A Quick Miami Grand Prix Race Guide

The first US race of the F1 season is upon us! The Miami Grand Prix is one of the glitziest on the calendar; it’s usually filled with celebrities alongside a unique track set up around Hard Rock Stadium. Miami also gave us the iconic LEGO race/drivers parade in 2025, which is one of my favorite moments in Formula 1 in recent years.

Here’s your mini Miami Grand Prix race guide, including all you need to know about tickets, where to sit, the fan experience, what you can bring to the track, and more.

Quick race guide to the Miami GP

Here’s everything you need to know if you’re headed to the Miami Grand Prix this year, or are interested in traveling to the Miami F1 race one day in the future.

Official race name

Officially, this is the FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX.

When is it?

The Miami GP takes place May 1-3, 2026 (local time), and it’s a sprint race this year. The schedule is:

May 1: Practice 1, Sprint Qualifying
May 2: Sprint Race, Race Qualifying
May 3: Race Day

Race location

The Miami GP takes place in Miami, Florida at the Miami International Autodrome. This is a 5.412-kilometer (3.36-mile) long temporary circuit built around the Hard Rock Stadium (where the Miami Dolphins play football) in Miami Gardens. The circuit has 19 turns and some elevation changes, and drivers race 57 laps here.

Miami is a newer track in Formula 1; the first race was held here in 2022.

Fun fact about Miami: part of the F1 paddock here (the part with all the team hospitality trailers) is actually set up on the inside of Hard Rock Stadium, which is really unique!

Getting to the track

Since the circuit is set up around an NFL stadium, the good news is that there’s lots of parking available, as well as a decent ability to handle lots of traffic. You *can* drive yourself and park at the race, and there are 25+ different parking lots available — you just need to purchase a parking pass in advance, as they won’t be selling them day-of.

You can also reach the track via rideshare like Uber or Lyft — though the circuit itself advises to keep in mind that surge pricing will definitely be in effect. If you opt to arrive/leave via rideshare, there will be dedicated off-site lots where you’ll need to be dropped off/picked up from. From those lots, you can either walk to the circuit, or use free shuttles that will run between some off-site lots and the circuit. You can check out this rideshare page for tips on which lots to use.

The last option is to use public transit, including the Brightline train which runs the length of Florida. In Miami, you can take the Brightline from Miami Station (close to downtown and South Beach) to Aventura Station. From there, complimentary shuttles will be running to the track (departing 10 minutes after the arrival of each train). (You’ll want to book Brightline tickets in advance.)

Miami GP ticket options

I always recommend checking ticket options through the host circuit first. For the Miami GP, check out:

F1MiamiGP.com for Campus Passes (general admission tickets), grandstand tickets, and track hospitality suites/packages. They sell the tickets in conjunction with Ticketmaster, so if you already have an account you’ll be prompted to sign in.
F1 Experiences for Champions Club, Paddock Club, and other specialty hospitality packages.

Tickets for the Miami Grand Prix usually go on sale about 9 months in advance (they went on sale in August 2025 for the May 2026 race). Hospitality packages/suites do tend to sell out for Miami, but you can usually get grandstand tickets even if you don’t buy them straight away.

They sell both 3-day ticket packages and 1-day tickets for some grandstands.

Some of the ticket options in Miami include:

Campus Pass – This is general admission, and these tickets don’t go on sale until closer to the race. You get access to a large number of GA areas around the circuit, some with excellent views.
Grandstand tickets – You can buy 1-day or 3-day passes for a single grandstand, or go for the Grandstand Pass, where you get to sit in 3 different grandstands over the course of the weekend. In 2026, there will also be team-branded grandstands for Red Bull, McLaren, Williams, and Cadillac (3-day passes only for these).
Clubs and lounges – Miami does these luxury lounges well. New this year is the MSC Yacht Club, which is a multi-level lounge-club shaped like a ship. And the Hard Rock Beach Club has a whole pool with cabanas around it!

Best place(s) to sit

Like all Formula 1 races, there are 3 major types of tickets available for the Miami Grand Prix. There are Campus Pass tickets (general admission), Grandstand tickets, and then various hospitality ticket packages (think: suites, clubs, lounges, etc.).

The “best” place to sit at any race is always subjective. But in Miami, it’s generally agreed that Turn 1 is good for the race start, Turn 18 is great for panoramic action around multiple corners (17, 18, and 19), and Turn 11 (Beach Grandstand) is also a good bet for on-track action.

Keep in mind that not all grandstands here are shaded, so if that’s important to you, pay attention when choosing where to sit, as that Miami sun can be harsh.

The fan experience

Miami is typical a celebrity-filled race with a fan experience that celebrates Miami’s culture of good food, great art, epic parties, and beach vibes.

A few of the things to look forward to during GP weekend include lots of great local food options at the track, a festival-style lineup of DJs and musical performances (especially at the Hard Rock Beach Club), and curated artwork and murals on display throughout the circuit.

The circuit (or “Campus”) is divided into 8 separate zones during race weekend. Some zones are only accessible by certain ticket holders, but the North Campus (on the inside of the track behind the Main Grandstand) is where most of the fanzone activations and art installations will be set up.

Pro tip: Download the Miami GP app for help getting around the circuit, including an interactive map.

What you can/can’t bring

Knowing what you’re allowed to bring to the race and what’s prohibited is important when planning your Miami GP weekend! And, as a race held at/around an NFL stadium, there are some stricter rules here than at most other F1 race venues.

Miami Grand Prix bag rules

This one is really important, and it’s different to just about every other race on the F1 calendar. The Miami International Autodrome has a strict bag policy that follows the policy for NFL stadiums in the US.

The ONLY bags that are permitted at the Miami GP include:

A clear, plastic bag smaller than 12″ x 6″ x 12″
Small bags/fanny packs (not clear) that do not exceed 4.5″ x 6.5″

So you can basically bring a small belt bag or wallet smaller than a phone, OR a clear bag up to 12″ x 6″ x 12″. ALL bags larger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″ are banned, and non-clear bags larger than 4.5″ x 6.5″ are also not allowed.

Don’t try to bring a large backpack or tote bag; I’m planning to wear this clear purse (with a fun checkered strap) to the Miami GP this year.

If you bring a bag that is too big or doesn’t follow the bag guidelines, there will be Guest Experience Bag Checks available near Entry gates 3, 5, 8, and 14, with the fee dependent on the size of the bag.

Allowed:

Things you CANNOT bring to the Chinese GP include:

Alcohol and/or drugs
Weapons of any kind
Tobacco or vaping products (no smoking allowed)
Bags that don’t fit the bag policy
Glass or metal bottles
Aerosol cans (including aerosol sunscreens)
Coolers
Cash (the Miami International Autodrome is a cashless venue)
Selfie sticks, tripods, and monopods
Video cameras and other pro audio/video recording equipment
Drones
Fireworks, flares, smoke bombs, etc.
Noise-makers (like air horns, vuvuzelas, whistles)
Tents and canopies
Umbrellas
Chairs of any sort (including collapsible ones)
Seat cushions of any size
Frisbees, footballs, beachballs or any other items that can be thrown
Strollers, wagons, bikes, skateboards, scooters, etc.

Things you CAN bring with you:

Bags that meet the bag policy
Diaper bags (subject to search)
Empty plastic or silicone drinking container up to 32 oz.
Empty Camelbak-type hydration pack with no pockets
Factory-sealed water bottles 20oz or less
Non-professional cameras (point-and-shoot and ones with “consumer-grade detachable lenses”)
Liquid or solid sunscreens (please bring these!)
Handheld signs that are not offensive
Binoculars
Jackets and blankets that you hand-carry in
iPads/tablets smaller than 12″ x 12″ x 12″

Track invasion info

Fans are allowed on the track following the race to watch the podium ceremony — but keep in mind that the podium is not set up on the Main Straight! Instead, the podium is on the opposite side of Hard Rock Stadium, between Turns 3 and 4 near The Fountains.

Several gates around the track will open following the race to allow fans onto the track.

Other race weekend events

Along with all the things happening during race weekend — including all the support races — there are other fan events taking place around Miami.

The biggest event is the Racing Fan Fest taking place April 30-May 3, 2026 at Wynwood Marketplace. This festival will include things like DJ sets, lawn games, race sims, food/drink vendors, and large screens showing all the live race action. If you don’t have tickets for all 3 days of race weekend, this will be the place to be in Miami! (Register here for free drinks.)

There are also these fan-focused events in other places around Miami during F1 race weekend:

Williams Miami Fan Zone – Williams will also be doing a fan zone pop-up in Miami, dates TBD. Across the week, fans can expect driver appearances, simulators, photo ops, and more.

What else to do in Miami

If you’re traveling for the Miami Grand Prix and will be visiting Miami, Florida during your trip, here are 5 things you can do while you’re not at the track:

Spend a day swimming, relaxing in the sun, and people-watching in Miami Beach
Visit the colorful Wynwood Walls, Miami’s outdoor street-art museum
Explore the Vizcaya Museum & Gardens
Go for a sunset boat cruise
Take a food tour in Little Havana

Have you ever been to the Miami Grand Prix? If so, what tips would you give people who are going?