The cancelled rounds
Formula 1 announced the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix in mid-March 2026, ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix. The decision followed two weeks of regional conflict triggered by US and Israeli strikes on Iran on 28 February 2026 and the subsequent Iranian retaliation against US installations and allied territories — including missiles striking the Bahraini capital Manama. With major airports across the Gulf closed and personnel safety unable to be guaranteed, F1 and the FIA confirmed both events would not be rescheduled.
The cancellation left a five-week gap in the calendar between the Japanese Grand Prix (29 March) and the Miami Grand Prix (3 May). It is the largest gap in an F1 mid-season since the COVID-disrupted 2020 calendar. F1 considered alternative European venues to fill the slot but ultimately decided no substitution was logistically achievable on the timeframe available. Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have multi-year contracts and are expected to return to the calendar in 2027.
Sprint weekends
Six sprint weekends in 2026, the same total as in 2025 but with three new venues. China and Miami retain their sprint slots for the third consecutive year. Silverstone returns to the sprint format for the first time since hosting the inaugural sprint event in 2021. Canada, Zandvoort and Singapore all host sprint weekends for the first time. Belgium, Austin, Brazil and Qatar — sprint venues in 2025 — have rotated off the sprint calendar.
The sprint format is unchanged from 2025: standalone qualifying on Friday afternoon (for the sprint), the sprint itself on Saturday morning, race qualifying on Saturday afternoon, the Grand Prix on Sunday. The sprint awards points to the top eight finishers (8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1). Two podiums per weekend.
What's changed for 2026
Imola is gone. The Emilia-Romagna GP was on a year-by-year contract and not renewed, ending Italy's two-race calendar after a brief return.
Madrid debuts on 11–13 September. The new IFEMA street circuit takes over as Spain's second race in 2026 — Barcelona retains its slot this year only. The Spanish GP officially moves to Madrid from 2027.
Zandvoort's final year. The Dutch GP returned to the calendar in 2021 on the back of Verstappen's championship momentum and ends after 2026 as the contract was not renewed. The final Dutch GP carries sprint status to ensure a high-profile send-off.
Tighter geographic flow. Canada moves from June to May to follow Miami directly. A consolidated European run from Monaco through Madrid replaces the prior trans-Atlantic ping-ponging. The end-of-year triple header runs Mexico–Brazil–Las Vegas with a Qatar/Abu Dhabi double to close.
For SA viewers
Most European rounds start around 3pm SAST — civilised viewing. Asian races run early evening SAST. Americas races run late-night SAST. Las Vegas at 5am SAST is the brutal one of the year — set the alarm for 21 November if the championship is still live by that point. The Saturday qualifying for it is the same time.
The Abu Dhabi finale on 4–6 December is the title-decider venue if the championship goes to the wire. It's a 6pm SAST race — comfortable Sunday-night viewing.