June 10, 2025 – Formula 1 and the FIA have today unveiled the 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship calendar, a 24-race schedule that kicks off in Melbourne, Australia, on March 6-8 and concludes in Abu Dhabi on December 4-6. The season is the 77th running of the championship and brings forth a new circuit in Madrid, drops the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola, and brings quite a few logistical tweaks to make things even more sustainable, apart from some major regulation changes that usher in the new era for the sport. European fans are excited about this new schedule that offers thrilling racing action across five continents.
Australian Grand Prix Opens the Season
The Melbourne’s Albert Park will host the Australian Grand Prix to kick-start the 2026 season on March 6-8 in its second successive year as the curtain-raiser, as per PlanetF1.com. This alteration, spurred by Ramadan’s schedule from February 17 to March 19, pushes the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix to April 12-14 and April 19-21, respectively, into a double-header. Melbourne’s comeback as the season-opener, under a deal assuring five early-season races through 2037, comes after a record 465,498 fans in 2025, according to Formula1.com. The campaign begins with a double-header combined with Chinese Grand Prix (March 13-15), and Japan’s Suzuka race singly on March 27-29, maximizing mid-season logistics.
Madrid Debuts, Imola Exits
A highlight of the 2026 calendar is the introduction of the Madrid Grand Prix from September 11-13, taking the place of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya as the host of the Spanish Grand Prix, although Barcelona still has a race on June 12-14 under a new name because of its contract until 2026, according to GPblog. The 5.47km Madring circuit, newly built around the IFEMA Madrid venue, comprises 20 corners and a projected 1:32 qualifying lap time, which will reportedly accommodate 140,000 fans daily by 2030, according to Formula1.com. Imola’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, which has been run yearly since 2020, is out of the bucket list this year due to the outdated facilities of the circuit, as GPblog mentioned. It will be a big change for Italian fans as Monza’s Italian Grand Prix is on September 4-6.
European Leg Streamlined
The calendar introduces a consolidated European racing block from June to September, starting with the Monaco Grand Prix on June 5-7, which shifts from its traditional late-May slot to avoid clashing with the Indianapolis 500. The Canadian Grand Prix moves to May 22-24, following the Miami Grand Prix (May 1-3) for freight efficiency, allowing an uninterrupted European run through Monaco, Barcelona, Austria (June 26-28), Britain (July 3-5), Belgium (July 17-19), Hungary (July 24-26), Netherlands (August 22-24), Italy, and Madrid. This restructuring, detailed by The Race, supports Formula 1’s Net Zero Carbon by 2030 goal by reducing transatlantic travel, a move praised on X posts for its sustainability focus.
New Teams and Regulations
The 2026 season marks a transformative era with new chassis and power unit regulations. A variety of new technologies are coming: active aerodynamics, a 30kg weight cut, and a reduction in downforce by 15% from 2022-2025 cars using DRS–where instead, there’s a manual override engine mode–as stated on Wikipedia. The power units’ engines will retain the 1.6-liter V6 but eliminate the MGU-H. The power of the MGU-K increases to 470 bhp using sustainable fuel, according to The Athletic. Audi joins as a works team via Sauber, while Cadillac debuts as an 11th team with Ferrari power units, and Ford partners with Red Bull Powertrains, per Formula1.com. Honda will supply Aston Martin, and Renault will exit as an engine supplier, making Alpine a customer team.
Fan and Industry Reactions
European fans have embraced the calendar, with X posts from @F1 and @MirrorSport on June 10, 2025, highlighting excitement for Madrid’s debut and the Australian opener. However, some Italian fans expressed disappointment over Imola’s absence, with one user noting, “Monza stays, but losing Imola stings.” Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali emphasized the season’s global appeal, stating, “We’ll visit 24 incredible venues, delivering top-class racing for millions of fans,” while FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem praised the calendar’s sustainability efforts. The season’s pair of triple-headers—in the Americas (Austin, Mexico, Brazil) and the Middle East (Las Vegas, Qatar, Abu Dhabi)—guarantee a crowded climax.
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