Skip to content
Once a year, Formula 1 does something no other sport on Earth attempts: it shuts down four miles of the most famous street in America and turns it into a 220-mph racetrack. Neon against horsepower. The Bellagio fountains as a braking zone. A hairpin corner close enough to Caesars Palace to touch. This is the Las Vegas Grand Prix — and for one weekend every November, it’s the reason half the racing world books a flight to Nevada.
The 2025 edition sold out. If you’re even thinking about 2026, here’s everything you need — the schedule, the tickets, the circuit, the history, and how to actually get around a Strip that’s been turned into a racetrack.
At a Glance
- Dates: Thursday, November 19 – Saturday, November 21, 2026
- Race day: Saturday, November 21, lights out 8:00 PM PST
- Circuit: Las Vegas Strip Circuit — 6.201 km, 17 turns, 50 laps, ~310 km race distance
- Top speed on record: 222.6 mph, set on the Strip straight
▼ Table of Contents
The Las Vegas Strip Circuit
Forget everything you picture when you think “racetrack.” There are no permanent grandstands rising out of empty desert here — this circuit is laid straight down the Strip and the boulevards around it, barriers and lighting rigged up around a city that keeps right on running underneath it all race week.
The numbers
Length: 6.201 km (3.85 miles) · Turns: 17 · Laps: 50 · Race distance: ~310 km · Recorded top speed: 222.6 mph
A Brief History of F1 in Las Vegas
This isn’t Formula 1’s first roll of the dice in this city — it’s the second, and the two versions have almost nothing in common.
The Caesars Palace Grand Prix (1981–1982)
F1 first raced in Las Vegas over four decades ago, on a tight, flat circuit laid out in a casino parking lot. Both years it ran, it decided the World Championship: Alan Jones won the 1981 race while Nelson Piquet clinched the title from fifth place, and Michele Alboreto took his first-ever win in 1982 as Keke Rosberg secured the crown, also from fifth. Drivers hated the featureless layout. It didn’t survive a third season.
The Modern Era (2023–Present)
F1 stayed away for 41 years. When it finally came back, in 2023, it came back properly — a purpose-built street circuit down the actual Strip, not a car park. Max Verstappen won that first race. George Russell won in 2024, the same night Verstappen clinched his fourth world title with a fifth-place finish. Verstappen won again in 2025, a chaotic weekend that ended with McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri disqualified post-race in the thick of a title fight — and a sellout crowd that means 2026 tickets won’t hang around.
2026 Race Weekend Schedule
All sessions run in the evening, Las Vegas local time (PST) — practice and qualifying are split across Thursday and Friday, with the race itself on Saturday night.
| Date | Session | Time (PST) |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, Nov 19 | Practice 1 | 4:30 – 5:30 PM |
| Thu, Nov 19 | Practice 2 | 8:00 – 9:00 PM |
| Fri, Nov 20 | Practice 3 | 4:30 – 5:30 PM |
| Fri, Nov 20 | Qualifying | 8:00 – 9:00 PM |
| Sat, Nov 21 | 🏁 Las Vegas Grand Prix | 8:00 PM |
How to Buy Tickets
Tickets are sold by day, so decide whether you want practice, qualifying, race day, or the full weekend before you buy. A 3-day pass covers all three days at once — and after last year’s sellout, it’s the safest way to guarantee you’re in for the whole show.
Thursday, Nov 19 — Practice 1 & 2
Friday, Nov 20 — Practice 3 & Qualifying
Saturday, Nov 21 — 🏁 Race Day
Full Weekend — 3-Day Pass (Best Value)
Getting to the Circuit
Because the race runs on closed public streets, driving yourself to the circuit isn’t really an option — the smart moves are walking, the monorail, or a rideshare to one of the official drop-off points, matched to your ticketed zone.
Walking (best overall option)
If you’re staying at a Strip hotel, walking is usually the easiest way in — road closures make driving impractical anyway. Use the official F1 Las Vegas app to find the best walking route from your hotel to your assigned zone entrance.
Las Vegas Monorail (best public transport option)
The monorail is one of the smartest ways to get around during race weekend, running nonstop through the event. Ride to the station nearest your zone, then walk the rest of the way using the app to avoid the worst of the road closures.
Rideshare & drop-offs
If you’re taking Uber or Lyft, head to one of the official designated drop-off points closest to your zone, then walk the rest of the way: Park MGM, Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, Tuscany, or the Howard Hughes Center.
Know Before You Go
- This is a street circuit, not a stadium. The track sits on public roads that stay open for regular Strip traffic right up until race week — expect closures and rerouted traffic across the resort corridor for several days beforehand.
- Sessions run late. Evening sessions start at 8:00 PM, so plan your day around a late night rather than an early one.
- Dress for a desert night. Vegas in November can be pleasant by day but drops noticeably after dark — bring a layer for evening sessions.
- Wear shoes built for walking. Between the walk from your hotel and the size of the fan zones, this is not a heels-and-flip-flops event.
- Book accommodation early. Hotel rates along the Strip spike hard during race week — the earlier you lock in a room, the better the rate.
Where to Stay for Race Weekend
Where you sleep this weekend matters more than almost any other Vegas trip you’ll take. Base yourself on or near the Strip and several resorts put a grandstand or viewing terrace practically on your doorstep — you can hear the cars from your room and be at your gate in minutes. Wait for the last week to book, and you’re choosing between whatever’s left at whatever price is left.
Use the map below to compare Strip hotels for your dates — this is the single highest-leverage booking decision you’ll make for this trip:
Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you book or buy through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you — it helps keep these guides going.