Updated Formula One World Championship schedule for the year 2026
2026 Formula 1 Season: Key Changes and Testing Schedule
The 2026 Formula 1 season is set to bring some exciting changes, with pre-season testing, race calendar adjustments, and a shift in the date for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Pre-Season Testing
The season will kick off with a five-day pre-season test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Spain, in January. This will be followed by testing sessions at the Bahrain International Circuit. The exact dates for the tests have been announced, with the second test taking place from 11th to 13th February, and the third test from 18th to 20th February.
Race Calendar
The 2026 season will feature 24 races in total. One of the notable changes is Canada replacing Imola, taking Monaco’s usual spot on the calendar. The Monaco Grand Prix will be held in June for the first time since 2003. The calendar also includes several back-to-back race weekends and triple headers, such as Australia and China, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, Monaco and Spain, Austria and Great Britain, Belgium and Hungary, and Italy and Madrid.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix Date Change
The date for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in 2026 has been moved from Sunday 27th September. The new date for the race is Saturday 26th September. This change is to accommodate a national day in Azerbaijan. However, the exact position of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in the pre-season schedule remains unchanged.
It is worth noting that the calendar has been arranged to optimize geographic flow, with several back-to-back race weekends and triple headers. Given this pattern, it is likely that the Azerbaijan Grand Prix will be scheduled around the European race block, respecting logistics and regional flow, possibly moved slightly forward or backward relative to prior years.
Formula 1 Pre-Season Tests
In 2026, Formula 1 will conduct three pre-season tests. Test one will be a private test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, from 26th to 30th January. All three tests will be part of the Formula 1 pre-season schedule.
The change in date for the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix has been agreed upon by our platform and Formula 1, and is subject to final approval by the WMSC. The 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix will be held in Azerbaijan, and the second and third tests in 2026 will be held at the Bahrain International Circuit, Bahrain.
Stay tuned for official updates from Formula 1 as more specific 2026 dates become available.
Sports enthusiasts and racing fans can look forward to the 2026 Formula 1 season, with pre-season testing involving three sessions at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain and the Bahrain International Circuit. The season will feature 24 races in total, and one of the notable changes is the addition of the Canadian Grand Prix to the calendar, taking over Monaco's usual spot. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix date has also been moved to Saturday 26th September.
