Work out the cost of F1 tickets, accommodation and spending money to attend the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai
F1 Experiences / Shanghai Hotels / Chinese GP Facebook group
- The 2026 Chinese Grand Prix takes place on March 13-15
- Tickets are now on sale (December 11, 2025)
- This post contains affiliate links. We may receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links
China sold by far the cheapest tickets on the F1 calendar this year, according to our ranking of 2025 Formula 1 ticket prices. Prices have risen slightly for 2026 (see pricelist below), but China is still expected to offer the cheapest tickets on the calendar. The issue is that it is difficult for international fans to buy via the local promoter, due to both very high demand (tickets are expected to sell out very fast) and also language and app complexity. Prices charged by international ticket agents for the race in China are significantly higher than those offered by the local promoter.
Shanghai is relatively affordable for such a large global city. High quality accommodation in the center of Shanghai is budget friendly, it’s cheap and easy to take the metro to the circuit and you don’t need to spend a lot to enjoy yourself in China’s largest city. Compare the cost of an F1 weekend across the 2025 F1 calendar here.
Budget
- Weekend cost approx. CN¥ 1,580 ($224 USD)
- 3-day General Admission ticket (Zones C, F, J) = CN¥ 480
- Dorm bed at hostel in central Shanghai for 3 nights (per person) = CN¥ 500
- Spending money: CN¥200 x 3 = CN¥600
Mid-Range
- Weekend cost approx. CN¥ 4,080 ($578 USD)
- 3-day Grandstand H or K ticket = CN¥ 1,680
- Mid-range hotel in central Shanghai for 3 nights (per person) = CN¥ 1,200
- Daily budget: CN¥400 x 3 = CN¥ 1,200
High End
- Weekend cost approx 40,630 CN¥ ($5,750 USD)
- 3-Day Champions Club Package = 35,470 CN¥ ($4,999 USD)
- 4-star hotel in central Shanghai for 3 nights = 2,130 CN¥ ($300 USD) per person
- Daily budget: 1,000 CN¥ x 3 = 3000 CN¥ ($420 USD)
About Our Calculations & Fan Categories
- Average costs are per person based on a stay of 3 nights in central Shanghai on Grand Prix weekend with race tickets, accommodation and spending money. The prices do not include flights (or other travel costs) required to reach Shanghai.
- About our categories: Budget fans buy the cheapest race tickets (General Admission) and camp by the track or stay in a hostel. Mid-Range fans buy a grandstand ticket and stay in a 3-star hotel, whilst High-End fans buy a VIP or experience package and stay in a 4 or 5 star hotel.
2026 Chinese Grand Prix Pricelist
| Grandstand / Category | 2026: 3-Day Price CNY ($USD) | 2025: 3-Day Price CNY ($USD) | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grandstand A Platinum | 4,680 ($662) | 3,880 ($543) | +20.6% |
| Grandstand A High | 3,280 ($464) | 2,880 ($403) | +13.9% |
| Grandstand A Low | 2,580 ($365) | 2,280 ($319) | +13.2% |
| Grandstand B | 2,180 ($309) | 1,880 ($263) | +15.9% |
| Grandstand H/K | 1,680 ($238) | 1,480 ($207) | +13.5% |
| Grandstand E | 1,580 ($224) | n/a | n/a |
| General Admission C,F,J | 480 ($67) | 480 ($67) | 0% |
Official 3-day ticket prices for the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix published by the promoter of the race. Listed prices do not include transaction or card fees. Please note that ticket prices charged by international sales agent for the race are significantly higher than the promoter prices.
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andrew, do you know from experience if there are vendors for team gear at the F1 China race? Shirts, hats etc. Or stores in the area that have team gear? Don’t see the need to bring some team gear if already purchasable at the circuit. This will be my first Chinese F1 race. We got A high tickets. Pretty excited.
Yes, there will be merchandise stands at the circuit, but prices are pretty much the same around the world (i.e. not cheap!).
Hi Andrew, about how long does it take to exit from the circuit and catch the metro after the race on Sunday? I’m attending this year, got my tickets (A High) but need to catch a plane departing at 8:40PM from Hongqiao Airport. The plan is to leave the bags early in the morning at the luggage storage counter (paid service, not the airline) and take the metro to and from the circuit.Thanks!
Hi Charly, you are cutting it pretty fine! I don’t mean to alarm you, but there can be some post-race delays getting the metro (see reviews here) I’d probably organize a taxi to wait for you after the race to make a quicker getaway than on the metro
Hi Andrew, I am planning to leave for my departure flight at 8:50pm in PVG airport after the race. What’s the best transportation mode and will I have time to get to the airport in time after the race?
Hi Kelvin, I always recommend leaving later, so you won’t be stressed and can enjoy the race. This year, the Chinese GP starts at 14:10 and should be done by 16:00. If you don’t hang around after the race and get straight on the metro, you should be fine. I’d take the metro (line 11) from the circuit to Jiangsu Road, where you swap to line 2 and then go to Longyang Road, where you can catch the Maglev. The entire trip will take around 2 hours. Alternatively, you could swap to a taxi in the center. Good luck!
Hi, as for food stalls as i am taking my som with me and he is not that adventurous in trying oit new things. Is there the basic hotdogs/hamburgers etc or is it mainly chinese food available.
I’m not 100% sure Steve, but I’m pretty sure you can get hotdogs and hamburgers!
Hi, I’m curious to know if you must have s visa to enter China to watch the Grand Prix?
I plan on going to China for the race weekend, and then flying to Vietnam for a holiday, then return home to Canada.
I see online that Canada is on the list of countries eligible for a 72 hour or a 144 hour transit visa.
I really don’t want to get to the airport and they deny me boarding saying I must have a visa.
Of course I’ll read watch this more, but was curious if you had any experience with this.
Thanks a lot!
Hi Daniel, I’ve done the Visa on arrival for 72 hour visit (not the longer 144 hour one). It worked fine. More info in Travel Basics
Hi,
Thank you for the response. I have had a lot of trouble to find a definitive answer. The airlines have not helped me out claiming they cannot answer this question, and the Chinese consulate has been a nightmare to contact.
I am worried because it is not a direct flight to Shanghai, there is a 3 hour stop in Beijing before heading to Hongqiao airport in Shanghai.
I also contacted the office at visaforchina.org in Vancouver, and they could not say 100 percent.
I may as well buy the visa to save the stress of not being able to board a flight.
Sounds a bit tricky with the layover in Beijing. I’d buy the visa in advance just to be sure.
Agree with the visa for this.
Unfortunately airlines (or the third party visa vendors won’t help much). FlyerTalk forum is useful.
But it needs to be a transit – in and out of Shanghai area (includes Wuxi and Hangzhou) and one flight must be Tina third country (Hong Kong and Macau are OK)
I did a 140hr stay in 2018 flying into Pudong and out of Hangzhou to Hong Kong.. although the TWOV line at Pudong took me 90min
How much is a pint of beer (more or less)? I’ll bring food to cut the costs, but I believe you can’t bring alcohol.
I’ll answer this for next year.
In 2018 beer (Heineken) only was 15RMB (US$2.50) for a 330ml can (or 270ml draught) and 25RMB (US$4) for a tall 500mo can
That’s pretty cheap, cheers!
Hi Andrew; really keen to know if there is any off track action like there is in Canada and if so, where is best to head? I loved it on Crescent Street and Peel Street earlier this year, wish we had something like that in the UK. Really hoping there there will be some wild celebrations for 2019 being the the 1000th race!!!!
Hi Paul, I’m afraid there is nowhere quite like Cresenct/Peel Street in Montreal. The city atmosphere in Montreal is hard to match anywhere on the calendar. And not in Shanghai, which is a huge global city and doesn’t get taken over so much by Formula 1. There was a Fan Festival last year in Shanghai, so I wouldn’t be surprised if F1 organized something similar in the centre next year for the 1000th race. Otherwise, the best city atmosphere is around The Bund and West Nanjing Road. Would recommend staying near there if possible.
Hi,
Do you know if there are any plans for the 2019 race – 1000th race. Is there much off circuit entertainment?
I’m sure there will be off-circuit entertainment. Formula 1 is definitely planning a downtown “Fan Festival” in Shanghai around the 1000th race. They did a similar festival in Shanghai last year. I’m sure we will hear details soon!
Hi, Andrew! Do you know if there is a luggage storage along the Metro 11? Especially at the Jiangsu Road Station or maybe at the Shanghai Circuit Station? Thanks!
I don’t know the answer to this, but I am guessing there is not a luggage storage at the metro
Trying to get a ticket. All i see now are those expensive grandstands. any tips on getting a more budget friendly ticket? 1st time planning a chinese F1.
Sorry, it’s really hard to get tickets as local demand was very high. I think you have to pay higher prices on the secondary market, all the official tickets sold out very quickly