Melbourne Announces Full 2026 Australian Grand Prix Schedule

Melbourne's promoters have released the official timetable for the 2026 Australian Grand Prix, the season‑opening race, covering practice, qualifying, sprint and feature sessions for F1, F2 and F3 from Friday to Sunday. The schedule starts a week earlier than 2025 and slots the event into a record‑heavy 30‑race season that includes six sprint weekends.

Why it matters:

• An earlier kickoff gives teams extra development time before the first Grand Prix.
• Consolidated slots for three championships turn Melbourne into a logistics hub for teams, media and fans.

The details:

• Friday – FP1 (F1) 02:30 CET / 12:30 Melbourne; F3 Qualifying 04:00 CET / 14:00 Melbourne; F2 Qualifying 04:55 CET / 14:55 Melbourne; FP2 (F1) 06:00 CET / 16:00 Melbourne
• Saturday – F3 Sprint 01:15 CET / 11:15 Melbourne; FP3 (F1) 02:30 CET / 12:30 Melbourne; F2 Sprint 04:10 CET / 14:10 Melbourne; F1 Qualifying 06:00 CET / 16:00 Melbourne; F3 Feature 22:50 CET / 08:50 Melbourne (Sun)
• Sunday – F2 Feature 01:25 CET / 11:25 Melbourne; Drivers’ Parade (F1) 03:00 CET / 13:00 Melbourne; Grand Prix (F1) 05:00 CET / 15:00 Melbourne

The big picture:

The 2026 calendar retains 24 Grand Prix weekends and adds six sprint events, delivering 30 races from March to December. Melbourne remains the curtain‑raiser, while Abu Dhabi will host the finale, creating a tightly packed schedule that tests performance and reliability.

What's next:

Teams will arrive at Albert Park for Friday’s FP1, with local fans eager to see Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. The published timetable now guides travel partners, broadcasters and ticketing platforms as the season opener approaches.