When is the 2026 Las Vegas Grand Prix?
The 2026 Las Vegas Grand Prix takes over the Strip from Thursday, November 19, through Saturday, November 21. This is a three-night Formula 1 weekend, not the usual Friday-through-Sunday setup seen at most stops on the calendar.
Here is the headline number: The race starts at 11 p.m. Pacific Time on Saturday, November 21. Practice begins Thursday night, while final practice and qualifying take place Friday night. The complete session schedule is published on the official Formula 1 Las Vegas race page.
That late start is no typo. Las Vegas is playing the night shift. By the time the lights go out, the Strip will be glowing and much of the East Coast will already be into Sunday morning.
Las Vegas is Round 22 of the 24-race season. It opens the championship’s final triple-header, followed by Qatar from November 27 through 29 and Abu Dhabi from December 4 through 6. If either title fight remains close, Vegas could carry heavyweight stakes.
Full 2026 Las Vegas Grand Prix schedule
All times below are listed in Pacific Time, the local time in Las Vegas. Formula 1 can revise session times if operational or safety needs require a change, so fans should check the official schedule again before heading to the circuit.
Thursday, November 19
- Practice 1: 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. PT
- Practice 2: 11 p.m. to midnight PT
Thursday is setup night. Teams get their first competitive read on grip, tire behavior and balance around the street circuit. That matters in Las Vegas, where long straights reward speed but the braking zones can punish a car that is not planted.
The second session finishes at midnight. Fans attending both practices should prepare for a long evening and confirm the entrance and exit route assigned to their ticket zone.
Friday, November 20
- Practice 3: 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. PT
- Qualifying: 11 p.m. to midnight PT
Friday night sets the starting grid. Practice 3 offers one final hour for adjustments before qualifying turns up the pressure. The Las Vegas circuit combines major straight-line speed with tight corners and heavy braking, so drivers need commitment without getting greedy. One lockup can wreck a lap in a hurry.
Qualifying begins at 11 p.m. locally. That means a midnight finish if the session runs on schedule. For television viewers in the Eastern time zone, qualifying starts at 2 a.m. Saturday.
Saturday, November 21
- Race: 11 p.m. PT
- Distance: 50 laps, 309.958 kilometers
This is the main event. The Saturday-night race covers 50 laps of the 6.201-kilometer, or roughly 3.85-mile, Las Vegas Strip Circuit. The 17-turn course runs along Las Vegas Boulevard, Harmon Avenue, Koval Lane and Sands Avenue, with the start line at Grand Prix Plaza near Harmon and Koval.
The 11 p.m. start translates to 2 a.m. Sunday in the Eastern time zone. Locals get a Saturday-night showdown. East Coast fans may need strong coffee and a playoff-level commitment to the couch.
How can fans watch the race in the United States?
Apple TV is the exclusive U.S. home of Formula 1 in 2026. Subscribers can watch practice, qualifying and the Grand Prix live or on demand. The service also offers English and Spanish commentary, additional live feeds, onboard coverage, timing data and multiview options on compatible devices.
F1 TV Premium is available in the United States through Apple TV and is included for Apple TV subscribers at no additional cost. That is a major change from previous Las Vegas race weekends, when ESPN carried Formula 1 in the United States.
Because the sessions run so late, the on-demand option could be valuable. Still, sports are better live. Avoid the group chat, silence the alerts and settle in.
What should fans know about the circuit?
The modern Las Vegas Grand Prix debuted in 2023, making the 2026 event the fourth race on the current Strip circuit. Formula 1 also raced in Las Vegas under the Caesars Palace Grand Prix name in 1981 and 1982, but those events used a different course.
The current street circuit is built for speed. Its long run along Las Vegas Boulevard gives the cars room to stretch, while the corners around the rest of the lap create overtaking opportunities and hard braking demands. Formula 1 compares its average speeds with Monza, one of the fastest tracks on the calendar.
A new generation of Formula 1 cars
The 2026 season also introduces a new technical era. Formula 1 and the FIA entered the year with revised car and power-unit regulations, along with advanced sustainable fuel. That makes setup work especially important at a circuit with Las Vegas’ unusual mix of long straights, cool nighttime conditions and low-speed corners.
Do not assume the competitive order from earlier Las Vegas races will carry over untouched. New rules can scramble strengths, expose weaknesses and turn one clean qualifying lap into a jackpot.
Tickets and race-weekend planning
Tickets are available through the official Las Vegas Grand Prix ticket page, with general admission, grandstand and hospitality options among the listed products. Prices and inventory can change, so buyers should review the exact location, included days and access details before purchasing.
The promoter says the event will also host F1 Academy, the all-female single-seater series. Additional entertainment and fan-zone programming may be announced separately, so the Formula 1 session list should not be treated as the complete venue timetable.
Plan around your ticket zone
This is not a normal Strip weekend. The circuit uses public roads, and pedestrian routes, vehicle access and entrances can vary by zone. The event’s official guest FAQ says ticket holders will receive zone-specific information by email and encourages attendees to use the F1 Las Vegas app for wayfinding.
- Check your entrance: Do not assume the closest point on a map is an accessible gate.
- Allow extra time: Street closures and controlled crossings can make a short-looking trip take longer.
- Dress for the full night: Desert temperatures can drop after sunset, especially during sessions that run to midnight or later.
- Charge your phone: Mobile tickets, maps and event updates all depend on it.
- Confirm the schedule: Recheck official times before leaving your hotel or home.
The bottom line for Las Vegas race weekend
The 2026 Las Vegas Grand Prix follows a clean three-night rhythm: practice Thursday, qualifying Friday and the race Saturday. Every Formula 1 session begins after dark, and the Grand Prix itself launches at 11 p.m. Pacific Time.
That is late, loud and completely on brand for this town. The Strip gets the lights. Formula 1 brings the speed. Vegas handles the rest.
