Spain is to host two Formula One grands prix in 2026, with the new race in Madrid joining Barcelona, after the organisers – the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) – announced the calendar on Tuesday for a season that could bring big changes on the grid.
The race in the Spanish capital is on 11-13 September and will bring the curtain down on the European segment of the season.
The new Madrid circuit will have both street and non-street sectors.
However, an asterisk next to the Madrid race notes that it remains subject to FIA homologation, meaning that official approval of the new circuit is still pending.
With Madrid set to host the event previously known as the Spanish Grand Prix, the longstanding race at the Barcelona-Catalunya Circuit, located in Montmeló, will be rebranded as the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.
The Formula One venture planned for Madrid is being led by Isabel Diaz Ayuso, the regional president representing the right-wing People’s Party (PP).
The project has faced strong opposition from rival political parties and environmental groups, who have raised concerns about its ecological consequences and the lack of financial transparency surrounding it.
Opponents have challenged Ayuso’s claim that it will come at ‘zero cost’, warning that taxpayers could eventually be required to shoulder some of the financial load.
Scheduled to take place from 2026 through 2035, the Madrid Grand Prix is projected by organisers to bring in €450 million annually, generate 8,000 jobs and draw over 112,000 spectators each year.
Despite those figures, uncertainties persist regarding the event’s financial structure. To date, the IFEMA trade fair authority has pledged an initial outlay of €137 million, and Swiss firm Match Hospitality has been announced as a sponsor.
Yet, aside from these, no other sponsors have been publicly confirmed, prompting worries about whether the race can be sustained over the long term.
These doubts are informed by past experiences: the Valencia Grand Prix, held from 2008 to 2012, ended in scandal after the urban track was abandoned and €300 million in public money was lost.
That failure ignited a wider debate about the dependability of private investment in major sports projects.
Formula One 2026
The 2026 Formula One campaign will open for the second successive season in Australia at Melbourne’s Albert Park street circuit on 6-8 March.
The 24-weekend campaign will again conclude in Abu Dhabi, on 4-6 December.
Montreal in Canada will now follow Miami in May to cut down on travelling for the teams.
Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, said: ‘2026 will be a new era for Formula 1 where we will witness a brand-new set of regulations for our sport, the cars and the engines that will be powered by 100% sustainable fuel.’
‘We are excited to welcome Madrid to the calendar, and to see huge automotive brands like Audi, Cadillac and Ford join the Formula 1 grid.’
