Formula One World Championship Calendar for the Year 2026 has been revised
The Formula 1 (F1) season is gearing up for an exciting 2026 edition, with the official pre-season tests and schedule changes announced.
Pre-season tests
The 2026 F1 season will kick off with three pre-season tests. The first test will take place privately at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya from 26th to 30th of January 2026, closed to media and fans to focus on the development of new cars and engines [1].
Following this, the second and third tests will be open to the public. The second test will take place at the Bahrain International Circuit from 11th to 13th of February, while the third test will also be held at the same circuit from 18th to 20th of February [3][4].
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
In a notable change, the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix will now be held on a Saturday instead of the usual Sunday schedule. This change accommodates the promoter's request related to Remembrance Day, although the exact date in 2026 has not been specified yet [4].
The date change for the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix is due to a request from the Azerbaijan promoter and relevant government stakeholders [2]. The event is not related to the three tests scheduled in 2026 for Formula 1 [5].
The 2026 F1 season will feature a total of 24 races, with the calendar reflecting some venue changes but keeping a strong focus on refining scheduling [1][4]. The Bahrain Grand Prix weekend itself will take place from 10th to 12th of April 2026, as the fourth round of the championship [3].
The confirmed dates and schedule changes are available as of August 2025 [1][2][3][4][5]. Stay tuned for more updates on the 2026 F1 season!
The three pre-season tests in the 2026 F1 season, including the one at the Bahrain International Circuit from 18th to 20th of February, can be considered as part of the broader category of sports such as car racing. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix, due to its change of day from Sunday to Saturday in 2026, could attract an unusual level of interest in motorsport racing events.
