F1 calendar announced for 2026 season - as fans lament one Grand Prix that will be 'deeply missed' with a new race added for the first time
The Formula One calendar for the 2026 season has been confirmed in an announcement released by the organisation on Tuesday morning.
It will see another 24-race campaign take place, but with one fan-favourite Grand Prix nowhere to be seen on the list.
Meanwhile, a new race in Madrid has been earmarked for the weekend of September 11-13 subject to FIA approval of the circuit.
The sport's traditional curtain-raiser in Australia will occur from March 6-8 with the final race of the season being the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from December 4-6.
Elsewhere, the Canadian Grand Prix will be moved to an earlier slot on the penultimate weekend of May as the FIA implements further 'improvements to the geographical flow of races' - meaning it will follow the race in Miami.
That paves the way for an expanded European run of races, beginning with the Monaco Grand Prix on the first weekend of June and culminating with the new race in the Spanish capital.
However, some fans were dismayed to learn that the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix - held at the historic Imola circuit in San Marino - had been omitted.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, one user wrote: 'Woke up to the worst news ever. imola GP, you will be deeply missed'.
A second lamented: 'We lost Imola to add another street circuit and five million years more of Miami GP'.
Another remarked: 'it's very sad & disappointing that Imola is not on the calendar'.
A further comment questioned: 'A country can't have more than one Grand Prix, so no Imola, but here you go with two races in Spain and three in the United States'.
With Ramadan taking place throughout February and March in 2026, both the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix will be held in April.
Following the new race in Madrid, the sport will return to Asia for the Azerbaijan and Singapore Grands Prix, prior to three successive races in the Americas, before Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi close out the season.
Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali said: '2026 will be a new era for Formula 1 where we will witness a brand-new set of regulations for our sport, the cars and the engines that will be powered by 100% sustainable fuel.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, fans voiced their disappointment over the omission of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola
'We are excited to welcome Madrid to the calendar, and to see huge automotive brands like Audi, Cadillac and Ford join the Formula 1 grid.'
'It promises to be an unforgettable season, where once again we will come together at 24 amazing global venues to watch the best drivers in the world push themselves to the limit and produce incredible wheel to wheel racing for our millions of fans watching around the globe.
'I want to thank all our fans for their passionate support and the FIA for their commitment and support in delivering this schedule in what I know will be another historic year for Formula 1.'
Full F1 2026 race calendar
March 6-8: Australia
March 13-15 China Shanghai
March 27-29 Japan Suzuka
April 10-12 Bahrain Sakhir
April 17-19 Saudi Arabia Jeddah
May 1-3 USA Miami
May 22-24 Canada Montreal
June 5-7 Monaco Monaco
June 12-14 Spain Barcelona-Catalunya
June 26-28 Austria Spielberg
July 3-5 United Kingdom Silverstone
July 17-19 Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
July 24-26 Hungary Budapest
August 21-23 Netherlands Zandvoort
September 4-6 Italy Monza
September 11-13 Spain Madrid*
September 25-27 Azerbaijan Baku
October 9-11 Singapore Singapore
October 23-25 USA Austin
October 30 - November 1 Mexico Mexico City
November 6-8 Brazil Sao Paulo
November 19-21 USA Las Vegas
November 27-29 Qatar Lusail
December 4-6 Abu Dhabi Yas Marina
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