The 2026 Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix will operate on a significantly altered schedule, with the main race now set for Saturday, September 26. This marks a departure from the traditional Sunday race slot for the Baku City Circuit event.
The change was implemented at the request of the organisers to avoid a clash with Azerbaijan’s national Day of Remembrance, which is observed annually on September 27. This day honours military personnel killed during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Consequently, the entire Grand Prix weekend schedule has been brought forward by one day. Media day activities commenced on Wednesday, September 23, with practice and qualifying sessions now scheduled for Thursday and Friday.
Free Practice 1 and 2 will take place on Thursday, September 24. The first session is scheduled from 12:30 to 13:30 local Baku time, followed by the second from 16:00 to 17:00.
Friday, September 25, will host Free Practice 3 from 12:30 to 13:30, leading into the crucial Qualifying session from 16:00 to 17:00 local time. This will determine the starting grid for Saturday’s race.
The 51-lap Azerbaijan Grand Prix itself is scheduled to commence at 15:00 local Baku time on Saturday, September 26. This translates to 12:00 BST.
This arrangement makes the Azerbaijan Grand Prix one of two Saturday races on the 2026 Formula 1 calendar. The Las Vegas Grand Prix is the other event scheduled to run on a Saturday local time.
FIA Formula 2 will also feature an expanded programme in Baku from September 24 to 26. This includes practice and two qualifying sessions on Thursday, followed by the Sprint Race and Feature Race 1 on Friday.
Feature Race 2 for Formula 2 is then scheduled for Saturday morning, preceding the Formula 1 Grand Prix.
The Baku City Circuit, which debuted in F1 in 2016 as the European Grand Prix, is known for its combination of high-speed sections and tight, technical corners around the city’s historic core.
