID.
September 25-27 Baku (Azerbaijan).
October 9-11 Singapore.
October 23-25 Austin (United States).
October 30-November 1 Mexico.
November 6-8 Sao Paulo (Brazil).
November 19-21 Las Vegas (United States).
November 27-29 Lusail (Qatar).
December 4-6 Yas Marina (Abu Dhabi).
FUENTE