The full on-track schedule and more useful information for fans attending the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix at Shanghai Circuit
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- The 2026 Chinese Grand Prix takes place on March 13-15
- Tickets are now on sale (December 11, 2025)
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Shanghai’s circuit is an impressive facility, capable of accommodating around 200,000 fans. The 2019 Chinese Grand Prix made history as the 1000th Formula 1 race since the advent of the modern World Championship in 1950 and was a sell out for the first time since the inaugural race in 2004. China finally returned to the F1 calendar in 2024 after a five year absence due to the pandemic. Tickets for the race are snapped up very quickly by local fans, though recent editions of the race have not run at anywhere near the circuit’s capacity of up to 200,000 fans per day. It’s been confirmed that the F1 Sprint format will return at the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix.
Shanghai Circuit: Access & Orientation
For more information on getting to the track, read the Getting There & Around section of this guide. If you have taken the metro to the circuit as we recommend, getting inside the circuit after you have alighted at the Shanghai Circuit metro stop is easy and the way is well signposted. The closest entrance is through Gate 1, behind the main grandstand. Gate 11 (behind grandstand K) is also just a few minutes walk from the metro station.
Need to Know: Shanghai International Circuit
- Check Weather Forecast: Rain is common in Shanghai on race weekend. Don’t forget to check the weather forecast and be prepared before heading to the track, even if you have seats in one of the covered grandstands
- Entry Restrictions (Prohibited Items): Long-handled umbrellas, flagpoles, unmanned aerial vehicles, public address equipment, unauthorized professional photographic equipment and triangular brackets are amongst the prohibited items at Shanghai Circuit. Entry restrictions are TBC for 2025.
- Track Invasion: Fans have not been allowed on to the track after recent editions of the Chinese GP. If you don’t want to miss the podium celebrations after the race, you will need to have a seat in the Main grandstand.
- Taking the Metro: The metro can get very congested, particularly when leaving the circuit on Sunday after the race. Be patient or stay a little longer to avoid the peak crowds.
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2026 Chinese Grand Prix Schedule
- On-Track Schedule: The full on-track timetable for the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix has been confirmed by Formula 1 and is listed below.
- Sprint Race: After hosting an F1 Sprint in each of the last two seasons, it’s been confirmed that the F1 Sprint will return to China in 2026
- Support Categories: F1 Academy will race at the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix, staging the first round of its 2026 season. Porsche Carrera Cup is also back on the schedule in 2026, as is the SRO GT Cup.
- Pit Lane Walk: Recent editions of the Chinese Grand Prix have not featured a pit lane walk on Thursday for regular ticket holders. Selected packages from F1 Experiences include an Exclusive Pit Lane Walk and Guided Track Tour on Friday after the conclusion of track activity. Guests in the F1 Paddock Club can take part in daily pit lane walks on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Friday
- 08:20-08:45: SRO GT Cup – Greater Bay Area GT Cup – First Practice Session
- 09:10-09:50: F1 Academy – Practice Session
- 11:30-12:30: Formula 1 – Free Practice 1
- 12:55-13:40: Porsche Carrera Cup Asia – Practice Session
- 14:05-14:35: F1 Academy – Qualifying Session
- 15:30-16:14: Formula 1 – Sprint Qualifying
- 17:00-17:25: SRO GT Cup – Greater Bay Area GT Cup – Second Practice Session
Saturday
- 08:15-08:40: SRO GT Cup – Greater Bay Area GT Cup – Qualifying Session
- 09:10-09:40: Porsche Carrera Cup Asia – Qualifying Session
- 11:00-11:30: Formula 1 – Sprint Race (19 laps or 60 minutes)
- 12:25-13:00: SRO GT Cup – Greater Bay Area GT Cup – First Race (13 Laps, or 30 minutes + 1 Lap)
- 13:45-14:20: F1 Academy – First Race (30 minutes + 1 lap)
- 15:00-16:00: Formula 1 – Qualifying
- 16:55-17:30: Porsche Carrera Cup Asia – First Race (13 Laps or 30 minutes)
- 18:20-19:20: F1 Experiences Champions Club – Grid Walk & Trophy Photo
Sunday
- 09:10-09:45: SRO GT Cup – Greater Bay Area GT Cup – Second Race (30 minutes + 1 Lap)
- 10:40-11:15: F1 Academy – Second Race (13 Laps, or 30 minutes + 1 lap)
- 11:55-12:30: Porsche Carrera Cup Asia – Second Race (13 laps or 30 minutes)
- 13:00-13:30: Formula 1 – Drivers’ Parade
- 14:44-14:46: National Anthem
- 15:00-17:00: Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix 2026 (56 laps or 2 hours)
Shanghai Circuit Facilities
The trackside facilities are generally good. Food and drink is not expensive by F1 standards, though fans have complained about both the lack of choice and the fact that there are just not enough places to buy food and drink. The situation was improved in 2024 when a secondary area was available (closer to the circuit’s metro station) that offered a much better choice of food and drink options. At the concessions behind each of the grandstands, a 500ml Heineken draft beer cost 40 RMB ($5.50 USD), soft drinks and water cost 10 RMB ($1.40 USD). Meals were priced from 15-40 RMB. See below for prices and available food and drink.
This lack of choice also applies to merchandise; there is a limited offer in China. For circuit-specific merchandise, there’s a shop on the ground level of Grandstand A, closer to the last corner end of the grandstand. All of the grandstands at Shanghai International Circuit are permanent structures and there’s ample toilets on the ground level. In the larger Grandstand A, there’s also additional toilets on several levels of the grandstand. First aid points are also located in Grandstand A. Additional temporary toilets (clean and high standard) are available throughout the fan zone and behind each grandstand. A foreign exchange point is also located behind Grandstand A.
Hi
The driver Meeting on Thursday is NOT for three days ticket holders…only 200 dedicated winners got the oppurtunity to get in with this Special ticket. Very strict controls :/
No acces to f1 village or eben Main grandstand to watch into the pits…
The pitwalk was also not for Public….China sucks!!
Thank you for all the great information and helpful tips, Andrew! This will be my first GP in Shanghai and I am very excited! I do not know why Andy, who left the comments a year ago is so upset. I paid a lot of money for a 3-day Grand stand ticket and other extras, like pit lane walk, drive around the track, etc. I would not be happy if all this was available for free on Friday to any ticket holder. F1 is expensive, this is why this is my only second live race, because I want to get a prime experience, so I pay more for a better ticket.
Hi Andy, do you know if cameras are allowed in the circuit and also if there is any pit walks over the weekend?
You should be fine with your camera, but the lens shouldn’t be larger than 400mm – just in case. There is an Autograph session on Thursday afternoon from 16:00-17:00 – this normally takes place on the Main Straight, rather than the Pit Lane.
I saw on several (Chinese) ticket vendor sites that a separate ticket is needed for the thursday autograph session. And not accessible with a regular 3-day Grandstand ticket. Is that correct? The ticket (just for the thursday autograph session was in access of $440……)
Let me try and find out more about the autograph session. It’s generally held on the track in front of the pits on Thursday afternoon, but I don’t know how to get access. Definitely don’t buy that ticket for $440!
Any idea what bag search policies are? We are taking a baby and need food and stuff for him.
Not too sure, sorry Andrew. Though I can’t imagine they will not let you take in baby supplies. Good luck
I have a 3 day grandstand ticket for the 2026 Chinese Gp. I am hoping to bring my Canon R8 camera with a 24-105mm lens. Does anyone know about any camera or lens restrictions for this event?
The official list of prohibited items at the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix states the following: “13. Any unauthorised professional photographic and video equipment and tripods and monopods used for cameras and video cameras.” This is pretty vague. And my experience attending the race the last two years was that fans were coming in with very large, professional lens. I’ve never seen so many at a race! You should be fine, but it’s always a good idea to make sure your lens and body are detached and packed away in your bag when you are going through security to enter the circuit.
I have a 3 day grandstand ticket for the 2026 Chinese Gp, do they also include a pit lane walk on thursday? And I’ve also heard china previously held autograph sessions at the track, do they still have it this year and if so, are they included in the 3 day ticket?
Hello, there has not been a public pit lane walk at the Chinese GP since it returned to the calendar in 2024. I don’t think this will change in 2026, sorry. Also no autograph sessions as far as I’m aware. It’s possible that the drivers will appear on a stage in the Fan Zone on Friday/Saturday, but only for an interview – not an autograph session.