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The Melbourne Grand Prix doesn’t just follow the Australian Open. It flips the switch.
A few weeks after Centre Court packs up, Albert Park turns into a street circuit and the city swaps polite applause for engine noise. For four days, Melbourne runs on a different tempo.
If you’re heading trackside or planning a long weekend around it, here’s our guide on what you actually need to know for the 2026 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix.
Why 2026 Is Different
This isn’t just another season opener. Lando Norris arrives as reigning world champion, with Oscar Piastri building momentum in front of a home crowd. Melbourne is the first proper read on whether McLaren can hold its edge or whether the chasing pack has closed the gap.
The grid expands to 11 teams with the arrival of the Cadillac Formula 1 Team, marking the first brand-new entry in years.
At the same time, the sport enters its biggest regulation reset in years. Cars are shorter, lighter and narrower, with revised aerodynamics designed to make them more agile and less sensitive to dirty air. The aim to create a more exciting race, with closer racing and more overtaking.
The new power unit formula places greater emphasis on electrical energy, reducing fuel load and pushing teams toward efficiency. That changes how drivers deploy power over a lap and how teams manage strategy across a race distance. Fresh manufacturer partnerships reshape the competitive order.
Audi F1 Team begins life as a full works operation. Aston Martin F1 Team starts its Honda era. Red Bull Racing launches its Ford-backed power unit program.
Albert Park will not just show who is quick. It will show which new partnerships actually work once the lights go out.
What’s Actually Changing at Albert Park?
Despite the major rule reset in Formula 1, the Melbourne event itself remains largely unchanged for 2026.
The Albert Park layout stays the same configuration used in recent seasons. There are no new corner redesigns or layout overhauls planned for this year’s race.
The format also remains traditional. There is no Sprint race scheduled for Melbourne. Sunday is still a 58-lap Grand Prix.
What has evolved is the fan experience. Organisers have continued investing in precinct upgrades, improved pedestrian flow and enhanced on-site amenities across the circuit. The post-race track walk, which returned after being paused for safety reasons, is expected to continue.
The biggest change in 2026 is not the track itself. It’s the cars racing on it.
Dates, Circuit and Key Stats
The Australian Grand Prix runs from Thursday, 5 March to Sunday, 8 March 2026 at the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit.
It also opens the 2026 Formula 1 season, which means global attention lands in Melbourne first.
The 5.278km circuit has hosted the race since 1996 and runs for 58 laps, covering a total distance of 306.124km. The current race lap record stands at 1:19.813, set by Charles Leclerc in 2024.
Albert Park sits just south of the CBD and becomes its own ecosystem during race week. Grandstands rise around the lake. Roads close. Foot traffic doubles. Even if you’re not attending, you’ll feel it.
As a temporary street circuit, it can be bumpy and low-grip early in the weekend, with the surface rubbering in session by session. It rewards a well-balanced chassis and a sharp front end through its fast direction changes. It’s also quicker than it looks on TV. Pole laps now average well north of 250km/h, which gives you a sense of how little margin there is once the cars are up to speed.
Race Weekend Schedule (Local Time)
Here is the core structure of the weekend, all local time:
Thursday 5 March
Gates open from 9:45am
Support categories and on-track sessions begin throughout the day
Friday 6 March
Practice 1: 12:30pm
Practice 2: 4:00pm
Saturday 7 March
Practice 3: 12:30pm
Qualifying: 4:00pm
Sunday 8 March
Formula 1 Drivers’ Parade: 1:00pm
Australian Grand Prix (58 Laps): 3:00pm
The race starts mid-afternoon, which brings peak crowd energy and a sharp shift in light across the circuit as it unfolds.
Scroll down for the full four-day support schedule.
Tickets: What’s Still Available
There are three main ways to experience the weekend.
Park Pass (General Admission)
This gets you through the gates and around the circuit. You can roam between corners, post up on the grassy banks and follow the action on the big screens. On Thursday, grandstands are unreserved, which makes it the best day to explore sightlines without committing to a seat.
Park Passes are usually the last to disappear, especially for Thursday and Friday. Just remember, there’s no reserved seating. If you want a decent view, you’ll need to get in early and claim it.
Grandstand Tickets
If you care about a specific braking zone, overtaking point or the start-finish straight, this is the safer play. You’ve got a guaranteed seat and consistent sightlines across the session.
Most three-day grandstands are gone, but verified resale tickets still surface for stands like Piastri, Fangio, Prost, Schumacher and Senna. Pricing moves around depending on demand. Sometimes above face value, sometimes below.
It’s worth checking regularly if you’ve got a particular section in mind.
Hospitality and F1 Experiences
This is the polished version of race day. Lounges, catering, shade, cleaner amenities and elevated views.
Some hospitality suites still have limited single-day availability. The premium American Express Lounge three-day packages are sold out. Official F1 Experiences packages are also sold out for now, with waitlists in place if more inventory is released.
Tickets went on sale in September 2025, and availability now depends on what’s been snapped up and what reappears through resale.
If you’re choosing between GA and a grandstand, it comes down to one question. Do you want to move around, or do you want to lock in a seat and settle?
Getting There (And Back Again)
Public transport is the easiest way in. Trams run directly from the CBD to the circuit, with additional services across the weekend. Walking from St Kilda or South Melbourne is manageable if you want to avoid post-session queues.
Driving sounds convenient. It rarely is. Road closures and limited parking turn it into a patience test. Melbourne handles major events well. Let it.
How to Watch the Melbourne Grand Prix From Home or the Pub
Not everyone is heading trackside. In Australia, the 2026 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Network Ten and streamed via 10 Play, with full coverage also available on Fox Sports Australia and Kayo Sports.
If you want the full weekend, including practice and qualifying, the paid options tend to carry more extensive coverage. If you just want the race, free-to-air will have you covered on Sunday afternoon.
And then there’s the pub option.
Inner-city venues, sports bars and beer gardens across Melbourne tend to lean into race weekend. Federation Square’s Fan Festival is the obvious public option, but plenty of CBD and South Melbourne pubs will be screening sessions across the weekend.
The key is simple. Book early. Sunday afternoon tables disappear quickly once locals realise it’s race day.
If you’re watching from home, the 3:00pm Sunday start time makes it one of the most social Grand Prix on the calendar. No midnight alarms. No Monday regret.
What Else Is On Track?
Formula 1 is the headline act, but the program is stacked across all four days.
Thursday kicks off with Porsche Carrera Cup and Supercars practice and qualifying, followed by races into the late afternoon.
From Friday, the international junior categories roll in. FIA Formula 3 and FIA Formula 2 both run practice, qualifying and full race programs across the weekend, including sprint races on Saturday and feature races on Sunday.
Supercars contest four races across the event, while Porsche Carrera Cup runs three.
By the time Sunday’s Grand Prix starts at 3:00pm, there have already been multiple races across F2, F3, Supercars and Carrera Cup.
There’s very little downtime. If you’re inside the circuit, something is usually happening.
Full 2026 Australian Grand Prix Weekend Schedule
Thursday 5 March
| Time | Category | Session |
|---|---|---|
| 9:45am – 10:15am | Porsche Carrera Cup | Practice |
| 10:35am – 11:05am | Supercars Championship | Practice 1 |
| 11:35am – 12:05pm | Porsche Carrera Cup | Qualifying |
| 12:25pm – 12:55pm | Supercars Championship | Practice 2 |
| 1:30pm – 2:30pm | Formula 1 | Drivers’ Press Conference |
| 1:35pm – 1:55pm | Promoter Activity | Racing Past – Brabham Celebration |
| 2:20pm – 2:32pm | Supercars Championship | Qualifying Part 1 |
| 2:42pm – 2:50pm | Supercars Championship | Qualifying Part 2 |
| 3:35pm – 4:10pm | Porsche Carrera Cup | Race 1 |
| 4:20pm – 4:35pm | Promoter Activity | F1 Car Demonstration |
| 4:55pm – 5:40pm | Supercars Championship | Race 1 (19 Laps or 40 Mins) |
| 6:50pm – 8:15pm | F1 Experiences | Track Tour & Trophy Photo |
| 6:50pm – 8:15pm | F1 Experiences | Pit Lane Walk |
Friday 6 March
| Time | Category | Session |
|---|---|---|
| 8:50am – 9:35am | FIA Formula 3 | Practice |
| 10:00am – 10:45am | FIA Formula 2 | Practice |
| 11:00am – 12:00pm | FIA | F1 Car Presentation |
| 11:10am – 11:30am | Promoter Activity | Racing Past – Brabham Celebration |
| 11:40am – 11:55am | Promoter Activity | F1 Car Demonstration |
| 12:30pm – 1:30pm | Formula 1 | Practice 1 |
| 2:00pm – 2:30pm | FIA Formula 3 | Qualifying |
| 2:30pm – 3:30pm | Formula 1 | Teams’ Press Conference |
| 2:55pm – 3:25pm | FIA Formula 2 | Qualifying |
| 3:30pm – 4:00pm | FIA Formula 3 | Press Conference |
| 4:00pm – 5:00pm | Formula 1 | Practice 2 |
| 5:15pm – 5:45pm | FIA Formula 2 | Press Conference |
| 5:25pm – 6:10pm | Supercars Championship | Race 2 (19 Laps or 40 Mins) |
| 6:30pm – 7:05pm | Porsche Carrera Cup | Race 2 (15 Laps or 30 Mins) |
Saturday 7 March
| Time | Category | Session |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00am – 9:12am | Supercars Championship | Qualifying Part 3 |
| 9:22am – 9:30am | Supercars Championship | Qualifying Part 4 |
| 11:15am – 12:00pm | FIA Formula 3 | Sprint Race (20 Laps or 40 Mins +1 Lap) |
| 12:30pm – 1:30pm | Formula 1 | Practice 3 |
| 2:10pm – 3:00pm | FIA Formula 2 | Sprint Race (23 Laps or 45 Mins +1 Lap) |
| 3:10pm – 3:30pm | Promoter Activity | Racing Past – Brabham Celebration |
| 3:30pm – 3:55pm | FIA Formula 3 | Press Conference |
| 3:40pm – 3:55pm | Promoter Activity | RAAF Air Display |
| 4:00pm – 5:00pm | Formula 1 | Qualifying |
| 5:00pm – 6:00pm | Formula 1 | Press Conference |
| 5:35pm – 6:15pm | Supercars Championship | Race 3 (19 Laps or 40 Mins) |
| 6:00pm – 6:30pm | FIA Formula 2 | Press Conference |
| 6:40pm – 7:15pm | Porsche Carrera Cup | Race 3 (15 Laps or 30 Mins) |
| 7:35pm – 8:35pm | F1 Experiences | Champions Club Grid Walk & Trophy Photo |
Sunday 8 March
| Time | Category | Session |
|---|---|---|
| 8:50am – 9:40am | FIA Formula 3 | Feature Race (23 Laps or 45 Mins +1 Lap) |
| 10:05am – 10:35am | FIA Formula 3 | Press Conference |
| 10:10am – 10:45am | Supercars Championship | Race 4 (14 Laps or 30 Mins) |
| 11:25am – 12:30pm | FIA Formula 2 | Feature Race (33 Laps or 60 Mins +1 Lap) |
| 1:00pm – 1:30pm | Formula 1 | Drivers’ Parade |
| 1:40pm – 2:10pm | FIA Formula 2 | Press Conference |
| 2:44pm – 2:46pm | Formula 1 | National Anthem |
| 3:00pm – 5:00pm | Formula 1 | Grand Prix (58 Laps or 120 Mins) |
Off-Track Events Around Melbourne
Melbourne doesn’t stop at the circuit.
The free F1 Melbourne Fan Festival returns to Federation Square from Friday 6 to Sunday 8 March, screening live coverage of F1, F2, F3 and Supercars across the weekend. It’s the closest thing to being trackside without a ticket, with driver Q&As, team appearances and big-screen race coverage in the middle of the CBD.
Inside Albert Park, the Lakeside Festival runs from Thursday to Sunday, turning the circuit into a waterfront concert venue once the cars come in. Entry is included for ticket holders, with headline live music programmed across race week.
If you’re backing papaya, the McLAREN MASTERCARD F1 TEAM X PUMA Ignition Beach activation takes over St Kilda from 5–9 March. It’s free, family-friendly, and just a short walk from the circuit, with a replica car, merch drops and branded lounge spaces.
Staying south of the lake? Jack Daniel’s Jack’s Garage returns to The Espy in St Kilda for four nights of live music and race-week atmosphere, while the McLaren Warm-Up Party & Street Party HQ at Middle Park Hotel keeps things close to the circuit gates.
In the CBD, Crown’s Formula Fun program brings activations and race-themed events along the Riverwalk, including rooftop hospitality-style experiences across race week.
For something later, Overtake: The After Party by Revolut lands at The Timber Yard on Saturday night, keeping the energy going once qualifying wraps.
And for the purists, F1: The Exhibition at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre offers a deeper look at the sport’s history, including a dedicated Australian motorsport gallery.
Even if you only care about the racing a little, Melbourne gives you options.
What To Do Between Sessions
You won’t be at the circuit every hour. Grab lunch in South Melbourne before heading back in. Walk the lake if you need air and space. Jump a tram into the CBD for dinner instead of queuing at peak times inside the precinct.
If you’re staying in St Kilda, beach mornings work well before Saturday builds. If you’re in the city, book rooftop drinks after qualifying early. Don’t over-schedule it. The Grand Prix already sets your pace. Let the gaps breathe.
First Time at Formula 1? Read This
If you’ve never been to a Grand Prix in person, a few things are worth knowing. It’s louder than you expect. Even with modern hybrid engines, the sound carries. Near a braking zone or main straight, ear protection is sensible.
You’ll walk more than you think. Albert Park wraps around a lake. Moving between corners and food zones adds up quickly.
Qualifying can feel as intense as race day. A late Q3 lap with the grid on the line carries real weight. Arrive earlier than you planned. Security, queues and transport bottlenecks are part of the rhythm.
And don’t try to watch every lap. Pick your moments. Watch the crowd. Some of the best parts happen between sessions.
Treat it like a festival with very fast cars at the centre and you’ll enjoy it more.
Is It Worth Going?
On television, Formula 1 is commentary and strategy. In person, it’s physical. You feel the acceleration. You feel the crowd react when something unexpected happens. You understand the speed in a way television flattens.
In Melbourne, it comes layered with a city that knows how to host. Go for the racing. Stay for everything around it.
And once Melbourne wraps, the season rolls on. Oh, and if you’re looking ahead to the next Grand Prix on the F1 calendar, we’ve got you covered below.
2026 Formula 1 Grand Prix Calendar
| Date | Grand Prix | City | Track |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06–08 Mar 2026 | Australian GP | Melbourne, Australia | Albert Park Circuit |
| 13–15 Mar 2026 | Chinese GP | Shanghai, China | Shanghai International Circuit |
| 27–29 Mar 2026 | Japanese GP | Suzuka, Japan | Suzuka International Racing Course |
| 10–12 Apr 2026 | Bahrain GP | Sakhir, Bahrain | Bahrain International Circuit |
| 17–19 Apr 2026 | Saudi Arabian GP | Jeddah, Saudia Arabia | Jeddah Corniche Circuit |
| 01–03 May 2026 | Miami GP | Miami (Florida), USA | Miami International Autodrome |
| 22–24 May 2026 | Canadian GP | Montreal, Canada | Circuit Gilles Villeneuve |
| 05–07 Jun 2026 | Monaco GP | Monte Carlo, Monaco | Circuit de Monaco |
| 12–14 Jun 2026 | Barcelona-Catalunya GP | Barcelona, Spain | Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya |
| 26–28 Jun 2026 | Austrian GP | Spielberg, Austria | Red Bull Ring |
| 03–05 Jul 2026 | British GP | Silverstone, United Kingdom | Silverstone Circuit |
| 17–19 Jul 2026 | Belgian GP | Spa-Francorchamp, Belgium | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps |
| 24–26 Jul 2026 | Hungarian GP | Budapest, Hungary | Hungaroring |
| 21–23 Aug 2026 | Dutch GP | Zandvoort, Netherlands | Circuit Zandvoort |
| 04–06 Sep 2026 | Italian GP | Monza, Italy | Autodromo Nazionale Monza |
| 11–13 Sep 2026 | Spanish GP | Madrid, Spain | Madring new |
| 25–27 Sep 2026 | Azerbaijan GP | Baku, Azerbaijan | Baku City Circuit |
| 09–11 Oct 2026 | Singapore GP | Marina Bay, Singapore | Marina Bay Street Circuit |
| 23–25 Oct 2026 | United States GP | Austin (Texas), USA | Circuit of the Americas |
| 30 October–1 November 2026 | Mexican GP | Mexico City, Mexico | Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez |
| 06–08 Nov 2026 | Brazilian GP | São Paulo, Brazil | Interlagos |
| 19–21 Nov 2026 | Las Vegas GP | Las Vegas (Nevada), USA | Las Vegas Strip Circuit |
| 27–29 Nov 2026 | Qatar GP | Lusail, Qatar | Lusail International Circuit |
| 04–06 Dec 2026 | Abu Dhabi GP | Abu Dhabi, UAE | Yas Marina Circuit |
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