Thursday
Nov 19- Free Practice 14:30 PM PST
- Free Practice 28:00 PM PST
At a Glance
CircuitLas Vegas Strip Circuit — 6.201 km, 17 corners, run anticlockwise on Koval Lane, Sands Avenue, the Strip and Harmon Avenue
Weekend FormatPractice on Thursday, final practice and qualifying on Friday, the Grand Prix on Saturday night at 8:00 PM PST
Known ForA 1.9 km flat-out run down the Strip past Caesars Palace and the Bellagio, and the Sphere lit up behind Turns 5–9
TicketsZone-locked: your ticket covers one zone for the whole weekend. Pick the zone first, the stand second
Getting ThereWalk from a Strip hotel, or take the Las Vegas Monorail (24/7 in race week). Rideshare pickups are at Virgin Hotels (south) and Tuscany Hotel (north), not the Strip
Weather RealityRace night runs 5–10°C, coldest at the finish, with wind making open stands feel colder. Days are a pleasant 15–20 °C
Bag RuleClear bag up to 12 × 6 × 12 in, plus a small non-clear clutch up to 6 × 9 in. Standard backpacks are turned away and there is no bag storage
Why Las Vegas is different
F1 cars racing down the Las Vegas Strip at night is as surreal as it sounds. The lap runs past the Bellagio fountains, under the casino neon and along a 1.9 km straight where the cars passed 355 km/h in 2025, with the Strip skyline as the backdrop. It is F1 as entertainment first, and the city around you is running its own show at the same time.
It is also the most logistics-heavy race weekend on the calendar for a first-timer. The track is the Strip, so the roads hotel guests normally use close every evening; your ticket only gets you into one zone; and every session runs at night, with the Grand Prix starting at 8:00 PM PST on Saturday and finishing around 10:00 PM.
The cold is what catches people. Race night in the desert sits at 5–10°C, coldest at the finish, and you are sitting still in an open grandstand for two hours. The Strip looks warm — it is not. Pack for a winter evening, not a desert holiday.
The upside of a Saturday-night race is that Sunday is free: recover by a pool, see the Sphere, drive to Red Rock Canyon (30 minutes), or take a helicopter over the Grand Canyon.
Weekend Schedule
Track time — PST, UTC−8.
Friday
Nov 20- Free Practice 34:30 PM PST
- Qualifying8:00 PM PST
Saturday
Nov 21- Grand Prix8:00 PM PST
Circuit at a Glance
The 1.9 km Strip straight
From Turn 12 at the Venetian to the braking zone for Turn 14 at Planet Hollywood, the cars are flat out past the Flamingo, Caesars Palace, Paris, the Bellagio and the Cosmopolitan. It is a spectacle rather than a racing view — the cars are past in a blink.
Turns 14–16 — where the passes happen
Three slow corners at Planet Hollywood take the cars off the Strip and onto Harmon Avenue. It is the heaviest stop of the lap and the best overtaking spot on the circuit.
The Sphere section
Turns 5 to 9 wrap around the Sphere: a long sweeping left and a left-right twist. This is where you see the cars properly rather than as a blur, with the arena's screen lit up behind them.
A cold desert night
Every session runs in the evening. Race night is 5–10°C, coldest at the finish. Thermal base layer, fleece, wind-blocking jacket and a beanie are the kit, not optional extras.
Circuit Experience
Your zone is your weekend: Tickets are zone-locked — you cannot walk between zones. East Harmon has the pit straight, start/finish and podium. Koval covers Turns 2–4. The T-Mobile Zone at Sphere covers Turns 5–9. Flamingo is standing general admission on the Strip side. Decide what you want to see before you book.
Check your hotel access: Some hotel entrances and casino routes change during race weekend, and hotels inside the circuit perimeter have different access arrangements from those outside. Ask your hotel directly about entrances, parking and shuttles before you arrive.
Eat before you go in: Food and drink inside the circuit is expensive and the queues are longest at session start. Leaving mid-race to fetch something from your hotel is not realistic, however close it looks on the map.
Getting in: Walking from a Strip hotel is the most reliable option all weekend — allow 20–30 minutes to your gate on race night. The Monorail runs 24/7 in race week along the east side of the Strip; board at a quieter end station (SAHARA or MGM Grand).
Getting out: Do not leave at the flag. Stay for the post-race show (20–30 minutes) while the crowd thins, then walk to your hotel or to a rideshare pickup zone — Virgin Hotels Las Vegas for the southern zones, Tuscany Hotel for the northern ones. Monorail queues at the main stations can exceed an hour.
Who enjoys Las Vegas most?
Fans who treat it as a night out with an F1 race in the middle — and who dress for the cold, eat before entering, and plan the post-race walk before they go in. Get the zone, the layers and the exit right and Vegas delivers something no other race does.
Grandstand Picker
Caesars Grandstand (T12)
GPP RECOMMENDSTurns 12–14 / Caesars Palace Area
View
4
Shade
1
Overtaking
3
$285–$620
Turn 1 Grandstand
BEST OVERTAKINGTurn 1 Braking Zone
View
4
Shade
2
Overtaking
5
$380–$880
Main Grandstand (Pit Straight)
PREMIUMPit straight, in the paddock between Harmon Avenue and Koval Lane
View
5
Shade
3
Overtaking
3
$680–$2,400
Compare all 7 grandstands
Full interactive picker — filters, ratings, side-by-side comparison
Ticket Strategy
Zone before stand: Every ticket is locked to one zone for the weekend. Choose the zone for what you want to see — podium, overtaking or the Sphere — then choose the stand inside it.
Row 10 or higher: Catch fencing blocks the lower rows on most stands. Ask for row 10+ when you book; it is a real difference in what you see.
Check official resale first: The cheapest zones sell out. Before paying a markup elsewhere, check the official resale platform for your zone.
Use the practice nights: Thursday and Friday run in the evening too and are quieter than race night — the best time to learn the walk from your hotel to your gate.
Where to Watch
Catch every session live through official broadcast partners.
Official broadcasters
Apple TV holds the exclusive US broadcast rights from the 2026 season, with every session included in an Apple TV subscription — ESPN and ABC no longer carry F1 in the US.
F1 TV
F1 TV is the official streaming service in other markets; check the F1 TV site for what is offered in your country.
Time zones
The 8:00 PM PST Saturday start is 11:00 PM EST on the US east coast, 4:00 AM GMT on Sunday morning in the UK and 5:00 AM CET in central Europe.
Coverage details are subject to change. Always verify with your provider.
Race Weekend Notes
One of the fastest tracks of the year
The 1.9 km Strip straight means Las Vegas averages Monza-like speeds despite being a street circuit.
Cold tyres, cold brakes
At 5–10°C the cold suppresses tyre performance in the opening laps, so the early laps on the Strip are worth watching closely.
No DRS in 2026
DRS was dropped with the 2026 car rules; the cars use active aerodynamics, switching to a low-drag mode on the straights instead.
Plan the night after the race
The roads do not reopen at the flag. Decide before you go in whether you are walking, taking the Monorail or heading to a rideshare zone.
Things to Do in Las Vegas
Book before race week — prices spike 2–3× once the race is on.
Grand Canyon & Hoover Dam Day Trip
10 hoursBy coach with hotel pickup, ten hours door to door — plan it for a day you are not at the track
Book before race weekThe Sphere — The Wizard of Oz
1 hour 15 minSeventy-five minutes inside the 16K wraparound screen. Non-refundable, so pick a day you are sure of
Book before race weekLas Vegas Strip Night Helicopter Flight
15 minutesThe only way to see the whole lap shape lit up at once
Book before race weekContains affiliate links. Booking helps support GrandPrixPal at no extra cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Las Vegas Grand Prix 2026?
Thursday Nov 19 to Saturday Nov 21, 2026, on the Las Vegas Strip Circuit. It is Round 21 of the 2026 season and a standard (non-sprint) weekend.
What time does the Las Vegas Grand Prix start?
8:00 PM PST on Saturday Nov 21. That is 11:00 PM EST on the US east coast and 4:00 AM GMT on Sunday in the UK. The race finishes around 10:00 PM local.
What is the full Las Vegas GP 2026 schedule?
Thursday: Free Practice 1 at 4:30 PM PST and Free Practice 2 at 8:00 PM PST. Friday: Free Practice 3 at 4:30 PM PST and Qualifying at 8:00 PM PST. Saturday: the Grand Prix at 8:00 PM PST.
Is the Las Vegas race on Saturday?
Yes. The Grand Prix runs on Saturday night, Nov 21. Qualifying is the night before — Friday Nov 20 — not earlier the same day, which is the assumption that catches people planning a single-night trip. Sunday is left free.
Why does the Las Vegas GP start so late?
It is a night race on public roads. The circuit uses Las Vegas Boulevard and the streets around it, which close to traffic for the evening track sessions, and the lit-up Strip is the backdrop the event is built around. The 8:00 PM PT start is earlier than the first two editions: 2023 and 2024 started at 10:00 PM local.
How cold does it get at the Las Vegas GP?
Race night runs 5–10°C, coldest at the finish rather than the start, and wind makes open grandstands feel colder. Wear a thermal base layer, fleece, wind-blocking jacket and beanie; consider hand warmers.
What bag can I bring to the Las Vegas GP?
A clear bag up to 12 × 6 × 12 in, plus a non-clear clutch up to 6 × 9 in. Standard backpacks, umbrellas, glass and outside food and drink are not allowed, and there is no bag storage on site — a bag that fails means a walk back to your hotel.
Can I move between zones at the Las Vegas GP?
No. Tickets are zone-locked for the whole weekend. East Harmon has the pit straight, start/finish and podium; Koval covers Turns 2–4; the T-Mobile Zone at Sphere covers Turns 5–9; Flamingo is general admission on the Strip side.
Where is the best place to watch the Las Vegas GP?
Turns 14–16 at Planet Hollywood for overtaking, the Sphere section (Turns 5–9) to see the cars properly through the corners, and the Main Grandstand on the pit straight for the start and the podium. On the Strip straight itself the cars are past in a blink. Sit in row 10 or higher to clear the catch fencing.
How do I get to the Las Vegas GP circuit?
Walk if you are staying on the Strip — it is the most reliable option, but allow 20–30 minutes to your gate on race night. The Las Vegas Monorail runs 24/7 in race week along the east side of the Strip, from SAHARA to MGM Grand. Driving is not recommended.
Where are the rideshare pickup zones at the Las Vegas GP?
Virgin Hotels Las Vegas for the southern zones and Tuscany Hotel for the northern ones. Cars cannot reach the circuit perimeter during event hours, so walk to the zone rather than requesting a car at the gate. Surge pricing on race night can be extreme.
How do I get out after the Las Vegas GP?
Stay for the post-race show — 20–30 minutes while the crowd thins — then walk to your hotel or to a rideshare zone. The Strip does not reopen to cars at the flag, and Monorail queues at the main stations can exceed an hour; use SAHARA or MGM Grand if you take it.
Do Strip road closures affect my hotel?
Possibly. Las Vegas Boulevard is shut between Spring Mountain Road and Harmon during track running, along with Koval, Harmon, Sands and part of Flamingo Road. Some hotel entrances and casino routes change, so ask your hotel about race-weekend access before you arrive.
How many laps is the Las Vegas Grand Prix?
50 laps of the 6.201 km Las Vegas Strip Circuit — about 310 km in total. It is one of the longest laps on the calendar.
What streets does the Las Vegas GP circuit use?
Las Vegas Boulevard (the Strip), Koval Lane, Sands Avenue and Harmon Avenue. The pit straight and paddock are the only permanent part, on a site between Koval Lane and Harmon Avenue.
Can I watch the race from a hotel?
Some Strip-facing hotel rooms have partial views of the circuit, though grandstand seats provide the best experience. Various hotels offer hospitality packages with rooftop or terrace viewing.
How can I watch the Las Vegas GP in the US?
Apple TV holds the exclusive US broadcast rights from the 2026 season, with every session included in an Apple TV subscription — ESPN and ABC no longer carry F1 in the US. F1 TV is the official streaming service in other markets.
Planning your trip? Transport, hotels, and logistics for your race weekend.
Open Planner Things to DoLooking for things to do around race weekend? Curated activities and fan experiences.
ExploreRead before you go
Useful Guides
All GuidesAlso exploring?
Guides for this race
Race Schedule
Session times, timezone converter, and countdown
First-Timer Guide
What to expect on your first race weekend
Getting There
Transport, parking, and how to leave without chaos
Packing Guide
What to bring for this specific circuit and climate
Mistakes
The things that catch people out — sorted in advance
Further reading
Las Vegas race week itinerary
A day-by-day plan built around the night sessions.
GA vs grandstand at Las VegasWhich ticket is worth it at a zone-locked night race.
Las Vegas GP 2026 fan guideCold nights and the 2026 car rules: what to expect on track and how to enjoy it.
How F1 tickets workZones, resale, and when prices actually move if you haven't bought yet.