Venue
Lusail, Al Daayen, Qatar
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Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix, Lusail guide
Formula One at night near Doha.
In short
Formula One fans can plan on the Qatar Grand Prix at Lusail from Friday 27 to Sunday 29 November 2026, with lights out at 19:00 local time on Sunday and no Sprint this year. As one of the final rounds it often shapes the title. Hotels in Doha and Lusail fill well in advance, so book months ahead.
Formula One races under floodlights at Lusail International Circuit, north of Doha, for the Qatar Grand Prix, one of the last rounds of the championship. The 2026 weekend runs from Friday 27 to Sunday 29 November, with lights out at 19:00 local time on the Sunday and no Sprint on the schedule this year.
Coming so late in the year, the result often bears directly on the title. More than 162,000 people passed through the gates across the 2025 weekend. Hotels in Doha and Lusail fill well before race week, so book months out.
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Key Facts & Stats:
Ends: Sunday, 29 November 2026
Where: Al Daayen, Qatar
Venue: Lusail International Circuit
Held: Every year
Type of event: Sporting Events, Live Events
Currency: Qatari riyal (QAR, QR)
Time zone: Arabia Standard Time, UTC+3
Language: Arabic
Map
Close to the venue
- Lusail Stadium Attraction · 8.5 km
Getting around
Hotels near the venue fill up around the event dates.
2026 race weekend schedule
Dates are confirmed for 27 to 29 November 2026. With the Sprint dropped, the weekend follows the standard format. Published schedule, local time:
- Friday 27 November
- Practice 1, 16:30 to 17:30; Practice 2, 20:00 to 21:00
- Saturday 28 November
- Practice 3, 17:30 to 18:30; Qualifying, 21:00 to 22:00
- Sunday 29 November
- Race, 19:00
Qatar's 10-year hosting deal
Lusail opened in 2004 as a motorcycle track, and MotoGP still comes every year. Formula 1 arrived in 2021. Qatar now holds a 10-year deal to stage a Grand Prix from 2023 to 2032. The layout runs to about 5.4 km. Its fast, flowing corners load the tyres heavily, and tyre management has shaped several races here.
General admission, grandstands and packages
Buy through the official links on Visit Qatar or Formula 1's ticketing site. General admission for 2026 started at about QAR 600, with grandstand seats sold separately and availability shifting as race day gets closer. In past years the Main and North Grandstands faced the start and finish straight, and general admission areas sat on Lusail Hill and at several corners.
Qatar Airways sells fan packages that bundle tickets with flights and hotels. It also runs an F1 stopover deal, with T16 grandstand seats, for passengers breaking a journey in Doha. Hospitality is handled on a separate site.
Getting to the circuit from Doha
Most fans fly into Hamad International Airport. The circuit lies in Al Daayen municipality, just outside Lusail city, roughly 30 to 40 minutes by road from central Doha when traffic is light. On Sunday it is not light. Leave early. Shuttle and parking details were missing from the 2026 event page in October, so check the official race site again nearer the date.
Evening temperatures and ear protection
- Late November evenings are usually mild, but a light jacket helps by the end of qualifying.
- Ear plugs are useful for adults and essential for children.
- For where to stay and how to behave in public, read our first trip to Qatar guide.
- Lusail also hosts the MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix on 6 to 8 November 2026. Qatar National Day follows on 18 December.
What happens on the day
- Friday, 16:30 to 17:30
Practice 1
- Friday, 20:00 to 21:00
Practice 2
- Saturday, 17:30 to 18:30
Practice 3
- Saturday, 21:00 to 22:00
Qualifying
- Sunday, 19:00
Lights out
Race traffic builds quickly on Sunday, so set off early.
Booking hotels and tickets months in advance
Hotels in Doha and Lusail fill for race week, so book months in advance. Tickets go on sale through Formula 1's ticketing site and the official links on Visit Qatar, with general admission from about QAR 600 for 2026 and grandstand seats priced separately.
Qatar Airways also sells fan packages that bundle tickets, flights and hotels, plus an F1 stopover offer, with seats in the T16 grandstand, for travellers who break their journey in Doha. Pack ear plugs, which are essential for children, and a warm layer for Saturday's late qualifying.
Lusail's switch from motorcycles to Formula 1
Lusail International Circuit opened in 2004 as a motorcycle track, and MotoGP still races there each year. Formula 1 arrived in 2021, and Qatar now holds a 10-year hosting agreement covering 2023 to 2032.
The lap of about 5.4 km is all quick, flowing corners, hard on tyres. Because the race comes so late in the year, the result often bears directly on the championship. The race is held at night under floodlights, and the 2025 edition attracted over 162,000 spectators over the weekend.
Getting there
Flying in
Hamad International Airport has direct flights from Dhaka, Chattogram and Bangkok, among many others.
To the circuit
Central Doha is 30 to 40 minutes away by road when traffic is light.
Shuttles and parking
Details were not on the 2026 event page; check the official race site closer to the date.
Where to stay during the festival
We have no hotels listed in Al Daayen yet. The ones below are in Doha and Lusail, so treat them as a base for the wider trip. The next edition runs from 27 November to 29 November 2026. Book as soon as your dates are fixed, since rooms close to the festival are the first to go.
Doha
Mandarin Oriental, Doha5-star hotel
No reviews yet
from$307.00/ night
- Internet – Wifi
- Airport shuttle
- Swimming pool
3 Rooms available
Book Now
Lusail
Raffles Doha5-star hotel
No reviews yet
from$521.00/ night
- Internet – Wifi
- Airport shuttle
- Swimming pool
3 Rooms available
Book Now
Doha
Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels by Tivoli5-star hotel
No reviews yet
from$69.00/ night
- Free WiFi
- Airport shuttle
- Swimming pool
10 Rooms available
Book Now
Doha
Alwadi Hotel Doha - MGallery5-star hotel
No reviews yet
from$125.00/ night
- Free WiFi
- Airport shuttle
- Swimming pool
6 Rooms available
Book Now
Weather and what to pack
Late November evenings in Qatar are usually mild. Doha averages about 30°C by day and 22°C at night in November, with very little rain (1992-2021 normals).
The racing is all after sunset, so the grandstands are comfortable.
Worth packing
- A light layer for the night sessions
- Ear plugs or defenders
- Sunglasses for the late-afternoon sessions
- A power bank
Car hire in Al Daayen
Airport transfer to Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix, Lusail
Met at arrivals at Hamad International Airport (DOH) and driven door to door to Lusail International Circuit.
- Hamad International Airport (DOH) → Lusail International Circuit
- 36 km · 40 min
Restaurants and food in Qatar
Places to eat in Qatar before or after the celebrations.
Argan
Al Jasra Boutique Hotel, Al Jasra Street, Souq Waqif, Doha, Qatar
Cuisine:MoroccanNorth African
- Dine-in
Bayt Sharq
Al Doha Gardens, Al Sharq Street, Doha, Qatar
Cuisine:QatariMiddle Eastern
- Dine-in
- Outdoor seating
- Private room
Jiwan
4th Floor, National Museum of Qatar, Museum Park Street, Doha, Qatar
Cuisine:QatariMiddle Eastern
- Dine-in
- Outdoor seating
IDAM by Alain Ducasse
5th Floor, Museum of Islamic Art, Corniche Promenade, Doha, Qatar
Cuisine:Contemporary FrenchMediterranean
- Dine-in
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Booking
Tickets are sold through Lusail International Circuit's official site and Formula 1's own ticketing. Grandstand seats near the start line and the main straight go first. Avoid unofficial resellers, as tickets are tied to the buyer's account.
Alcohol is restricted in Qatar and is not generally sold in public areas. It is available in licensed hotels. Don't bring any to the circuit.
General
The Main Grandstand looks over the start-finish straight, pit lane and podium. Seats around Turn 1 show the braking zone where many overtakes happen. General admission areas cost less but give a narrower view of the track.
Past editions have run a fan zone with games and simulators, and some have added evening concerts. Whether a concert is included in your ticket depends on the year and ticket type, so check the official listing once the line-up is announced.
Expect bans on glass, drones, large flags on poles, professional camera kit and outside alcohol. Small bags and personal cameras are normally fine. Read the circuit's official list before you go.
Traffic is heaviest straight after the chequered flag. Many fans stay for the concert or wait in the fan zone until the roads clear. Pre-booking a ride or agreeing a pick-up point helps, as phone signal can be poor in crowded areas.
Casual clothing is fine. In public areas, cover shoulders and knees in line with local customs. Wear comfortable shoes, as the walk from car parks can be long.
Yes. Practice runs in the late afternoon and evening, so mornings are free. The Museum of Islamic Art, Souq Waqif and the Corniche are all within easy reach. In 2026 the Doha Film Festival runs from 19 to 27 November, so its final day overlaps with Friday practice.
Families & accessibility
Yes, children are welcome with a valid ticket. Check age rules and child pricing when buying. Proper ear defenders are a must, as F1 cars are very loud at close range.
Lusail has accessible seating, toilets and parking. Request it when booking, as space is limited. Staff help at entrances on race days.
Timing & weather
The first Qatar Grand Prix was in 2021, won by Lewis Hamilton. There was no race in 2022 because of the FIFA World Cup, and it returned in 2023. Lusail's fast, flowing corners make it hard on tyres and drivers.