Formula 1 has officially extended its contract with the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, ensuring the venue remains a fixture on the calendar until at least 2032. However, the new deal introduces a major change: starting after 2026, the race will be held on a rotating basis with Belgium’s historic Spa-Francorchamps circuit.
The New Schedule and Renaming
Under the terms of the agreement, Barcelona will no longer host a race annually. Instead, the two iconic European tracks will alternate slots to accommodate F1’s 24-race limit:
- Barcelona-Catalunya GP: Scheduled for 2028, 2030, and 2032 (in addition to the already confirmed 2026 race).
- Belgian Grand Prix (Spa): Scheduled for 2027, 2029, and 2031 (following its 2026 appearance).
From 2026 onward, the Barcelona event will be officially renamed the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, as the “Spanish Grand Prix” title moves to the new Madrid street circuit.
Financials and Market Impact
To secure its future, the Barcelona circuit will pay an annual hosting fee of approximately €28 million ($33.2 million). This reflects a price increase aligned with Liberty Media’s current commercial model for European venues.
Despite the shift to a biennial format, officials emphasize the massive value of the event:
- Economic Impact: Estimated at over €300 million per race edition.
- Attendance: Approximately 300,000 fans attended the race weekend in 2025.
- Investment: Recent upgrades include the “Circuit Rooftop” hospitality space and extensive solar panel installations.
The Changing F1 Calendar
This rotational model is part of a broader strategy to keep classic European tracks on the schedule while making room for new destinations like Madrid (contracted through 2035). Other recent shifts include Portimão (Portugal) returning in 2027–2028 to replace Zandvoort (Netherlands) on a temporary basis.