Formula 1 heads to Spain this weekend for the inaugural Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the historic Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
The event arrives following a significant change to the F1 calendar. With the Spanish Grand Prix now taking place in Madrid, Barcelona has been awarded its own race, ensuring the famous circuit remains part of Formula 1’s future. The newly named Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix will be held on an alternating basis with the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps through to the 2032 season.
Under the agreement, Barcelona will host the event during even-numbered years, while the Belgian circuit will take its place in odd-numbered seasons. This arrangement allows both iconic venues to maintain a presence on the Formula 1 calendar despite increasing demand for race slots around the world.
Fans can look forward to a 66-lap race around the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Sunday. The Grand Prix is scheduled to begin at 3:00 pm local time in Barcelona, which corresponds to 2:00 pm in the United Kingdom.
The race weekend is expected to attract considerable attention, not only because it is the first edition of the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix but also due to a scheduling overlap with one of motorsport’s most prestigious endurance events, the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The famous endurance race begins at 4:00 pm local time on Saturday and runs continuously for 24 hours before concluding at 4:00 pm on Sunday. As a result, motorsport fans will have to balance watching both major events during a packed weekend of racing action.
Teams will begin preparations on Friday with two practice sessions. Free Practice 1 gets underway at 12:30 pm local time and runs for one hour, giving drivers their first opportunity to gather data and fine-tune their setups. Later in the day, Free Practice 2 takes place from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
The final practice session is scheduled for Saturday morning from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. Attention will then turn to qualifying, which starts at 3:00 pm and will determine the grid order for Sunday’s race.
With the championship battle continuing to intensify, every session could prove crucial as teams seek to maximise performance at one of Formula 1’s most familiar venues. The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has long been regarded as a true test of a car’s overall capabilities, featuring a mix of high-speed corners, technical sections, and demanding aerodynamic challenges.
2026 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix Schedule
Session Date Time
Free Practice 1 Friday, June 12 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Free Practice 2 Friday, June 12 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Free Practice 3 Saturday, June 13 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Qualifying Saturday, June 13 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Race Sunday, June 14 3:00 pm local time (Barcelona)
The inaugural Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix promises to be one of the highlights of the season as Formula 1 returns to one of its most iconic circuits under a new race identity.
