Formula One has announced the Spanish Grand Prix will move from Barcelona to Madrid from the 2026 season onwards.
The race – which has been held at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya since 1991 – will move to the Spanish capital on a deal which runs until 2035, with Madrid having last staged the event in 1981.
It will take place at a new 3.4-mile circuit around the Ifema exhibition centre, taking in 20 corners with both street-circuit and road-course sections.
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F1 said the move will make the Spanish Grand Prix one of the most accessible races on the calendar, as the sport looks to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2030.
F1 president and chief executive officer Stefano Domenicali said: “It’s great news for Formula one as it shows once again that there is strong appetite around the world for our sport.
Madrid to host the Spanish Grand Prix from 2026! 🇪🇸
Featuring a brand-new circuit located in the city of Madrid!
Here’s all you need to know 👇#F1 @IFEMA pic.twitter.com/KHucpnlDZV
— Formula 1 (@F1) January 23, 2024
“At a moment where Europe is perceived to be a place that is not ready to invest in our sport, Madrid and others are showing it is.
“Madrid is an incredible city with amazing sporting and cultural heritage and today’s announcement begins an exciting new chapter for F1 in Spain.”
As part of Tuesday’s announcement, F1 said 110,000 people would be able to attend Madrid’s first stagings of the race under the deal, with the capacity set to increase to 140,000 within the first half of the city’s contract.
Domenicali also added that F1 remains in discussions about the possibility of keeping Barcelona on the calendar, saying the potential existed for the city to host a race in addition to Madrid.
