Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has confirmed the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix will proceed on November 29 2026, and December 6 2026. Lusail International Circuit and Yas Marina Circuit will retain their scheduled positions as the final two rounds of the season.
Domenicali delivered the confirmation during the race weekend in Malaysia on October 3 2026. Formula 1 had continued assessing its closing rounds following wider regional tension and adjustments elsewhere on the calendar.
“Based on the information we have, everything is confirmed for us to stay in Qatar and Abu Dhabi,” Domenicali told Canal Plus.
Domenicali also confirmed that 99 per cent of tickets for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix had already sold. He described preparations as being in order and said teams and drivers continued receiving operational updates.
Abu Dhabi will stage its race weekend from December 4 to December 6 at Yas Marina Circuit. Formula 1 schedules the 58-lap Grand Prix for December 6, covering 306.188 kilometres around the 5.281-kilometre circuit.
Yas Marina enters the 2026 finale after record attendance during the previous season. Ethara recorded 339,000 visitors across Abu Dhabi Grand Prix race week in 2025, up 7 per cent from 317,000 in 2024.
Yas Marina Circuit itself received 203,000 spectators during the 2025 event. International visitors accounted for 231,000 people, representing 68 per cent of total race week attendance.
Formula 1 later named Ethara its 2025 Promoter of the Year. Formula 1 management selected the Abu Dhabi organiser following its delivery of the season finale, hospitality products and fan programming.
Qatar will host the preceding round at Lusail International Circuit from November 27 to November 29. Formula 1 schedules the race for November 29 across 57 laps and 308.611 kilometres. Lusail measures 5.419 kilometres per lap.
Formula 1 originally positioned Qatar and Abu Dhabi as consecutive closing events when it published its 2026 calendar. Schedule adjustments during the season generated uncertainty over the final rounds, while organisers continued preparations for the Gulf events.
Imola in Italy had featured in contingency discussions for the closing phase of the championship. Domenicali’s latest confirmation keeps both Gulf races in their existing calendar positions.
Teams will travel to Qatar after the Las Vegas Grand Prix, scheduled for November 21. Abu Dhabi follows one week after Qatar and retains its position as the championship finale.
Kimi Antonelli enters the closing portion of the season with a significant advantage in the Drivers’ Championship. Formula 1 records the Mercedes driver on 320 points, with teammate George Russell second on 236 points.
Lewis Hamilton sits third for Ferrari with 214 points. Charles Leclerc holds fourth with 191, while Lando Norris and Max Verstappen each have 188 points.
Antonelli extended his advantage to 84 points after finishing second at the latest race in Malaysia. Russell retired from the event, widening the gap between the Mercedes teammates.
Abu Dhabi’s confirmed December date preserves a major year-end sports and tourism fixture for the UAE. Record international attendance in 2025 and 99 per cent ticket sales for 2026 indicate another high utilisation race weekend across Yas Island’s hospitality, entertainment and transport assets.
