The Middle East will continue to play a major role in global motorsport in 2026. The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) confirmed the calendar for next year’s top racing events during the World Motor Sport Council meeting in Macau on June 10, 2025. The announcement includes dates for Formula 1, Formula E, Formula 2, Formula 3, and the World Rally-Raid Championship.
The Formula 1 STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will take place on Jeddah’s street circuit from April 17 to 19, 2026. This event is part of a 24-race season and will feature the latest generation of F1 cars using 100% sustainable fuels. The Middle East will also host three other Formula 1 races: Bahrain on April 10-12, Qatar from November 27 to 29, and the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from December 4 to 6.
Saudi Arabia will hold two back-to-back ABB FIA Formula E races on February 13 and 14. Formula 2 will have four rounds in the region, matching the F1 calendar in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi. The Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia will open the 2026 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship from January 3 to 17. The Rally du Maroc will run from September 28 to October 3, and the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge will take place from November 22 to 27. Bahrain will also feature in the ten-round Formula 3 calendar.
The FIA also approved key updates for the 2027 World Rally Championship. The new rules allow manufacturers greater freedom to design cars within a defined bodywork zone. This flexibility will enable a variety of car types, from sedans to hatchbacks and crossovers, to compete over the next ten years.
Founded in 1904, the FIA is the global governing body for motorsport and mobility. It represents 245 member organizations worldwide. The FIA promotes safety, innovation, sustainability, and fairness across all motorsport events and road mobility.
