article_detail

 

Formula 1 has officially confirmed the date for the inaugural Madrid Grand Prix. The event will take place from Friday September 11 to Sunday September 13, 2026, at the new MADRING circuit being developed around the IFEMA exhibition centre in the Spanish capital.

 

The announcement was made in a joint statement by Formula 1 and the FIA, with CEO Stefano Domenicali and FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem both welcoming the addition of Madrid to the calendar.

 

Regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso celebrated the news on social media, posting: “With Madrid and Barcelona, Spain becomes one of the most powerful countries on the circuit. Welcome to this region for everyone.”

 

The 5.4-kilometre circuit will include 22 corners and a mix of exhibition centre roads and newly developed sections in Madrid’s Valdebebas area. Organisers say the track is designed to challenge drivers, with complex technical elements and a standout banked turn known as “the Monumental”, which is expected to become a defining feature of the venue.

 

The Madrid Grand Prix replaces the Emilia-Romagna race at Imola (Italy) on the 2026 schedule and will mark the end of an uninterrupted European leg of the season.

 

F1 president Stefano Domenicali welcomed Madrid’s inclusion on the calendar, saying it “adds another world-class venue” to the championship. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem also praised the addition, highlighting its alignment with Formula 1’s sustainability goals. The 2026 season will mark the start of new engine regulations that require cars to run on 100% sustainable fuel.

 

The capital’s bid to host the Grand Prix was first made public earlier this year, when plans were unveiled for a long-term deal running until 2035. Work on the circuit has been progressing steadily behind the scenes, with the layout designed to make full use of IFEMA’s existing infrastructure and the additional land zoned for future development.

 

The broader 2026 season will feature 24 races, beginning in Australia from Friday March 6 and ending in Abu Dhabi in early December. Notable calendar changes include Canada moving to May, Monaco taking place on the first weekend of June, and the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort having its final run in August.

 

Other key stops include Barcelona from June 12 to 14, Austria at the end of June, Silverstone from July 3 to 5, and Italy’s Monza circuit the weekend before Madrid. After that, the championship will move on to Azerbaijan, Asia and the Americas, before wrapping up with races in Las Vegas, Qatar and the UAE.

 

The agreement signed earlier this year ensures Madrid’s place on the F1 calendar until at least 2035, establishing Spain as one of the few countries to host two Grand Prix events in a single season.

 

 

Image: Guy Percival/Pixabay