New 2026 World Championship Calendar Announced

One of the features of Formula 1 under Liberty Media has been the commitment to publishing the championship calendar by June each year, making for significantly improved planning for race organisers, teams, and fans alike. 

The 2026 season is shaping up to be one of the most pivotal in recent memory, and the announcement of the new schedule highly anticipated. With an entirely new set of technical regulations and the highly anticipated arrival of two major manufacturers: Audi and Cadillac General Motors. 

There are several striking factors shaping the calendar, the first for 2026 is the earlier start to the season, kicking off with a double-header in Australia and China. But perhaps the most impactful update is the improved flow of the calendar in terms of travel and logistics. 

One of the major shifts sees the Canadian Grand Prix move from its traditional June slot to May, directly following the Miami Grand Prix. This change has allowed for the Monaco Grand Prix to move to June, marking a significant alteration to one of F1’s most traditional events. 

The early start creates room for an extended month-long summer break in August. When racing resumes, the European segment will now conclude with the Spanish Grand Prix, which will be held in Madrid for the very first time, pushing the Italian Grand Prix at Monza earlier in the schedule. 

From there, the calendar moves to Azerbaijan and Singapore, before returning to the Americas for four races: Austin, Mexico, São Paulo and Vegas. The season then wraps up with a Middle Eastern finale in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, concluding on 6th of December. 

One of the defining factors influencing the calendar was the timing of Ramadan in February and March, which prompted the decision to schedule the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix in April. 

After years of scrutiny over the sport’s global logistics, carbon footprint, and costly freight schedules, this newly structured calendar reflects a more thoughtful and sustainable approach. It supports Formula 1’s goal of achieving net-zero carbon by 2030 and will likely silence critics who’ve long pointed to inefficient scheduling - such as this weekend’s race in Montreal.