It’s still 2025, but the Fédération Internationale de L’Automobile (FIA) has already released the 2026 F1 calendar, and we’ll have some big news! After more than two decades without a Grand Prix taking place at this location, it will be back, and will replace another location that has already hosted historic races. Find out which mythical place will once again host Formula 1 events and what we can expect from the 2026 circuits after the release of the new calendar.
A new beginning with roots in the past
The 2025 Formula 1 season is still far from over, but the FIA – the sport’s governing body – is planning for next season and has already released the 2026 calendar, and some drastic changes are already planned to happen. After exactly 45 years without hosting a Formula 1 Grand Prix, Madrid will make its return to the circuits next season.
The last Formula 1 event in Madrid took place in 1981, at the legendary Jarama circuit. Now, in June 2026, the venue is scheduled to mark its return with a completely new, urban and modern circuit, which promises to mark a new era in the history of F1 with a brand new Grand Prix in the Spanish capital. Rumors about Madrid being added to the Formula 1 calendar began to circulate in 2024, although in fact the addition of the event only happened now for the next year’s season, and even then, it is still subject to the circuit being approved by the FIA.
The Barcelona Grand Prix was already taking place in Spain, but this will not be changed with the addition of Madrid. Unfortunately, in order to add the Spanish city to the circuit, other events had to be changed on the calendar. One of the most iconic tracks in the history of F1 will be leaving the season, and there’s a specific reason for this.
Planned changes to the 2026 F1 calendar
Formula 1 has a self-imposed contract that limits it to having only 24 races during an entire season. This means that from one year to the next, when a new race track is added, another one has to come in to replace it so that it does not exceed this number. In the 2026 season, in order for Madrid to be included in the circuit, the Grand Prix that will no longer take place is Imola in Italy.
The Italian city stepping away from the Formula 1 circuit has left a lasting legacy in the sport’s history, especially for its challenging layout — the very place where Ayrton Senna made his final race. While the decision caught many fans off guard, Imola’s contract to host the event was already nearing its end.
In addition to this change, the F1 calendar has also undergone other changes. The Monaco GP has been moved to June, after many years of taking place at the end of May, the month in which the Montreal GP will now take place, which has been brought forward, for logistical reasons, to a date close to the Miami GP. We’re eager to see how the competition plays out with the 2026 calendar.
What can we expect from the future of F1?
Expectations are soaring for the 2026 season, which will feature the longest calendar in F1 history. With the championship split into two phases and new tracks added, the thrill of racing is set to be reignited. Madrid is shaping up to be more than just another Grand Prix — it’s poised to become a symbolic and thrilling highlight for motorsport fans, bridging the past, present, and future of the sport. All signs point to a spectacular return.
