Formula 1 confirms dates for 2026 winter tests and updates calendar
Formula 1 has made official the dates and locations of the 2026 pre-season tests, while announcing a change to the date of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Formula 1 and the FIA have announced the dates for the winter testing of the 2026 season, which will include three sessions before the start of the championship.
A notable change
The first session will be a private test organized at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya from January 26 to 30. The second will take place at the Bahrain International Circuit from February 11 to 13.
The Bahrain circuit will also host the third testing session, from February 18 to 20, just before the season kicks off in Australia from March 6 to 8.
Furthermore, an update to the calendar has confirmed that, following a request from the promoter of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and local authorities, Formula 1 and the FIA have agreed to move the date of the 2026 edition forward: the race will now take place on Saturday, September 26 instead of Sunday, September 27, to accommodate a national holiday.
All the teams have been informed of this change, which means that the entire weekend schedule will be shifted by one day.
The updated 2026 calendar
| Date | Grand Prix / Évènement | Circuit | |
| 1 | 26-30 janvier | Essais hivernaux 1 | Barcelone |
| 2 | 11-13 février | Essais hivernaux 2 | Sakhir |
| 3 | 18-20 février | Essais hivernaux 3 | Sakhir |
| 4 | 6-8 mars | Australie | Melbourne |
| 5 | 13-15 mars | Chine | Shanghai |
| 6 | 27-29 mars | Japon | Suzuka |
| 7 | 10-12 avril | Bahreïn | Sakhir |
| 8 | 17-19 avril | Arabie Saoudite | Djeddah |
| 9 | 1-3 mai | Miami | Miami |
| 10 | 22-24 mai | Canada | Montréal |
| 11 | 5-7 juin | Monaco | Monaco |
| 12 | 12-14 juin | Espagne | Barcelone |
| 13 | 26-28 juin | Autriche | Spielberg |
| 14 | 3-5 juillet | Grande-Bretagne | Silverstone |
| 15 | 17-19 juillet | Belgique | Spa-Francorchamps |
| 16 | 24-26 juillet | Hongrie | Budapest |
| 17 | 21-23 août | Pays-Bas | Zandvoort |
| 18 | 4-6 septembre | Italie | Monza |
| 19 | 11-13 septembre | Espagne* | Madrid |
| 20 | 24-26 septembre | Azerbaïdjan | Bakou |
| 21 | 9-11 octobre | Singapour | Marina Bay |
| 22 | 23-25 octobre | États-Unis | Austin |
| 23 | 30 octobre-1er novembre | Mexique | Mexico |
| 24 | 6-8 novembre | São Paulo | Interlagos |
| 25 | 19-21 novembre | Las Vegas | Las Vegas |
| 26 | 27-29 novembre | Qatar | Losail |
| 27 | 4-6 décembre | Abu Dhabi | Yas Marina |
Subject to FIA approval
