The 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix date has been officially rescheduled, with Formula 1 confirming that the race in Baku will now take place on Saturday, September 26.
This adjustment comes in response to a formal request from the Azerbaijan government and race organisers to avoid a clash with the country’s Remembrance Day, a national day of mourning marking the losses suffered in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
In a statement, Formula 1 explained, “Formula 1 and the FIA have agreed to move the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix from Sunday 27th September to Saturday 26th to accommodate a national day.” This shift ensures the Baku event respects local customs and enables fans and teams to observe the occasion.
With this change, the entire Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend at the Baku City Circuit will be brought forward by a day. Media day now takes place on Wednesday, with the first two practice sessions following on Thursday.
Friday will host the final practice and qualifying, before the Grand Prix itself is held on Saturday. Notably, this will be the 17th round of the 2026 F1 season and falls between the brand-new Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid and the celebrated Singapore night race.
The decision to move Baku’s race is not unprecedented for Formula 1, as Saturday races have occurred in the past—most recently with the Las Vegas Grand Prix and with date tweaks in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain to accommodate Ramadan.
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For the 2026 campaign, the adjustment also has minimal logistical impact, as Baku stands alone on the schedule without a back-to-back race on either side.
Azerbaijan’s Remembrance Day falls on September 27 and is observed across the country to honour those lost in the recent conflict, so the move is being praised as a sign of F1’s respect for its host nations’ traditions.
Pre-Season Testing and a New Era for Formula 1
The announcement of the Baku date shift comes alongside confirmation of the expanded pre-season testing schedule for 2026, giving teams extra time to prepare for the introduction of sweeping new regulations. Teams will have their first opportunity to run the next-generation cars at a private, five-day test in Barcelona from January 26-30, an event closed to the public.
This will be followed by two official tests in Bahrain, scheduled for February 11-13 and February 18-20. The longer and earlier testing programme is designed to help teams adjust to F1’s new engine and chassis rules, which include 100 percent sustainable fuels and a move toward greater electrification.
Formula 1 president Stefano Domenicali expressed excitement about the new era, saying, “2026 will be a new era for Formula 1 where we will witness a brand-new set of regulations for our sport, the cars and the engines that will be powered by 100 percent sustainable fuel.” The arrival of major automotive brands such as Audi, Cadillac, and Ford further underscores the significance of the changes to come.
What Fans Can Expect from Baku 2026
With the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix now scheduled for Saturday, fans can expect an action-packed weekend as the sport continues to evolve. The event remains a centerpiece of the F1 calendar, known for dramatic racing at the Baku City Circuit, and now gains added meaning through its alignment with a national day of remembrance.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem noted, “With 24 Grand Prix across five continents, the season truly reflects the global nature of our community, while the improved geographical flow of the calendar shows our joint commitment to making the championship more efficient and sustainable.”
As F1 prepares for a year of transformation, the respectful scheduling of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix is just one sign of how the sport is adapting to a changing world while staying true to its international roots.
