The Barcelona Grand Prix will not be held in 2027 after Formula 1 chiefs confirmed a significant schedule alteration earlier this year. The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will host its first race under a new name on Sunday, as Kimi Antonelli seeks to maintain his championship lead. However, the event will also mark a temporary farewell for the track, as Barcelona will be absent from the Grand Prix calendar next year.
Rotation Agreement with Belgian GP
The change is part of a new rotation arrangement with the Belgian Grand Prix. Formula 1 extended its agreement to hold races at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya until 2032, but under revised terms, the Barcelona GP will now alternate with its Belgian counterpart. The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, commonly known as Spa, will host races in odd-numbered years starting in 2027, meaning Barcelona will not return until 2028, with additional dates scheduled for 2030 and 2032.
This marks the first season since 2012 that Spain has hosted two Grands Prix in the same year. The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was initially set to stage the Spanish Grand Prix this year before Madrid assumed hosting duties at the new Madring venue, which has a contract to hold races annually through 2035.
F1 President Comments
F1 President Stefano Domenicali expressed delight at the continued partnership, saying: "Barcelona is an incredible city, and the Formula 1 fans there always welcome us with such passion, so I am delighted that we will continue to race at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for years to come. The team have invested heavily in the circuit and hosted fantastic fan festivals in recent years, so we look forward to seeing how they continue to develop the experience."
Circuit History and Future
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya first opened in 1991 and staged the Spanish Grand Prix for 34 consecutive years until 2025. It has also been a key venue for F1 pre-season testing, giving drivers extensive knowledge of its layout. Sunday's race will signal the beginning of a new era once the seventh round of the 2026 season concludes.
McLaren's Oscar Piastri won last year's event ahead of teammate Lando Norris, but Antonelli is among the front-runners this weekend. The Mercedes driver has been outstanding this campaign, surging to the top of the standings. Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton also aims for a strong performance after consecutive second-place finishes in Canada and Monaco.
It was confirmed in January 2025 that Spa would extend its agreement to host races until 2032 on an alternating basis, but only this year was it revealed that the slot would be shared with Barcelona.
