F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix: Dates, Tickets & Venue (Las Vegas)

A Grand Prix on Las Vegas Boulevard

Las Vegas has no purpose-built racetrack for this race. The cars run on public roads, under casino signs, along Las Vegas Boulevard after dark. The Heineken Las Vegas Grand Prix runs from November 20 to 22, 2026, on the Las Vegas Strip Street Circuit, and the city rearranges itself around it for the weekend.

The lap is about 6.2 km long, which makes it one of the longest on the calendar. It loops east along Koval Lane and Sands Avenue, swings around the Sphere, then sends cars down the Strip itself. That straight passes Caesars Palace, the Bellagio fountains and Paris Las Vegas at top speed.

How the weekend runs

The schedule spreads across three nights. The format follows the usual Formula 1 order:

• Friday, November 20: practice sessions
• Saturday, November 21: final practice and qualifying, with the Grand Prix itself late that night local time
• Sunday, November 22: the race weekend winds down as roads reopen

The race starts late in the evening in Nevada. That suits European and Asian TV audiences and gives the floodlit track its look: neon reflected on the cars, the Sphere’s LED skin lit up beside the circuit. The organiser posts session times on the race’s official site.

Formula 1 promotes this race itself, which is unusual. The paddock and pit building sit on the east side of the track, off Koval Lane and Harmon Avenue.

Choosing where to watch

Viewing at a street circuit works differently from a classic track. Here you’re on grandstands built over parking lots and sidewalks, or in hospitality spaces inside the resorts. Fans usually pick a seat for one of three things:

• The Strip straight: the highest speeds, with the hotel fronts as backdrop
• The Sphere section: a slower, twisting stretch with the most photogenic setting
• Pit and paddock area: the start, the finish and pit stops in front of you

The official site shows the grandstand map, each zone and the ticket links. Many international fans, including a large group travelling from Asia, buy multi-day passes. The three nights count as one trip.

Getting there from your hotel

The Strip is the venue, so the walk from your hotel lobby is often your commute. Fans staying at central properties such as the Venetian, Caesars Palace, Bellagio or the LINQ usually walk to their gate. Pedestrian bridges carry people over the closed roads.

The Las Vegas Monorail runs along the east side of the Strip and stops near the circuit. Its stations include Harrah’s/The LINQ, Flamingo/Caesars Palace, Horseshoe/Paris and MGM Grand. Harry Reid International Airport is just south of the Strip. Many travellers from Asia connect through West Coast hubs such as Los Angeles or San Francisco to get there.

Moving through the Strip on race weekend

The race takes over the roads, and locals plan around it. Sections of Las Vegas Boulevard and the side streets close during track sessions. Taxis and rideshares get pushed onto detours, so drivers drop people several blocks from the gates. Experienced attendees usually treat their feet and the monorail as the reliable options and leave cars out of it.

Some practical habits that help:

• Dress for a desert night. November evenings in the Mojave turn cold after sunset. Fans in the grandstands wear layers, hats and gloves through the late sessions.
• Tip as Americans do. Bartenders, servers and casino staff expect tips. Around 15–20% at sit-down meals is standard, and a little extra per drink at bars.
• Read the gate rules. Bag restrictions and entry policies sit on the organiser’s official site. Security lines move faster for people carrying very little.
• Use the gaps. Between sessions, the casino floors, food halls and the Bellagio Conservatory are a few minutes’ walk from most grandstands.

Beyond the circuit

The race is the main event, but the city doesn’t stop for it. Resorts along the circuit usually run viewing parties and themed menus. Their windows and terraces become paid viewing spots of their own.

During the day, when the track is quiet, the usual Las Vegas draws stay open. The High Roller observation wheel at the LINQ looks straight down over the circuit. Fremont Street in Downtown is a short ride north and feels completely different. Red Rock Canyon, about 30 minutes west by car, is the classic morning escape from late nights.

Las Vegas has hosted Formula 1 before. The Caesars Palace Grand Prix ran in a hotel car park in 1981 and 1982. The modern race on the Strip is that idea on a much bigger scale.