2026 Canadian Grand Prix Travel Guide

Attend the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal on May 22-24. How to buy tickets, where to stay and the best ways to get to Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

2026 Canada F1 Tickets / F1 Experiences / Montreal Hotels / Canada F1 Facebook group

Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Ile Notre Dame Island in Montreal is one of Formula 1’s most enduring and most loved circuits. Since the enforced absence brought about by the pandemic, the event has returned with larger attendances – and lots of rainy weather – in the past few seasons, with weekend crowds of 350,000. The race moves to a new date in May in 2026.

Click the links below to read the different sections of our guide and scroll down to start planning your trip!

2026 Canadian Grand Prix Tickets

Demand is always high for Canadian Grand Prix tickets. How and where to buy F1 tickets for the 2026 race and advice on general admission, grandstand & hospitality tickets at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

Where To Stay in Montreal

It’s hard to avoid the ‘F1 tax’ for accommodation on Grand Prix weekend in Montreal, but there are plenty of places to stay for fans on all budgets.

How to Get Around Montreal

Montreal has a well developed and efficient public transport network – it’s also a great walking and cycling city with abundant parks and green spaces. If you are staying in the downtown area, the best way to get to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is to take the Metro.

TRAVEL ADVICE

Trackside at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve

Find information about entering the circuit, the F1 schedule, support categories and trackside activities in our complete trackside guide for the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix.

TRACKSIDE GUIDE

Canadian Grand Prix Facebook Group

Join our Facebook group for fans attending the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix. Have your questions answered by our friendly community of race-going F1 fans.

JOIN THE FACEBOOK GROUP

Budget Planner

How much does it cost to attend the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix? Learn more about the the price of F1 tickets, accommodation & spending money with our budget planner.

PLAN YOUR BUDGET

Race Facts & History

Learn about the history of the Canadian Grand Prix, which has been held at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal since 1978 and has delivered many memorable moments over the years.

What to See & Do in Montreal

Street parties, nightlife & tourist attractions. Here’s what to see and do away from the circuit during your visit to Montreal.

MONTREAL’S TOP ATTRACTIONS

Race Week Events

Montreal always embraces F1’s presence in the city with a range of events and activities. Our guide to the top race week events at the Canadian Grand Prix is updated annually.

EVENTS GUIDE

Start Planning Your Trip to Canada

Timezone: GMT + 4 hours
Currency: Canadian dollar (CAD). Canadian polymer banknotes are available in brightly coloured denominations of $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 bills, and are much easier to work out for the first-time visitor than the greenbacks over the border in the USA
Language: French is the official language of Montreal, but English is widely spoken
Power Sockets: Canada uses Type A & B, the same as in the USA
Driving: Canadians drive on the right-hand side of the road
Tap Water: Safe to drink
More Info: Official Canada Travel Website

Tourist Visa

Canada provides visa-free entry (for up to 6 months) to citizens from 53 countries, including member states of the EU, the USA, Australia, New Zealand & Japan. All visitors still need to apply online in advance for Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA). If you don’t come from one of the visa-free countries, you will need a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) to enter Canada. In some cases this can be applied for online, otherwise you’ll need to visit your closest Canadian Embassy.

Weather

Recent editions of the Canadian Grand Prix have featured wet weather conditions – and the likelihood is even higher in 2026, with the race moving to new earlier dates in the second half of May. Temperatures in Montreal during May do not typically exceed 20ºC (67ºF), with averages under 13ºC (56ºF) at night. When packing for a Grand Prix weekend in the city, bring along summer clothes such as t-shirts and shorts, but also be sure to throw in long pants, jumpers and a light jacket as it can get chilly at night. Don’t forget your wet weather gear and umbrella; rain falls on around 20-30% of days in May.

Safety

For a large city, Montreal is remarkably safe; violent crime is rare, and it’s generally fine to walk around the city at night. All the best restaurants, bars and clubs are located in ‘safe’ areas where, ironically, you will also find the ‘seedier’ elements of the city such as the Latin Quarter and the Red Light District. Police are proactive and locals tend to be respectful of others. That said, it pays to be vigilant in any large city and petty crime does occur. If you are parking in the city, choose an underground parking garage rather than leaving your car on the street.

Language & Culture

French is the official language of Montreal, but English is widely spoken and many locals are bilingual. The city is very multicultural; 30% of residents were born outside Canada. Montreal’s festival scene is world-famous. During the summer months, the city hosts events such as the Montreal Jazz Festival and the Fringe Festival. Montreal staged the 1976 Summer Olympics and has a rich sporting pedigree with by far the most popular sport in the city being ice hockey.

Money & Tipping

The Canadian dollar ($CAD) has fallen in value in recent years against the $USD, making a trip north a more attractive proposition for US fans. Credit cards are widely accepted and ATMs can be found all over Montreal. If you do wish to change foreign currency, kiosk exchanges are also easy to find in Montreal. If you have ever been to the USA, then you can apply the same rules when it comes to tipping in Canada, where the culture is similar. A tip of 15-20% is expected when you take a taxi, eat in a restaurant or drink at a bar. If you are staying in a hotel, be ready with coins or small notes; many service staff in the hotel will be expecting small tips of $2-5 each time they assist you.

Canadian Grand Prix FAQ

The 2026 Canadian Grand Prix is scheduled for May 22-24.

Tickets & F1 Experiences packages are now on sale for the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix. Learn more in our Ticket Buying Guide.

Grandstands 11 & 12 offer some of the best views at the circuit, overlooking the opening section of track. Grandstands 15 and 24, at the hairpin, are also good spots to see some overtaking! More information can be found in our Ticket Buying Guide.

Downtown Montreal is the place to be on Canadian Grand Prix weekend, so we recommend being in the heart of the action. It’s also a good base for shopping and nights out. Old Montreal, Plateau Mont Royal & Outremont are other good options. Learn more in our Accommodation Guide.

The best way to get to Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is to take the Metro. Jean Drapeau is the closest station to the track. Learn more in our Getting Around Guide for the Canadian Grand Prix.

Canada offers competitive value for Formula 1 fans, especially those traveling from the USA. Taking into account the cost of race tickets, accommodation and spending money, the average cost for a weekend at the Canadian Grand Prix is estimated to be approximately $1,780 CAD. Learn more in our Budget Planner.

A public pit lane walk is held on Thursday morning, but only for a limited number of ticket holders. Free tickets are allocated as part of a random draw via the circuit newsletter. Details for 2026 are not yet confirmed. Learn more in Trackside.

Yes! Montreal will be hosting an F1 Sprint race for the first time in 2026.

F1 Academy is the only support category confirmed so far at the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix. Other support categories in 2025 were Porsche Carrera Cup North America and Ferrari Challenge. Learn more in Trackside.

Yes – but you need to buy a separate ticket. The CGV Experience will feature performances from Bryan Adams, Simple Plan and Alessia Cara. Tickets are priced from $250 CAD per day. Learn more here.

Canadian Grand Prix News

F1 Academy Confirms 2026 Calendar

F1 Academy’s seven-race calendar for 2026 has been revealed, with Silverstone set to host the women-only feeder series for the first time on British Grand Prix weekend.

Bryan Adams & Simple Plan to Headline 2026 Canadian Grand Prix Concerts

The 2026 Canadian Grand Prix will have an all-Canadian concert line up, with Simple Plan, Bryan Adams, Alessia Cara confirmed as headliners.

Canada to Avoid Indianapolis 500 Clash as 2026 F1 Race Times Announced

The FIA has revealed race times for the 2026 F1 season, confirming the Canadian Grand Prix will move to avoid a clash with the Indianapolis 500.

INTERVIEW: Bernie Ecclestone on Meeting the KGB & Why Hungary Deserves to Stay in F1

On the eve of the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix, Károly Méhes was granted an exclusive interview with former F1 supremo, Bernie Ecclestone

How Much Does it Cost to Attend an F1 Race Weekend in 2025?

Estimating the cost of race tickets, accommodation & spending money to attend a Formula 1 race weekend in 2025. Budget, mid-range and high-end price points.

Meet the Couple Who Traveled to Every F1 Race in 2023

What’s it like to attend every single race in a Formula 1 season? We caught up with David and Michelle from New Zealand, who did just that last year.

Adam’s Travel Report – 2022 Canadian Grand Prix

Adam Rosales made the most of his first visit to the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal. Read all about his trip and find out why he’s planning to return this year!

2007 Canadian Grand Prix: First & Eternal

Károly Méhes remembers his trip to the 2007 Canadian Grand Prix, where Robert Kubica survived a huge crash and Lewis Hamilton took his maiden F1 victory.

About Canada

Canada, the second largest country in the world by total area, has a population of 40 million. It shares an 8891km land border with the United States to the South, the world’s longest. 90% of Canadians live within 100km of this border. Much of the rest of the country is sparsely populated and is home to many national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty.

With a population of approximately 4 million, Montreal is the second largest Canadian city after Toronto and the second largest French speaking city in the world after Paris. Montreal is a cosmopolitan F1 destination with a very European vibe that is famed for its cool architecture, abundance of green spaces for outdoor pursuits, and vibrant dining and nightlife scenes.

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