A Quick Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Race Guide

The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is the second F1 race taking place in the Gulf States this year, at the high-speed Jeddah Corniche Circuit. Jeddah is the fastest street circuit in the world, and always makes for an exciting race that challenges drivers.

From a fan perspective, Jeddah is known for being one of the least-crowded races on the calendar, and always has some exciting evening concerts to look forward to.

Here’s your mini Saudi Arabian 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 Saudi Arabian GP

Here’s everything you need to know if you’re headed to the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, or are interested in traveling to Jeddah one day for an F1 race.

Official race name

Officially, this is the FORMULA 1 STC SAUDI ARABIAN GRAND PRIX 2026.

When is it?

The Saudi Arabian GP takes place April 17-19, 2026. Similar to the Bahrain Grand Prix that precedes it by one week, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix takes place at night to allow for cooler temperatures. Here is the schedule:

April 17: Practice 1, Practice 2
April 18: Practice 3, Qualifying
April 19: Race Day

Race location

The Saudi Arabian GP takes place at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, which is on the streets of Jeddah, the second-largest city in Saudi Arabia, right on the Red Sea. The Jeddah Corniche Circuit is 6.174 kilometers (3.83 miles) long, making it the second-longest circuit after Spa in Belgium. The circuit features 27 corners, the most of any track in F1, and drivers race 50 laps here.

Saudi Arabia is one of the newer tracks in Formula 1; they started racing here in 2021.

Getting to the track

Jeddah Corniche Circuit is situated along the Red Sea waterfront, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the city center of Jeddah, and 15 kilometers (9 miles) from King Abdulaziz International Airport.

There are several ways you can get here from the city center or from the airport.

Taking a taxi or a rideshare app (Uber or the local Saudi equivalent Careem are the most popular) is one way to get to the track. This takes about 20 to 30 minutes, depending on traffic (though on race days traffic can be extremely heavy). Taxis and rideshares will only be able to drop people off at the GA Parking area and City Walk (Little Asia); from there, shuttles are available.

Some hotels, like The Ritz-Carlton Jeddah, offer free shuttles to the circuit. There are also several hotels that are within walking distance to the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, including the JOUDYAN Red Sea Mall Jeddah By ELAF and the Radisson Blu Hotel Jeddah Corniche.

You can also drive yourself to the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, and parking is complimentary to GP ticket-holders. However, you must collect your parking permit in advance of race day (with no same-day parking passes available), and you still have to take a complimentary shuttle from the parking area to the venue, so this option might not be worth it. (Parking info here.)

Saudi Arabian GP ticket options

The Saudi Arabian GP offers several different ticket options, including single-day tickets for the first, second, and third days, as well as three-day tickets to experience the whole race weekend.

Along with some general admission tickets, there are 3 grandstands to choose from (the Central Grandstand, Main Grandstand A, and Main Grandstand B), along with some hospitality suites.

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

Saudi Arabian GP website for GA and grandstand tickets as well as hospitality tickets for the Premium Lounge and Premium Suite.
F1 Experiences for Paddock Club and Legends tickets.

If you are looking for last-minute tickets, you can check authorized ticket resellers like P1 Travel and F1 Tickets.

Best place(s) to sit

At Jeddah Corniche Circuit, some of the most prime seats are Main Grandstand A and Main Grandstand B, where you can see the start and finish lines and plenty of pit lane action. These seats are also located by the main Fan Zone at the track.

If you’re looking to see more of the high-speed turns on this circuit, seats in the A, B, C, and D areas of the Central Grandstand all offer great vantage points.

Note that all grandstands at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit are covered except the B and D areas of the Central Grandstand. It won’t make much of a difference at night once the race starts, but if you’re arriving in the afternoon, you might want to avoid the uncovered areas due to the heat.

General admission tickets at Jeddah basically just get you into the fan zones around the circuit. You’ll be able to watch the race on big screens, but probably won’t be able to get near the track because of its setup. I don’t think I’d recommend GA here if you actually want to see any of the action!

Pro tip: Download the F1 SAGP App for help getting around the circuit. Your tickets will also be delivered in the app.

The fan experience

The main Fan Zone at Jeddah Corniche Circuit and surrounding fan areas are packed full with entertainment, including a Ferris Wheel, a zipline, a rock climbing wall, laser tag, go karting, F1-themed mini golf, and VR simulators — all of which are included with your race ticket.

You’ll also get access to nightly concerts from major artists on a stage near the Jeddah Yacht Club. In 2026, concerts will include Pitbull and Tyla on Saturday night after qualifying, and Kygo and Shakira after the race on Sunday.

Every ticket also includes access to the Jeddah Art Promenade and a free pitlane walk on Thursday afternoon.

When it comes to dining, you can find plenty of food options at the track, as well as nearby on the Jeddah Promenade, which is the lively waterfront area along the Red Sea.

Note: Alcohol is not sold at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, as Saudi Arabia is a dry country (although restrictions have recently been lifted, allowing it to be sold at many hotels).

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 Jeddah GP weekend!

Things you CANNOT bring to the Saudi Arabian GP include:

Large bags (large is defined here as exceeding the size of a typical handbag or backpack)
Food and beverages (except for baby food)
Glass containers (including perfume)
Weapons/other hazardous materials
Fireworks and flares
Megaphones or other loud devices
Professional cameras, video cameras and audio recording equipment
Drones
Selfie sticks
Folding chairs
Scooters, skateboards, bikes, etc.
Materials with racist, political, or xenophobic content, such as symbols

Things you CAN bring

Bags (but keep them to a normal backpack/hand bag size)
Flags and signs no larger than 2 x 1.5m
Strollers

All guests attending the race are subject to being searched upon entering the venue.

Track invasion info

Although some F1 races have a “track invasion” tradition where fans rush down to the track at the end of the race, this doesn’t happen at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

Other race weekend events

The concerts during the 2026 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix are a major draw, with a star-studded lineup this year (Pitbull and Tyla on Saturday night after qualifying, and Kygo and Shakira after the race on Sunday). These nighttime concerts are free for all ticket-holders.

There are also several great support races at Jeddah this year, including F2 and F1 Academy.

What else to do in Jeddah

While you’re in Jeddah for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, you shouldn’t miss exploring all that the city has to offer. Here are 5 of the top things to do in Jeddah:

Stroll along the Jeddah Promenade, a waterfront area with shops, restaurants, public art, and great views, located right next to the circuit.
Explore Al-Balad, also known as the Jeddah Historic District, where you can admire traditional architecture.
See Al Rahmah Mosque, a striking marble mosque that appears to float on the sea.
Check out King Fahad’s Fountain, the tallest fountain the world.
Take a day trip by boat to Bayada Island for some beach time.

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