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F1 Austin 2026: Dates, tickets, schedule, and travel guide
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 United States Grand Prix, or F1 Austin 2026, happening from October 23 to 25, 2026, in Austin, Texas.
The F1 Austin 2026, also known as the United States Grand Prix or officially as the Formula 1 MSC Cruises United States Grand Prix 2026, takes place at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, from October 23 to 25, 2026. Fans can get an early start on October 22 with Grand PrixView Thursday, which features F1 ACADEMY, fan activations, and pit lane access.
With past race weekends attracting more than 400,000 spectators, the Austin Grand Prix has become one of the biggest F1 events in the US. In this guide, we cover everything you need to know for F1 Austin 2026, from the race schedule and tickets to getting to COTA, things to do, and how to stay connected during the race weekend.
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What is the F1 United States Grand Prix in Austin?
The United States Grand Prix in Austin is Formula 1’s annual race in the US, held at COTA every year since 2012. The event has become a major fixture on the F1 calendar, with a mix of high-speed racing, live entertainment, and fan activities that give the weekend a festival-like atmosphere both on and off the track.
What is the Grand PrixView Thursday?
The Grand PrixView Thursday is a new fourth day of the 2026 US Grand Prix weekend, held on October 22 at COTA. Designed as a more affordable, community-focused way to experience the circuit, the event gives fans a chance to explore the COTA campus before the main race weekend begins.
When is F1 Austin 2026?
The 2026 United States Grand Prix takes place from October 23 to 25 at COTA in Austin, Texas, with Grand PrixView Thursday on October 22. Here’s a look at the key F1 Austin 2026 dates, schedule, and session times across the race weekend.
| Date | Event | Austin (CDT) | US Eastern (EDT) | US Pacific (PDT) | UK (BST) | Sydney (AEDT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu., Oct. 22 | Grand PrixView Thursday | 11:30 a.m. | 12:30 p.m. | 9:30 a.m. | 5:30 p.m. | 3:30 a.m., Oct. 23 |
| Fri., Oct. 23 | Practice 1 | 12:30–1:30 p.m. | 1:30–2:30 p.m. | 10:30–11:30 a.m. | 6:30–7:30 p.m. | 5:30–6:30 a.m., Oct. 24 |
| Fri., Oct. 23 | Practice 2 | 4:00–5:00 p.m. | 5:00–6:00 p.m. | 2:00–3:00 p.m. | 10:00–11:00 p.m. | 9:00–10:00 a.m., Oct. 24 |
| Sat., Oct. 24 | Practice 3 | 12:30–1:30 p.m. | 1:30–2:30 p.m. | 10:30–11:30 a.m. | 6:30–7:30 p.m. | 5:30–6:30 a.m., Oct. 25 |
| Sat., Oct. 24 | Qualifying | 4:00–5:00 p.m. | 5:00–6:00 p.m. | 2:00–3:00 p.m. | 10:00–11:00 p.m. | 9:00–10:00 a.m., Oct. 25 |
| Sun., Oct. 25 | Race | 3:00 p.m. | 4:00 p.m. | 1:00 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | 8:00 a.m., Oct. 26 |
Where is F1 Austin held? Inside the Circuit of the Americas
The F1 United States Grand Prix takes place at Circuit of The Americas (COTA), a purpose-built motorsport venue in Austin, Texas. Designed by Hermann Tilke in collaboration with American architectural firm HKS, the circuit features a mix of fast corners, elevation changes, and long straights that create overtaking opportunities.
Its layout draws inspiration from several famous F1 circuits. Turns 3 to 6 echo Silverstone’s Maggotts-Becketts and Suzuka’s S Curves, while Turns 12 to 15 resemble Hockenheim’s stadium section. The steep uphill approach to Turn 1 is another defining feature of the track.
| Circuit detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Location | Austin, Texas |
| Circuit length | 5.513 km |
| No. of turns | 20 |
| No. of laps | 56 |
| Race distance | 308.405 km |
| Designer | Hermann Tilke and HKS |
| First F1 Grand Prix | 2012 |
| Fastest lap | 1:36.169 — Charles Leclerc (2019) |
COTA hosted its first F1 Grand Prix in 2012, marking the return of the United States Grand Prix after the 2007 Indianapolis race. More than 100,000 spectators attended the inaugural Austin event, where Lewis Hamilton took the win for McLaren.
F1 Austin 2026 tickets: Types and how to buy
You can buy official tickets for the F1 United States Grand Prix in Austin through Ticketmaster via the COTA website. Three-day GA Grounds Passes are issued as physical festival-style wristbands, while grandstand and hospitality tickets are digital and can be accessed through the mobile ticketing system. For digital tickets, screenshots are not allowed. You’d need to access them through your mobile wallet or ticketing account.
| Ticket type | Starting price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| 3-Day General Admission Grounds Pass | $450 | Three-day grounds access, on-track action, entertainment, and Super Stage Lawn access for the Friday and Saturday concerts |
| Grandstands and reserved seating | From $604.50+ | Reserved seating at various points around COTA, with options at Turns 1, 4, 15, 19, 9, and 12 |
| Single-day tickets | From $109.13+ | Friday practice, Saturday qualifying, or Sunday’s Grand Prix, depending on the ticket |
| Flex Pass | From $722.65+ | Choose from six premium grandstands and mix seating locations across the weekend |
| Premium Hospitality | From $3,780.50+ | Premium hospitality, food, drinks, track views, and race-weekend amenities |
| Atlassian Williams F1 Team Grandstand | From $747+ | Dedicated Turn 4 seating with premium track views and exclusive team fan benefits |
| Grand PrixView Thursday | $20 | Access to the October 22 event day; free for eligible three-day ticket and hospitality holders |
Note: Prices are current starting prices and are subject to change based on availability. Verify prices on COTA/Ticketmaster before buying.
All 3-Day General Admission wristbands are strictly nontransferable, while eligible digital tickets can be transferred through the ticket management system. Some tickets also offer Buy Now, Pay Later payment options.
A pre-purchased parking pass is required for vehicles parking on-site during race weekend, with prices starting at $52.
Getting to COTA
If you’re flying into Austin for the Grand Prix, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) is the closest airport to COTA. Once you land, Austin Airport WiFi can help you check directions, book a rideshare, or find your transportation options before heading to your hotel or the circuit.
You can also rent a car at the airport if you plan to drive during your stay. Make sure you check out our list of what to pack for your US trip so you don’t forget anything. If you’re already staying in Austin, you can reach COTA from downtown by shuttle, rideshare, or car.
Shuttle
COTA operates race-weekend shuttles from two locations:
- Downtown: Waterloo Park — From $49+
- Northeast: Travis County Expo Center — From $34+
Shuttles run continuously starting 60 minutes before gates open each day and use a dedicated bus lane with a drop-off area near the Grand Plaza gates. Children ages 3 and under ride free.
On Friday and Saturday, shuttles stop running 60 minutes after the music ends. On Sunday, the last inbound shuttle to COTA departs at 2:00 p.m., while the longest wait times typically occur between 9:30 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.
Rideshare
Uber and Lyft operate from the McAngus Road drop-off location during race weekend. COTA Boulevard is restricted to permitted vehicles and buses, so rideshare vehicles cannot access COTA Boulevard directly.
Driving
If you plan to drive to COTA, you’ll need a pre-purchased parking pass to park on-site. Check your parking pass for the designated lot and allow extra time for race-weekend traffic.
How to watch F1 Austin
You have two main options: attend the race at COTA for live trackside action, or watch from home through TV and streaming services.
For viewers in the US, F1 TV Premium, available through an Apple TV subscription, offers live coverage of practice, qualifying, and the Grand Prix on supported devices, including web, iOS, Android, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Chromecast.
Learn more about where to watch the F1 Austin Grand Prix in your home country.
What else happens during F1 weekend in Austin?
F1 weekend in Austin goes beyond the racing, with major concerts, fan zones, COTALAND, and other attractions at COTA, plus plenty to explore around the city. The 2026 entertainment lineup includes three headline performances:
- Friday, October 23: Maroon 5 performs at the Super Stage after F1 Practice.
- Saturday, October 24: Post Malone headlines the Super Stage after Qualifying.
- Sunday, October 25: Alesso performs at the Germania Insurance Amphitheater after the United States Grand Prix.
COTALAND, Austin’s newest theme park, is another option for visitors who want a break from the racing. It features rides of different intensities, perfect for families and people of all ages. COTALAND admission is sold separately.
Throughout the weekend, fans can also visit fan zones, food and entertainment areas, merchandise shops, and the Germania Insurance Super Stage Festival Lawn. Outside COTA, race week is a chance to experience Austin’s restaurants, live music, and nightlife.
Stay connected at F1 Austin with Holafly
With more than 400,000 fans converging on COTA, race weekend in Austin runs on your phone: checking live session times, finding your grandstand, and booking a rideshare back from the McAngus Road drop-off. An eSIM for the USA from Holafly keeps you online from the moment you land, with unlimited data, speeds up to 5G, and 24/7 customer support. Set it up before you leave home and it activates when you touch down at Austin-Bergstrom, so there’s no SIM card to swap at the airport and no roaming bill waiting for you back home.
When the checkered flag drops on Sunday and your main plan is running low, Always On: 1 GB of monthly backup data keeps you covered on the way back to the airport. Just keep your Holafly eSIM installed and the 1 GB refreshes automatically every month, at no extra cost, so you can still call a ride or pull up your boarding pass after a long day trackside.
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FAQs about F1 Austin 2026
Three-day General Admission tickets are priced at $450 for the 2026 United States Grand Prix. Single-day tickets start at $109.13+ for Friday, while grandstand, Flex Pass, and hospitality prices vary by ticket type and availability.
Yes. If you plan to return later the same day, scan your digital ticket when you leave. If you leave without scanning out, your ticket may remain marked as in use and prevent re-entry.
It depends on what you want from the experience. TheMain Grandstand offers views of the start-finish straight, Turn 1 provides views across the circuit, while the Turn 15/16 Stadium Section puts you close to some of the most exciting racing action.
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