A new era awaits: The 2026 F1 season calendar is here
The 2026 Formula 1 season marks a seismic shift - not only in the technical landscape but also in how the calendar unfolds.
There are still 24 races, and for most of the year, things move at a steady pace. Double-headers come and go, but it’s not until the final stretch that the chaos really kicks in.
From Melbourne
The 2026 Formula 1 season brings back the 24-race grind, but this time the scheduling feels a little more deliberate.
No triple-headers until the final stretch, and a bunch of carefully placed double-headers to keep the early chaos in check - at least on paper.
It starts in Melbourne from March 6-8, with Bahrain pushed back due to Ramadan.
China will follow immediately after, with the season starting off with a doubleheader. Japan will follow after a week’s break.
A Middle Eastern doubleheader of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia will light up the skies next.
From there, the sport hops across the Atlantic for the Miami GP before heading north to Montreal - which has swapped places with Monaco this time around.
That move avoids a direct clash with the Indy 500 and gives both events the space they deserve. Monaco now lands in early June, kicking off the European leg.
To controversy
But there's one venue missing: Imola.
The beloved Italian track has been dropped to make space for the controversial addition of Madrid, which joins the calendar in September with a brand-new street circuit.
It’s called the “Madring,” and while F1 is hyping it as accessible and sustainable, a lot of fans aren’t sold.
Imola’s history and pure racing layout feel like a steep price to pay for another city-centre spectacle.
And mayhem
Things stay relatively balanced until the final run, where the calendar piles on the pressure with back-to-back-to-back races.
The final six rounds are two triple-headers - a brutal closing stretch that will likely decide championships under serious fatigue.
Technical revolution meets calendar craft
2026 isn’t just about where F1 races - it’s about what it races.
The season ushers in sweeping regulatory changes: active aero systems, new hybrid power units and sustainable fuel.
