Canadian GP gets May date from 2026 as F1 looks to regionalize calendar

The Canadian Grand Prix will move from its traditional June race date to one in the second half of May from 2026 onwards, as Formula 1 looks to regionalize the calendar further. Currently the series races in North America in Miami in early May, before kicking off the European rounds in Imola and Monaco. The Spanish Grand Prix take place after Monaco in 2025, before the return to North America for a stand alone event in Montreal that punctuates the European races. Following confirmation that Monaco will leave its historical late-May slot to be held in June, F1 has now announced that Canada’s race will shift a number of weeks earlier, allowing it to be paired with Miami before the European rounds begin. “The move will allow the European leg of the season to be consolidated into one consecutive period over the European summer months and is planned to remove an additional transatlantic crossing by the Formula 1 community each year, with significant associated carbon reductions,” F1 announced. Formula 1’s president and CEO Stefano Domenicali says the commitment from the race organizers should not be underestimated given the amount of preparation work that takes place each year that can be impacted by the Montreal climate. “I am incredibly grateful to the promoter and all of the government stakeholder partners involved in the Canadian Grand Prix, from the local, to the provincial and national government,” Domenicali said. “We applaud the tremendous effort from all involved to accelerate the temporary build of the event, to be ready to host the Formula 1 community earlier than in the past. “The change will make the future flow of our calendar not only more sustainable, but logistically more sensible for our teams and personnel. Our Net Zero by 2030 commitment continues to be a priority for us as a sport and it is thanks to changes like this that we are on track to hitting our goal.” Jean-Philippe Paradis – the CEO of race promoter Octane Racing Group – says the date change could help kick-off the summer tourism season for Montreal earlier than in the past. “This change in the schedule is a major step in our commitment, as well as Formula 1’s, toward a more sustainable future,” Paradis said. “It demonstrates our desire to combine sporting performance and event organization with environmental responsibility. “We are determined to offer our fans, our communities, and our loyal audience a unique and enriched experience, in addition to extending the summer season for Montreal. The date change thus fully integrates into the dynamic strategic vision put in place by our team, with the collaboration of our stakeholders, which is fully focused on delivering an amazing Canadian Grand Prix experience in a more sustainable and inclusive environment.” The new date for Montreal is likely to create an even bigger month of May in North American racing, with the Miami and Canadian GPs taking place in the build-up to the Indianapolis 500.