- Race weekend runs 11-13 September 2026, with the Formula 1 Gran Premio de España at the new MADRING circuit.
- MADRING is a hybrid street/purpose-built track around IFEMA Madrid, spanning the Valdebebas and Hortaleza districts, about five minutes from Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport.
- Tickets are sold only as three-day passes, never single-day, per the official ticketing site.
- FIA Formula 2 and Formula 3 are confirmed support races for the full 2026-2035 Madrid deal.
- This is Madrid’s first F1 World Championship race since the 1981 Spanish Grand Prix at Jarama, and its first ever inside the city itself.
When is the Madrid Grand Prix 2026?
FIA Formula 2 and Formula 3 are also on the bill across the weekend, part of a ten-year agreement that brings both feeder series to Madrid through 2035. Exact support-race start times are usually published closer to the event.
What is MADRING? Madrid’s new F1 circuit
MADRING is a new 5.4km circuit with 22 corners, built around IFEMA Madrid, the city’s exhibition and trade-fair complex. Race distance is 57 laps, or roughly 308km.
It’s officially described as a hybrid circuit, mixing street-style sections around the fairground with purpose-built permanent track. The layout spans the Valdebebas and Hortaleza districts on Madrid’s northeastern edge, and sits about five minutes from Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport.
The circuit’s signature feature is Turn 12, “La Monumental,” named for Madrid’s Las Ventas bullring. It’s a 550-metre corner banked at 13.5 degrees, equivalent to a 24% gradient, according to formula1.com.
Formula1.com describes it as a corner that “promises to be unlike any other” on the calendar, with a grandstand for around 45,000 spectators built into the bank itself.
Total race-day capacity is confirmed at 140,000 spectators, according to formula1.com. That capacity is split 60/40 between the circuit’s north and south sections.
MADRING’s own releases add zone-level detail on top of that total. About 45,000 of those seats are at La Monumental.
Another 50,000-plus seats are in the general-admission Pelouse area. MADRING has said more than 70% of capacity was sold well ahead of the race.
Madrid Grand Prix 2026 tickets: what’s on offer
Tickets are sold exclusively as three-day passes covering Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. There’s no single-day option, so budget for the full weekend.
The official tiers, from most to least premium, are:
- Gold grandstands: covered seating in prime spots, including the main straight, the grid/podium area, and La Monumental.
- Silver Plus grandstands: reserved seats at key technical sections of the lap.
- Silver grandstands: reserved seating in other strategic corners.
- Bronze grandstands: the most affordable reserved seating.
- Pelouse: open, general-admission viewing with no assigned seat.
Buy only through the official channel at MADRING’s ticketing site, or through Formula 1’s own event page. Prices vary by tier and release phase, so there’s no single fixed number published.
Check current availability directly before you book flights or hotels around the race.
How to get to the Madrid Grand Prix
Madrid is the easiest arrival of any 2026 race weekend on paper: MADRING sits about five minutes from Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, one of Europe’s best-connected hubs. Compare fares into Madrid, or search wider Spain routings if you’re combining the race with other cities.
IFEMA Madrid, where the circuit is built, already has metro and rail links used for the venue’s regular trade fairs and conventions, alongside taxis and ride-hailing apps. Expect the operator to add extra shuttle and transport capacity specifically for race weekend, as most new F1 host cities do in their debut year.
Where to stay for race weekend
Book Madrid hotels as early as you can. A brand-new circuit inside a major European capital, on a weekend with three days of ticketed racing, will pull demand from fans who’d otherwise never consider a Madrid trip.
Central Madrid neighbourhoods give you the city’s usual mix of metro, tapas bars, and sightseeing between sessions, with a manageable transfer out to IFEMA. If central options fill up, compare hotels across Spain and build a short rail or flight connection into your race-weekend plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Madrid Grand Prix 2026?
The race weekend runs from Friday 11 to Sunday 13 September 2026, with the Formula 1 race on Sunday 13 September at the new MADRING circuit.
Where exactly is the MADRING circuit?
MADRING is built around IFEMA Madrid, the city’s exhibition centre, spanning the Valdebebas and Hortaleza districts on Madrid’s northeastern edge. It’s about five minutes from Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport.
Has Formula 1 raced in Madrid before?
Not inside the city. The Madrid region last hosted F1 in 1981, when the Spanish Grand Prix ran at the Jarama circuit, about 28km outside the capital. MADRING 2026 is the first F1 World Championship race ever held within Madrid itself.
Can I buy a single-day ticket?
No. Official MADRING tickets are sold only as three-day passes covering Friday, Saturday, and Sunday; there’s no single-day option.
Are there support races on the bill?
Yes. FIA Formula 2 and Formula 3 are confirmed to race at MADRING as part of a ten-year agreement covering 2026 through 2035.
How big is the MADRING circuit?
MADRING is 5.4km long with 22 corners, and the race runs 57 laps for a total race distance of about 308km. Its signature turn, “La Monumental,” is a 550-metre corner banked at 13.5 degrees (a 24% gradient), named after Madrid’s Las Ventas bullring.
Planning your Madrid race weekend
MADRING’s debut gives Formula 1 a genuine capital-city event. There’s no legacy Madrid crowd or venue history to compare it to.
Lock in your flights to Madrid and your Madrid hotel early. Then confirm your ticket tier and travel plans directly with the official race organisers as details firm up closer to September.
Sources
- MADRING — official Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix site
- MADRING — “The date for the Spanish GP 2026 has been set: September 13 in Madrid”
- MADRING — “The Spanish F1 Grand Prix in Madrid to Host FIA Formula 2 and FIA Formula 3 races”
- MADRING — official tickets and grandstand tiers
- MADRING official ticketing site — three-day pass format FAQ
- Formula1.com — 2026 Spanish Grand Prix race weekend schedule, circuit details, La Monumental corner specs (550m, 13.5°/24% gradient), and 140,000 total capacity (60/40 north-south split)
- Motorsport.com — MADRING circuit unveiled: track map, corners, and La Monumental
- Wikipedia — 1981 Spanish Grand Prix at Jarama
Disclaimer: We’ve worked hard to make sure the information in this article is as accurate and up to date as possible at the time of publishing. Travel details such as prices, schedules, visa rules, and entry requirements can change at short notice, so it remains your responsibility to verify the current details with official sources before you book or travel. Wego accepts no liability for any loss or inconvenience arising from the use of this content.
