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Monaco Grand Prix 2026 Weekend Guide

Monaco Grand Prix 2026 weekend schedule start times and how to watch guide

The Monaco Grand Prix 2026 takes place on June 5 to 7 in Monte Carlo. It is round 6 of the 2026 F1 season and one of the most watched races on the calendar. The track has not changed since 1929 and modern F1 cars were never designed to fit on it.

When Is the Monaco Grand Prix 2026

The Monaco Grand Prix 2026 runs from Friday June 5 to Sunday June 7. The race itself is on Sunday June 7.

This year Monaco moved to June instead of the usual late May slot. F1 swapped the Monaco and Canadian GP dates on the 2026 calendar. So if you are used to watching Monaco on the May bank holiday weekend, note the date has shifted.

The race starts at 3:00 PM local time in Monte Carlo, which is 2:00 PM in the UK and 9:00 AM in New York.

What Is the Monaco Grand Prix 2026 Full Schedule

Here is the full 2026 Monaco GP weekend schedule in local Monte Carlo time (CET):

Friday June 5

  • Practice 1: 1:30 PM
  • Practice 2: 5:00 PM

Saturday June 6

  • Practice 3: 12:30 PM
  • Qualifying: 4:00 PM

Sunday June 7

  • Race: 3:00 PM

Qualifying at Monaco matters more than at almost any other race. The track is so narrow that overtaking during the race is nearly impossible. Starting position often decides the result.

What Time Does the Monaco Grand Prix 2026 Start

The Monaco Grand Prix 2026 starts at 3:00 PM local Monte Carlo time on Sunday June 7.

Here are the start times by region:

  • UK: 2:00 PM BST
  • Pakistan: 6:00 PM PKT
  • New York: 9:00 AM ET
  • Los Angeles: 6:00 AM PT
  • Toronto: 9:00 AM ET
  • Sydney: 11:00 PM AEST
  • Dubai: 5:00 PM GST
  • Berlin: 3:00 PM CEST (same as Monaco)
  • Amsterdam: 3:00 PM CEST (same as Monaco)

The race runs for 78 laps and usually finishes in around two hours.

Where Is the Monaco Grand Prix Held

The Monaco Grand Prix is held on the Circuit de Monaco in Monte Carlo, a tiny principality on the French Riviera between France and Italy.

The circuit is 3.337 kilometres long and has 19 turns. It runs through the actual streets of Monaco. There is no permanent race track. F1 cars drive through tunnels, past hotels, and alongside the harbour. The barriers are right next to the racing line the whole way around.

It is the shortest circuit on the 2026 F1 calendar and also the slowest. Top speed at Monaco is around 288 km/h. At a power circuit like Monza, cars hit over 360 km/h. The tight layout makes raw speed almost irrelevant here.

The total race distance is 260 km across 78 laps.

Where to Watch the Monaco Grand Prix 2026

United States: Every session is live on Apple TV through the new F1 channel on the platform.

United Kingdom: Sky Sports F1 has every session live. Non-subscribers get free race highlights on Channel 4.

Canada: TSN in English and RDS in French. TSN Plus streams online at around CA$8 a month.

Australia: Fox Sports via Foxtel has every session live. Kayo Sports streams it from AU$25 a month.

Pakistan: F1 TV Pro covers every session live including onboard cameras and team radio.

Netherlands and Germany: Viaplay for Netherlands. Sky Germany for German viewers.

Everywhere else: F1 TV Pro works in most remaining countries.

What Makes the Monaco Grand Prix Different

Monaco is not the fastest race. It is not the longest race. But it is the one race that every driver wants to win.

The track has barely changed since 1929. Modern F1 cars are not designed for streets this narrow. Nelson Piquet once said driving Monaco is like riding a bicycle around your living room. That is the best description of it.

Overtaking is almost impossible. In 2003 there was not a single on-track pass during the entire race. The driver who qualifies on pole has a massive advantage because passing simply does not happen the way it does elsewhere.A safety car appearance here can completely change the race outcome.

Monaco rewards precision over speed. One millimetre too close to the barrier and your race is over. Drivers have no room for mistakes and no room to recover from one. That pressure is why Monaco produces some of the most memorable moments in F1 history.

Ayrton Senna won here six times. Charles Leclerc, who grew up in Monaco and learned to swim in the pool at the chicane, won his first Monaco GP in 2024. McLaren has more Monaco wins than any other team with 16.

FAQ

How many laps is the Monaco Grand Prix?

The Monaco Grand Prix is 78 laps of the 3.337 km Circuit de Monaco, covering a total race distance of around 260 km.

Who won the Monaco Grand Prix last year?

Lando Norris won the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix for McLaren. His winning time was 1 hour 40 minutes and 33 seconds.

Is the Monaco Grand Prix held on a street circuit?

Yes. Monaco is a street circuit. The race takes place on the public roads of Monte Carlo. There is no permanent race track. The barriers are placed along the streets for race weekend and removed afterward.

When did Monaco first join the F1 calendar?

Monaco has been part of the F1 World Championship since the very first season in 1950. The Monaco Grand Prix itself dates back to 1929. The 2026 race is the 72nd time Monaco has counted toward the F1 championship.

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