The big new feature of the 2026 calendar of Formula 1 This will mark the arrival of a second Grand Prix in Spain. In addition to the traditional Barcelona race, scheduled for June 12-14, the Formula 1 circus will travel for the first time to the streets of Madrid on the new Madring circuit from September 11-13.

Stretching 5,47 km and located around the IFEMA exhibition center, this 20-turn circuit is designed with a capacity of 140,000 spectators per day. The event promises to generate an economic impact of approximately €450 million for the city, making it a major event for the Spanish capital. As such, initiatives for fans are planned in the city center.

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All of this, however, poses a logistical problem, as the dates of the Madrid Grand Prix coincide with the finish of the Vuelta a España cycling race. The third Grand Tour of the season, after the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France, is scheduled to start on August 22, 2026, from the Principality of Monaco and finish three weeks later, on September 13 (the day of the Grand Prix), after a stage through France. Since 1994, when it switched to a three-week format (from two weeks previously), the Vuelta has traditionally concluded with a final stage in the streets of Madrid.

Granada is expected to host the finish of the Tour of Spain cycling race.

The simultaneous occurrence of two major sporting events that draw large crowds inevitably leads to logistical incompatibilities. This is especially true of the most recent edition of the Vuelta a España, won by the Dane Jonas Vingegaard, which was marred by numerous pro-Palestinian demonstrations, resulting in several stages being neutralized or modified, with the Madrid stage even being cancelled.

Faced with the presence of Formula 1, the organizers of the Vuelta a España considered a backup plan for the 2026 season finish. The idea was to relocate the final days of the race to the Canary Islands. Initially in favor, the regional government ultimately decided against hosting the finish due to the presence of the Israel-Premier Tech team in the peloton. Indeed, it was this team’s participation that sparked roadside protests this year. Even though the team has promised to change its name for the next season, this remains insufficient for the local authorities.

According to the Spanish media outlet Cadena SarIt is finally in Granada that the final weekend of the 2026 Tour of Spain should take place.

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