All the key highlights from the 2026 F1 calendar

New team. New race. New regulations. The 2026 Formula 1 campaign, running to 24 Grands Prix, has a bit of everything.

Cadillac will become F1's 11th team, bringing the grid up to 22 cars, Spanish capital Madrid will host an all-new Grand Prix and F1 will introduce sweeping new regulations, which feature new aerodynamic rules and new power units that for the first time in the sport's history will run 100% advanced sustainable fuels.

Now F1 has unveiled the 2026 calendar – here are the highlights.

READ MORE: Formula 1 reveals calendar for 2026 season

Australia plays host to the opener once more

Australia's temporary street circuit that weaves its way through Melbourne's beautiful Albert Park hosted this year's season opener, having previously moved back to host the third round, and it'll have that honour once again in 2026.

This year's event was another step up, attracting a record weekend attendance of 465,498 – 13,443 higher than 2024 (which was a then-record).

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The 2026 season begins on March 6-8 in Melbourne – a week earlier than this year, giving the teams slightly less time to work on their new machines.

And, as was the case in 2025, it'll run back-to-back with China, with Japan remaining as Race 3, albeit this time running as a standalone event. The timing still means the cherry blossoms are set to be out in force again at Suzuka.

With Ramadan running through February and March, the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix will remain in April, this time as a double header rather than a triple with Japan.

Canada moves to follow on from Miami

Canada's iconic Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve has long held a June date – but for 2026, it'll move into May so it can follow on from Miami.

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This will allow the freight to head straight from Miami to Canada, rather than back to Europe before returning again the following month, and is the latest step in the sport's on-going bid to improve the geographical flow of races and be Net Zero Carbon by 2030.

Monaco opens the European block of races

With Canada moving into May, Monaco moves the other way to June.

The date change was confirmed as part of a six-year contract extension to Monaco's existing agreement that will see F1 remain on the Principality's tight-and-twisty streets until 2031 inclusive.

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For 2026, Monaco will open a now consolidated European leg of the year through the summer and runs as a double header with Barcelona.

Austria and Great Britain, then Belgium and Hungary, form double headers to close out the first part of the season before the summer break.

Madrid makes its debut to close out European season

Last year, Formula 1 announced the Spanish Grand Prix will be hosted in Madrid from 2026 until at least the end of 2035.

Construction began last month on a brand-new circuit in the Spanish capital that will feature both street and purpose-built sections.

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The new Spanish race – and second for the country in 2026, with Barcelona hosting a Grand Prix earlier in the year – will take place in September and close out the European season as the second of a double header with Italy's Monza.

The Americas and Middle East close out the year

The championship returns to Asia for races in Azerbaijan and Singapore, before heading west for a triple header in the Americas.

Austin kicks off a trio of events with the Circuit of The Americas, before heading for Mexico City's Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez and then onto Brazil's Interlagos.

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Las Vegas is once again Race 22, with F1 then heading to the Middle East to close out the campaign in Qatar and finally Abu Dhabi, the latter bringing the curtain down on December 6.