F1 and the FIA have officially announced the schedule for pre-season testing ahead of the 2026 World Championship, marking the start of a new technical era with lighter, more compact cars and fully revamped power units. In addition, a change to the 2026 F1 calendar has also been confirmed.
There will be three testing sessions, held across Spain and Bahrain, and spread over two continents in less than a month.
A private test in Barcelona will take place from January 26 to 30 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, with no public access.
The first official test will be held in Bahrain from February 11 to 13 at the Bahrain International Circuit.
The second official Bahrain test is scheduled from February 18 to 20, again in Sakhir.
The decision to host two back-to-back sessions in Bahrain reflects the now-established tradition of preparing for the season in the Middle East, supported by the region’s stable weather and high-level technical infrastructure at the Sakhir circuit.
Calendar Update: Azerbaijan GP Date Moved
In its statement, Formula 1 also confirmed a change to the 2026 calendar: the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, originally set for Sunday, September 27, will now be held on Saturday, September 26. The change was made to accommodate a national holiday requested by local organizers. All teams have been notified, and the entire race weekend will shift forward by one day.
The 2026 Formula 1 season will mark a major turning point in technical and regulatory terms, with the debut of the new-generation cars and a completely overhauled engine and chassis rulebook. For this reason, the pre-season testing sessions will be closely followed by teams and fans alike, all eager to catch the first glimpse of the competitive order in Formula 1’s new era.
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