Spain faces a change in the 2027 Formula 1 season: While Madrid, with its new Madring street circuit, remains on the calendar, Barcelona will be taking a break. This will make Madrid the sole venue for a Formula 1 Grand Prix in Spain. The decision is part of a larger restructuring of the calendar, which also includes more sprint races and the return of familiar tracks.
Spain Expat Press Editorial Team
by Marlon Gallego Bosbach
For Spanish motorsport fans, this means: The Spanish Grand Prix will remain in the country, but the race in Catalonia will be missing in 2027.
Madrid remains Spain’s Formula 1 venue
The Spanish Grand Prix will be held in Madrid again in 2027. The race weekend at the Madring is scheduled for September 10-12. This means the new circuit around the IFEMA exhibition center will host the Spanish Grand Prix for the second year in a row.
The Madring race premiered in 2026. After the first race weekend, the organizers and the FIA, the governing body of motorsport, announced they would review the track layout and make possible changes. The aim is to allow for more overtaking maneuvers. The limited number of overtaking opportunities had drawn criticism during the debut.
For Madrid, the reinstatement of the race on the calendar is an important part of its positioning as an international motorsport venue. The September date will remain unchanged.
Barcelona is missing from the Formula 1 calendar for the first time in decades
While Madrid retains its place, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will not be part of the Formula 1 World Championship in 2027. This means the Montmeló circuit will be absent from the racing calendar for the first time since 1992.
The background to this is an agreed rotation with the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. Barcelona and Spa will alternate hosting one race annually in the future. The Catalan circuit is scheduled to return in 2028.
For the Catalonia region, the break means that no Formula 1 race will take place at the historic circuit in 2027. The Spanish Grand Prix will instead be held exclusively in Madrid.
Spain will only have one Grand Prix in 2027
The new calendar layout changes Spain’s role within Formula 1. In 2026, Madrid and Barcelona will still host two races on Spanish soil, while in 2027 only the Madring will remain.
However, this development should not be interpreted as Barcelona’s final departure. The rotation with Spa ensures that the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya remains part of Formula 1’s long-term plans. After its planned return in 2028, the race will alternate with the Belgian Grand Prix.
Formula 1 plans 24 races and ten sprint weekends
The 2027 calendar comprises a total of 24 Grand Prix races in 22 countries. The season is scheduled to begin on March 14th in Bahrain and end on December 12th in Abu Dhabi.
A key change is the expansion of the sprint format: instead of six as in 2026, ten sprint weekends are planned for 2027. Monaco will also host a sprint race for the first time. Other sprint race venues include Bahrain, Australia, Japan, Canada, Great Britain, Monza, Brazil, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi.
Portugal and Türkiye are returning
In addition to the changes in Spain, the calendar features two returning circuits. Portugal will be represented again on June 20th with the race in Portimão. The track last hosted a Formula 1 World Championship race in 2021. Istanbul also returns: The Turkish Grand Prix is scheduled for October 3rd. This race was also last held in 2021.
A calendar with changes – and a Spanish focus in Madrid
For Spain, the most important news of the 2027 Formula 1 calendar is the focus on Madrid. The Madring will remain the venue for the Spanish Grand Prix, while Barcelona will sit out a year as part of the rotation with Spa.
Formula 1 will thus opt for a calendar with 24 races, ten sprint weekends, and several changes to the venues. For Spanish fans, Madrid will remain the central meeting point of the premier class – at least for the 2027 season.
