What are the 2026 F1® pre‑season testing dates?
Friday, 16 January 2026
The biggest shake-up in years.
The 2026 Formula 1® season brings one of the biggest technical shake‑ups in more than a decade, with completely new cars and power units set to debut. That makes this year’s pre‑season testing more important than ever.
After several years with only one official test, 2026 will feature three sessions. The first begins on 26 January, making it the earliest pre‑season test since 2014.
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2026 pre‑season testing schedule
• Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya — 26 to 30 January
• Bahrain International Circuit — 11 to 13 February
• Bahrain International Circuit — 18 to 20 February
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The opening test in Barcelona will be held behind closed doors from 26 to 30 January, so fans should not expect much public coverage from those sessions.
Once testing moves to Bahrain from 11 February, we can expect far more live coverage, commentary and detailed analysis as teams begin to show how their new cars are performing.
Fox Sports has broadcast pre‑season testing live in recent years, so there is a strong chance they will do the same for the 2026 F1® sessions in Australia.
We will keep you updated as more information becomes available.
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