The Monaco Grand Prix takes place on 5 to 7 June 2026 on the streets of Monte Carlo, the 83rd running of what is widely regarded as the most prestigious race in Formula 1. One of the three events that make up motorsport’s Triple Crown, alongside the Indianapolis 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Monaco Grand Prix is the race every driver wants to win and the event that defines the glamour and spectacle of Formula 1.
What is the Monaco Grand Prix?
The Monaco Grand Prix is a Formula 1 World Championship race held annually on the streets of the Principality of Monaco. First run on 14 April 1929, it predates the Formula 1 World Championship itself, which did not begin until 1950. The race is unique in several respects: it is the only Grand Prix that does not meet the FIA’s standard minimum race distance of 305 km, instead running 78 laps of the 3.337 km circuit for a total distance of 260.286 km. It is also the slowest race on the calendar in terms of average speed, yet one of the most physically and mentally demanding for drivers, who must maintain millimetre precision for nearly two hours on a circuit lined with unforgiving barriers.
The Monaco Grand Prix holds a place in sporting culture that extends far beyond motorsport. The race weekend attracts royalty, celebrities, and the global elite to the harbourside principality, and the images of Formula 1 cars threading through Monaco’s narrow streets, past the Casino, through the tunnel, and around the harbour are among the most iconic in world sport. Together with the Indianapolis 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, it forms the Triple Crown of Motorsport, a distinction that only Graham Hill has achieved.
When is the Monaco Grand Prix?
The 2026 Monaco Grand Prix takes place across a three-day weekend. Free Practice 1 and 2 are held on Friday 5 June, with Free Practice 3 and Qualifying on Saturday 6 June. The Grand Prix is held on Sunday 7 June at 15:00 local time (CEST, UTC+2), which is 14:00 BST for UK viewers, 09:00 EDT for those on the east coast of the United States, and 23:00 AEST for Australian audiences.
The broader race week begins on Wednesday 4 June with support race activities. Thursday has historically been the first day of F1 track action in Monaco, but the event shifted to the standard Friday-Sunday format in recent years. The Porsche Supercup and other support series run alongside the Formula 1 programme throughout the weekend.
Where is the Monaco Grand Prix?
The Circuit de Monaco is a temporary street circuit threaded through the streets of Monte Carlo and La Condamine in the Principality of Monaco, winding around the famous harbour, Port Hercules. At 3.337 km (2.074 miles) with 19 turns, it is the shortest lap on the Formula 1 calendar.
The circuit is defined by its dramatic contrasts. Cars accelerate through the tunnel section at speeds approaching 260 km/h before braking hard for the harbourside chicane. The Fairmont Hairpin (formerly the Loews or Grand Hotel Hairpin) is the slowest corner in Formula 1, with cars decelerating to approximately 50 km/h. The elevation changes are significant, with the circuit climbing from the harbour up to the Casino Square area before descending again through Mirabeau and the Grand Hotel Hairpin.
Monaco is one of the smallest countries in the world, measuring just 2.02 square kilometres, and the circuit occupies a significant portion of its road network. The principality is accessible by train from Nice (approximately 20 minutes), by helicopter from Nice Cote d’Azur Airport, or by road along the coastal corniche routes. Many visitors arrive by yacht, with the harbour providing a unique vantage point for the race.
Key Contenders
The 2026 season has seen Mercedes emerge as the team to beat under the new technical regulations, with Kimi Antonelli and George Russell sharing victories across the opening rounds. Antonelli, at 19 years old, has already won multiple Grands Prix and leads the World Championship, while Russell demonstrated his qualifying prowess with victory at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
Charles Leclerc carries the hopes of the principality as the only Monegasque driver on the grid. He ended decades of heartbreak by winning his home race in 2024, becoming the first Monegasque winner in Monaco since Louis Chiron in 1931. Now racing alongside Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari, Leclerc will be determined to add another home victory to his record.
Lando Norris won the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix for McLaren and set the first ever sub-70-second qualifying lap around the circuit (1:09.954), a landmark achievement. Alongside teammate Oscar Piastri, Norris brings McLaren’s considerable Monaco pedigree to the 2026 race. McLaren are the most successful constructor at Monaco with 15 victories.
Max Verstappen, seeking to add Monaco to his extensive collection of race wins, and Lewis Hamilton, a three-time Monaco winner now racing for Ferrari, round out the list of principal contenders. The tight, technical nature of the Monaco circuit can also produce surprise results, with driver skill and qualifying position carrying even greater weight than at other venues.
How to Watch the Monaco Grand Prix
The Monaco Grand Prix is one of the most widely broadcast sporting events in the world. In the United Kingdom, Sky Sports F1 provides live coverage of all sessions across the weekend, with highlights available on Channel 4. In the United States, Apple TV holds exclusive broadcasting rights for the 2026 Formula 1 season, priced at $12.99 per month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers.
In Canada, TSN and RDS (French language) provide live coverage, with CTV also broadcasting selected sessions. Australian viewers can watch on Fox Sports and its streaming platform Kayo Sports. F1 TV Pro offers live streaming in supported global markets, covering all practice, qualifying, and race sessions. Free-to-air coverage is available in select European countries including Austria (ServusTV), Belgium (RTBF), and Luxembourg (RTL Zwee).
The Monaco Grand Prix typically attracts one of the largest global television audiences of the F1 season, with hundreds of millions of viewers tuning in worldwide.
History of the Monaco Grand Prix
The Monaco Grand Prix was first held on 14 April 1929, organised by Antony Noghes under the auspices of the Automobile Club de Monaco, with Prince Louis II granting permission to race on public roads. William Grover-Williams won the inaugural race in a Bugatti Type 35B. The race became part of the inaugural Formula 1 World Championship in 1950 and has been held almost every year since, with notable absences in 2020 (cancelled due to the pandemic) being the first cancellation since 1954.
Graham Hill earned the nickname “Mr Monaco” after winning five times in the 1960s. Ayrton Senna surpassed that record with six victories, including five consecutive wins from 1989 to 1993. Senna’s 1984 performance in the rain, when he charged through the field in an underpowered Toleman to challenge race leader Alain Prost before the race was controversially stopped, is regarded as one of the greatest drives in Formula 1 history. His 1992 defensive masterclass, holding off a faster Nigel Mansell for the final five laps, remains one of Monaco’s defining images.
Other iconic moments include Jack Brabham’s last-lap crash at the final corner while leading in 1970, gifting victory to Jochen Rindt, and Olivier Panis’s shock victory from 14th on the grid in 1996. More recently, Charles Leclerc’s emotional 2024 victory as the first Monegasque winner since 1931 wrote a new chapter in the race’s storied history. Since 1950, over 5,676 racing laps have been completed at Monaco, with a finish rate of just 53%, testament to the circuit’s unforgiving nature.
Tickets and Attendance
The Monaco Grand Prix offers several categories of viewing. Grandstand tickets for race day range from approximately 500 euros to over 1,100 euros for premium positions. The most sought-after grandstands include those at the Sainte Devote corner (Turn 1), the Swimming Pool complex, and the harbourside section with views of the chicane.
Premium terrace hospitality, located in buildings overlooking the circuit, ranges from 3,500 to 5,500 euros and typically includes food, drink, and elevated viewing positions. Trackside yacht hospitality in the harbour starts from approximately 890 euros for basic packages, with premium yacht experiences costing upwards of 3,500 euros. The Paddock Club, Formula 1’s official hospitality programme, offers the highest tier of access with prices to match.
Unlike most Grands Prix, there is no general admission at Monaco. All spectators require a ticket for a specific grandstand, terrace, or hospitality area. Tickets are available through the Automobile Club de Monaco (acm.mc), the official Formula 1 ticketing platform, and authorised resellers. Given the limited capacity of the street circuit, tickets for the most popular areas sell out months in advance, and early booking is strongly recommended.
For those unable to secure trackside access, watching from the hillside above the circuit or from a balcony in one of Monaco’s hotels offers alternative vantage points, though these come at a significant premium during race week.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Monaco Grand Prix start?
The race starts at 15:00 CEST (14:00 BST, 09:00 EDT) on Sunday 7 June 2026.
Where is the Monaco Grand Prix held?
On the Circuit de Monaco, a street circuit through the streets of Monte Carlo and La Condamine in the Principality of Monaco.
How can I watch the Monaco Grand Prix?
Sky Sports F1 (UK), Apple TV (US), TSN/CTV (Canada), Fox Sports/Kayo (Australia), and F1 TV Pro in supported global markets.
Who won the Monaco Grand Prix last year?
Lando Norris won the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix for McLaren, with Charles Leclerc finishing second for Ferrari.
Is there general admission at Monaco?
No. All spectators require a ticket for a specific grandstand, terrace, or hospitality area. There is no general admission access to the Monaco Grand Prix.
Who has won the most Monaco Grands Prix?
Ayrton Senna holds the record with six victories, followed by Graham Hill and Michael Schumacher with five each.