Melbourne will host the Formula 1 season opener at the Australian Grand Prix 2026 on 5-8 March next year.
Melbourne will once again host the first race of the Formula 1 calendar, marking another year as the traditional season opener. The Formula 1 Qatar Airways Australian Grand Prix 2026 will see significant changes to the grid with two new teams making their debut at Albert Park.
The Cadillac Formula 1 Team will join as the 11th team on the grid, while the Audi F1 Team will debut as both a team and power unit manufacturer through their acquisition of current team Sauber. These additions are expected to trigger driver movements during the European summer break.
Formula 1 season opener in Melbourne
- Thursday 5 to Sunday 8 March 2026
- Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne
- Season opening race
- Ticket sales information to be released in coming months
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around Melbourne here.
Australian driver Oscar Piastri will be a key focus at the 2026 race, currently leading the driver standings ahead of McLaren teammate Lando Norris. Piastri is experiencing his most successful Formula 1 season to date.
The 2025 Australian Grand Prix set a new attendance record with an estimated 465,498 spectators at Albert Park, surpassing previous records from 2022, 2023 and 2024. The event expanded beyond the circuit with the inaugural F1 Melbourne Fan Festival, a free event featuring driver appearances and live race viewing.
“This year’s Grand Prix was bigger and better than ever. Not just in terms of the record attendance at Albert Park, but new events like the F1 Melbourne Fan Festival that helped make the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix one of the most memorable in recent years,” sports minister Steve Dimopoulos said.
“The Allan Labor Government is excited to lock in the dates for next year’s race and get to work on another unforgettable event that brings even more visitors from around the world to Melbourne.”
“The Formula 1 calendar announcement is always an exciting moment, and in the coming weeks we will be sharing on-sale dates for tickets to the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix 2026, which we know will be eagerly anticipated,” Australian Grand Prix Corporation CEO, Travis Auld added.
“There is something special about being the first race of the season, and we’re looking forward to sharing that with hundreds of thousands of fans once again in 2026.”
A constantly evolving music lineup
The 2025 Australian Grand Prix featured a significant music component through the Crown Lakeside Festival, which ran alongside the racing weekend with performances included in Grand Prix ticket prices.
UK dance music legend Fatboy Slim headlined the Sunday programme, closing out race day with a DJ set featuring signature tracks including Right Here Right Now and Praise You. The three-day music lineup also included Australian artists Tones and I, The Living End, Spiderbait, Baker Boy and Anna Lunoe performing against Melbourne’s city skyline backdrop.
Friday featured The Living End and Spiderbait, Saturday showcased Tones and I alongside Baker Boy, while Sunday concluded with Fatboy Slim and Anna Lunoe.
F1 Melbourne Fan Festival likely to return
The 2025 F1 Melbourne Fan Festival transformed Melbourne Park Oval into a motorsport hub during the five-day event, providing free access to Formula 1 experiences for families unable to secure tickets to the sold-out weekend races. The festival featured multiple superscreens broadcasting live coverage from Albert Park, ensuring attendees could follow every practice, qualifying and race session.
Interactive experiences included Virtual Driver Selfies, F1 Blast Lane activities and close encounters with an iconic Formula 1 show car. Between race sessions, festival-goers enjoyed live interviews and Q&A sessions with drivers, plus appearances from sports and entertainment personalities. Food and beverage vendors operated throughout the festival grounds.
The Victorian government positioned the free festival as an accessible alternative for families during cost-of-living pressures. The state’s tourism minister highlighted Melbourne’s status as a major events destination, noting the city’s unique combination of international sporting events including Grand Slam tennis, Formula 1 and upcoming NFL games.
Australian Grand Prix Corporation officials expressed enthusiasm for expanding the Grand Prix experience beyond Albert Park, describing the festival as an extension of the circuit’s offerings that helped take over Melbourne during race week. The festival’s success in 2025 may influence whether similar free events accompany future Australian Grand Prix weekends, though no confirmation has been provided for 2026.
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