The Belgian Grand Prix takes place from 17 to 19 July 2026 at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, one of the most revered tracks in all of motorsport. At 7.004 km, Spa is the longest circuit on the current Formula 1 calendar, threading through the forests and valleys of the Ardennes region in eastern Belgium. Its combination of high-speed straights, dramatic elevation changes, and unpredictable weather make it a perennial favourite among drivers and fans alike.
What to Expect
The 2026 Belgian Grand Prix is the thirteenth round of the championship and arrives at a pivotal point in the season. Under the new rotation agreement between Spa-Francorchamps and the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Belgium hosts F1 in odd-numbered years and also in 2026, while Barcelona takes over in subsequent even-numbered years. This makes every Belgian Grand Prix feel like a special occasion for fans of this legendary venue.
Mercedes continue to lead the charge in the 2026 constructors’ battle, with Kimi Antonelli and George Russell occupying the top two positions in the drivers’ championship. The sweeping, high-speed nature of Spa has traditionally rewarded strong power units and aerodynamic efficiency, which could play into the hands of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will look to build on Piastri’s victory here in 2025, when the Australian won a dramatic wet-dry race.
The circuit itself features 19 corners across its 7.004 km lap. The legendary Eau Rouge-Raidillon complex, where drivers plunge downhill before immediately climbing through a blind, compression-laden left-right sequence with a 17% gradient, remains one of the most exhilarating passages in world motorsport. Pouhon, Blanchimont, and the Bus Stop chicane provide further challenges across a lap that typically takes around 1 minute 46 seconds in race conditions.
How to Watch
The race starts at 15:00 local time (CEST/UTC+2) on Sunday 19 July. In the United Kingdom, Sky Sports F1 has exclusive live coverage. In the United States, Apple TV is the sole broadcaster following its landmark deal from 2026, with F1 TV included at no extra cost. Belgian viewers can watch on RTBF (French-speaking) and VTM/Play Sports (Dutch-speaking). F1 TV Pro provides live streaming across most other territories worldwide.
Venue and Tickets
Spa-Francorchamps is located near the town of Stavelot in the Wallonia region of Belgium, approximately 130 km south-east of Brussels. The circuit was originally conceived in 1921 as a 14.9 km triangular course on public roads connecting the villages of Francorchamps, Malmedy, and Stavelot. It has been progressively shortened and modernised over the decades, with the current 7.004 km layout retaining the character and challenge of the original while meeting modern safety standards.
Tickets are available through the official Spa Grand Prix website at spagrandprix.com, with options ranging from general admission to reserved grandstand seating. Popular grandstands include Gold 1 and Gold 6 (offering views of Eau Rouge-Raidillon), Silver 1 (overlooking the start-finish straight), and the Fanzone grandstand. Hospitality packages provide premium access with catering and pit lane views. Given the event’s enduring popularity and its rotation schedule, demand for tickets is expected to be particularly high.