Formula 1 News: Dates of three 2026 Pre-Season tests announced
Formula 1 and the FIA have announced the dates for 2026 pre-season testing, with three tests set to take place before the 2026 season gets underway.
Test one will be a private test and will take place at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya between January 26-30. In other words, F1’s first test of the 2026 cars will take place behind closed doors – with no public access, nor media/TV cameras/photographers allowed on site to avoid embarrassment to the sport with their new Frankenstein 2026 cars.
Test two will be held at the Bahrain International Circuit between February 11-13.
The Bahrain International Circuit also hosts test three from February 18-20, before the season begins in Australia on March 6-8.
It has also been confirmed in a calendar update that, following a request from the Azerbaijan promoter and relevant government stakeholders, Formula 1 and the FIA have agreed to move the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix from Sunday September 27 to Saturday 26 to accommodate a national day.
All the F1 teams have been informed of this change, which will mean each day of the event will move one day earlier.
The full 2026 F1 calendar
| Round | Date | Country | Venue |
| Pre-season Test 1 | January 26-30 | Spain | Barcelona-Catalunya |
| Pre-season Test 2 | February 11-13 | Bahrain | Sakhir |
| Pre-season Test 3 | February 18-20 | Bahrain | Sakhir |
| 1 | March 6-8 | Australia | Melbourne |
| 2 | March 13-15 | China | Shanghai |
| 3 | March 27-29 | Japan | Suzuka |
| 4 | April 10-12 | Bahrain | Sakhir |
| 5 | April 17-19 | Saudi Arabia | Jeddah |
| 6 | May 1-3 | USA | Miami |
| 7 | May 22-24 | Canada | Montreal |
| 8 | June 5-7 | Monaco | Monaco |
| 9 | June 12-14 | Spain | Barcelona-Catalunya |
| 10 | June 26-28 | Austria | Spielberg |
| 11 | July 3-5 | United Kingdom | Silverstone |
| 12 | July 17-19 | Belgium | Spa-Francorchamps |
| 13 | July 24-26 | Hungary | Budapest |
| 14 | August 21-23 | Netherlands | Zandvoort |
| 15 | September 4-6 | Italy | Monza |
| 16 | September 11-13 | Spain | Madrid* |
| 17 | September 24-26 | Azerbaijan | Baku |
| 18 | October 9-11 | Singapore | Singapore |
| 19 | October 23-25 | USA | Austin |
| 20 | October 30 – November 1 | Mexico | Mexico City |
| 21 | November 6-8 | Brazil | Sao Paulo |
| 22 | November 19-21 | USA | Las Vegas |
| 23 | November 27-29 | Qatar | Lusail |
| 24 | December 4-6 | Abu Dhabi | Yas Marina |
*Subject to FIA circuit homologation