Formula 1 has announced the locations of next year’s six Sprint events, with the shorter Saturday race set to take place in Shanghai, Miami, Montreal, Silverstone, Zandvoort and Singapore.
Formula 1 has unveiled its Sprint race calendar for the 2026 season. The Sprint format sees the 20 drivers compete in an additional 30 minute race on Saturday afternoon, before qualifying takes place for the main Grand Prix.
There are three returning hosts of Sprint events in 2026, with Shanghai, Miami and Silverstone set to host Sprint races once again. Three venues on the newly unveiled Sprint calendar – Montreal, Zandvoort and Singapore – will host the format for the first time.
The official announcement of the 2026 F1 Sprint calendar follows a social media post earlier in the year by the official account of the Dutch Grand Prix, which appeared to inadvertently leak the locations of next year’s six Sprint events.
The 24-round 2026 Formula 1 calendar was officially revealed in June, including the addition of Madrid, which becomes the new host of the Spanish Grand Prix in 2026. The confirmation of next year’s Sprint calendar means that there will once again be 30 races in total across the 2026 season.
Where Will F1 Sprint Races Take Place in 2026?
| Dates | Event | Circuit |
|---|---|---|
| March 13-15 | 2026 Chinese Grand Prix | Shanghai International Circuit |
| May 1-3 | 2026 Miami Grand Prix | Miami International Autodrome |
| May 22-24 | 2026 Canadian Grand Prix | Circuit Gilles Villeneuve |
| July 3-5 | 2026 British Grand Prix | Silverstone |
| August 21-23 | 2026 Dutch Grand Prix | Zandvoort |
| October 9-11 | 2026 Singapore Grand Prix | Marina Bay Street Circuit |
There are three brand new Sprint venues on the 2026 calendar, with Montreal, Zandvoort and Singapore set to host shorter Saturday races for the first time. It had already been confirmed that the Dutch Grand Prix would be one of the six Sprint hosts in 2026, with Zandvoort looking to go out on a high as it appears on the F1 calendar for the final time.
Meanwhile, Silverstone will host a Sprint race for the second time, having been host of the inaugural Sprint event over the 2021 British Grand Prix weekend.
Elsewhere, Shanghai is set to host the first Sprint race of the season for the third consecutive season. The Chinese Grand Prix is the second round of the year in 2026, taking place on March 13-15. Miami will also host a Sprint event for the third year in succession – but it will be the only Sprint race in the United States next year. COTA has been on the Sprint calendar in 2023, 2024 and 2025 – but it is not in 2026.
Perhaps the biggest surprise on the 2026 Sprint calendar is the omission of Interlagos. This will be the first time since its introduction in 2021 that the Sprint format will not be a feature of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix weekend.
Speaking about the F1 Sprint schedule for the 2026 season, Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said:
“The F1 Sprint has continued to grow in positive impact and popularity since it was introduced in 2021. With four competitive sessions rather than two during a conventional Grand Prix weekend, F1 Sprint events offer more action each day for our fans, broadcast partners, and for the promoters – driving increased attendance and viewership. The 2026 season will usher in a new era of regulations, so having three new Sprint venues will only add to the drama on track.”
Although yet to be confirmed, it is expected that Sprint weekends will continue to follow the same format as in recent seasons. After a single hour of practice, Sprint Qualifying takes place on Friday afternoon, before the Sprint race itself is contested on Saturday. Eight points are awarded to the winner of the Sprint, with points being awarded to all of the top eight finishers.
Max Verstappen holds the record for the most F1 Sprint wins, having taken his 12th Sprint victory at the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix. Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton are the only other current drivers to have previously won Sprint events.
