Asan Tata— November 10, 2026The Formula 1 season ends in Abu Dhabi again this year. The Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2026 runs from Thursday, 3 December to Sunday, 6 December at Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island. It is the final round of the championship, and the race itself takes place on Sunday, 6 December at 5pm UAE time.
The weekend is more than a race. Four nights of Yasalam concerts run alongside the track action, and the event falls just after the UAE National Day public holiday, so many visitors combine the two. Prices and times can change, so always check the official race website before you book or travel.
Quick Answer
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2026 takes place from Thursday, 3 December to Sunday, 6 December 2026 at Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Track action runs from Friday, 4 December to Sunday, 6 December, and the race starts at 5pm on Sunday, 6 December. General admission tickets start from AED 745, grandstand tickets start from AED 1,895, and tickets are sold through the official race website and Ticketmaster UAE. After-race concerts at Etihad Live are included with eligible tickets.
When Is the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2026?
The race weekend lasts four days, from Thursday, 3 December to Sunday, 6 December 2026. Thursday is a fan and entertainment day, and the cars take to the track on Friday, building to the race on Sunday afternoon.
The event is the 23rd and final round of the 2026 Formula 1 season, and the 18th edition of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which has closed the season at Yas Marina Circuit since its first race in 2009. The Sunday race is a twilight race, starting in daylight and finishing under the floodlights.
The table below shows the on-track sessions in UAE time. All times come from the official Formula 1 schedule.
| Day | Session | UAE Time |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, 4 December | Practice 1 | 1.30pm – 2.30pm |
| Friday, 4 December | Practice 2 | 5.00pm – 6.00pm |
| Saturday, 5 December | Practice 3 | 2.30pm – 3.30pm |
| Saturday, 5 December | Qualifying | 6.00pm – 7.00pm |
| Sunday, 6 December | Race (58 laps) | 5.00pm |
Qualifying on Saturday decides the starting order for the race.
Where the Race Takes Place
The race is held at Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island, about 30 minutes by car from central Abu Dhabi and about one hour from Dubai. The circuit was built between 2007 and 2009, and it hosted its first Grand Prix in 2009.
The track is 5.28 kilometres long, and the race runs for 58 laps, a total distance of 306.188 kilometres. Changes made before the 2021 race, including a banked Turn 9, shortened the lap and added more overtaking chances. The fastest lap at the circuit stands at 1 minute 25.637 seconds, set by Kevin Magnussen in 2024.
The circuit is known for its long straight between Turns 5 and 6, which is 1.2 kilometres long and gives drivers one of the best overtaking spots on the calendar. The Yas Hotel, with its curved glass roof, sits over part of the track, and boats in the marina watch the race from the water.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Ticket Prices
Tickets for the 2026 race are sold through the official Abu Dhabi Grand Prix website and Ticketmaster UAE, the official ticketing partner. Tickets are digital and appear in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix app, where they can also be transferred to family and friends.
Starting prices listed in November 2026 are shown below. The exact price depends on the stand, the number of days, and how early you book.
| Ticket type | What it covers | Starting price |
|---|---|---|
| General admission (single day) | Roaming access to the circuit and fan zones for one day | From AED 745 |
| General admission (4 days) | All four days, Thursday to Sunday | From AED 1,695 |
| Grandstand (4 days) | Reserved seat for all four days | From AED 1,895 |
| Premium (4 days) | Premium seating and hospitality areas | From AED 3,495 |
| Hospitality | Fine dining, suites and premium service | From AED 7,995 |
General admission gives roaming access rather than a reserved seat. You watch from the Abu Dhabi Hill area and the Oasis fan zones, where large screens show the race. Grandstand tickets give you a reserved seat. The Main Grandstand looks over the start and finish straight, while the West Grandstand is a good spot for the overtaking into Turn 6.
Concert upgrades start from around AED 295. Golden Circle upgrades are also available for the after-race concerts, giving access closer to the stage.
What Your Ticket Includes
A race ticket brings more than track access. The organiser’s ticket page lists several extras, and the exact extras depend on the ticket type you buy.
After-race concerts at Etihad Live are included with eligible Grand Prix tickets. Three-day and four-day ticket holders also get a day at one Yas Island theme park, plus entry to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Qasr Al Watan, the Zayed National Museum and the Natural History Museum between 2 and 7 December.
There are five Oasis fan zones around the circuit, with food, entertainment and driver interviews. Children need their own ticket, and ticket prices and age rules differ by category, so check the age policy on the official website before you book for a child.
How to Buy Tickets
Buy only through the official race website or Ticketmaster UAE. Buying from an unknown reseller carries a real risk, because tickets are digital and tied to the app, and a screenshot or a printed copy will not get you in.
First, choose the number of days you want. A four-day ticket covers Thursday to Sunday and includes the concerts, while a single-day ticket suits visitors who only want race day or qualifying. Second, pick general admission if you are happy to roam and watch on screens, or a grandstand if you want a reserved seat. Third, create a Ticketmaster account set to the UAE region, because tickets can take up to 24 hours to appear in the app.
Book early if you want a specific grandstand. Popular stands sell out first, and prices rise as the remaining stock falls.
Yasalam After-Race Concerts 2026
The Yasalam programme, presented by etisalat and organised by Ethara, runs from Wednesday, 2 December to Sunday, 6 December, with seven after-race concerts and 12 artists across several venues on Yas Island.
The line-up was completed on 28 October 2026, when Kings of Leon were confirmed for Thursday night, replacing Zara Larsson. The table below shows the confirmed line-up.
| Date | Artists | Venue and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, 2 December | Andrea Bocelli | Etihad Arena, Yasalam Classics, separate ticket |
| Thursday, 3 December | Kings of Leon and Lewis Capaldi | Etihad Live, after-race concert |
| Friday, 4 December | Jennifer Lopez and Alex Warren | Etihad Live, after-race concert |
| Saturday, 5 December | Imagine Dragons | Etihad Live, after-race concert |
| Sunday, 6 December | The Chainsmokers and The Script | Etihad Live, after-race concert |
Andrea Bocelli opens the programme on Wednesday, 2 December with his Romanza Tour at Etihad Arena. This is a Yasalam Classics show, not an after-race concert, and it needs a separate ticket. The after-race concerts begin on Thursday, when Kings of Leon and Lewis Capaldi share the stage at Etihad Live.
Friday brings Jennifer Lopez with Alex Warren, after the first day of on-track action. Imagine Dragons headline Saturday night after qualifying, and the weekend closes on Sunday with The Chainsmokers and The Script, straight after the race. After-race concerts are only open to Grand Prix ticket holders, with Golden Circle upgrades available.
There is more music beyond the main stage. Anyma brings his Anyma presents AEDEN show to Yas Gateway Park on Friday, 4 December as the Yasalam Official After-Party. That show is separately ticketed and limited to visitors aged 21 and over. DJs also play at 16/360, a new venue with views of the track: Shimza on Friday, CamelPhat on Saturday, and Black Coffee on Sunday.
Getting to Yas Marina Circuit
Public transport is the easiest way to reach the circuit on race weekend, because roads around Yas Island get very busy and parking fills up early. Free shuttle buses run around Yas Island during the event, linking the hotels, the fan zones and the circuit gates. Visitors from Dubai should allow about one hour by car in normal traffic, and longer on race weekend. Your gate is shown on your ticket in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix app, and different gates serve different grandstands.
National Day Weekend and the Grand Prix
The race weekend lines up with the UAE National Day break, which makes it an easy trip for residents. National Day falls on Wednesday, 2 December 2026, and the public holiday runs for two days, 2 and 3 December, for public and private sector workers. With the weekend that follows, workers get a four-day break from Wednesday to Saturday without using annual leave.
That means the Yasalam programme opens on the first holiday evening, with Andrea Bocelli at Etihad Arena on Wednesday, 2 December, and the race itself falls on Sunday, 6 December. Hotels on Yas Island fill up early, because the holiday and the race fall together, so book early.
What to Know Before You Go
December weather in Abu Dhabi is mild during the day and cooler in the evening, so bring a light layer for the 5pm race and the late concerts. Arrive early on race day, and keep your phone charged, because your ticket, your gate, and the concert access all live in the app. The line-up and the session times can still change, so check the official Formula 1 and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix pages before you travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2026?
The race weekend runs from Thursday, 3 December to Sunday, 6 December 2026 at Yas Marina Circuit, and the race starts at 5pm on Sunday, 6 December.
How much do Abu Dhabi Grand Prix tickets cost?
Starting prices listed in November 2026 are general admission from AED 745, four-day general admission from AED 1,695, grandstands from AED 1,895, premium from AED 3,495, and hospitality from AED 7,995. Prices vary by stand and by how early you book.
Where can I buy official Abu Dhabi Grand Prix tickets?
Buy through the official Abu Dhabi Grand Prix website or Ticketmaster UAE. Tickets are digital and appear in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix app. Do not buy from unknown resellers, because screenshots and printed copies are not accepted at the gate.
Are the Yasalam concerts included in the ticket?
After-race concerts at Etihad Live are included with eligible Grand Prix tickets. Andrea Bocelli on Wednesday, 2 December is a separate Yasalam Classics show at Etihad Arena. The Anyma after-party on Friday is also separately ticketed and limited to visitors aged 21 and over.
How do I get to Yas Marina Circuit?
Public transport and the free Yas Island shuttle buses are the easiest options. The circuit is about 30 minutes from central Abu Dhabi and about one hour from Dubai by car.
Can I visit the Grand Prix during the National Day holiday?
Yes. The public holiday runs on 2 and 3 December 2026, and the race weekend runs from 3 to 6 December, but hotels on Yas Island book up early, so reserve ahead.
Disclaimer
This is an independent travel guide, not an official publication of Formula 1, Ethara, Yas Marina Circuit, or the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Ticket prices, session times, concert artists and travel arrangements can change, so confirm the latest details on the official Formula 1 and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix websites before you book or travel.
Sources
Formula 1, Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2026 race page (session times, circuit facts). Formula 1, “Kings of Leon complete star-studded line-up for 2026 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix”, 29 October 2026 (Yasalam line-up). Abu Dhabi Grand Prix official tickets page (ticket types, inclusions). What’s On, Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2026 guide, updated 9 November 2026 (starting prices, transport).
Last Updated: 10 November 2026
Asan Tata is an independent information platform providing simple, practical guides on UAE visas, banking, insurance, driving licences, and government-related services. Our team researches information from reliable and official sources to make complex topics easier to understand.