The Australian GP schedule kicks off the 2026 Formula 1 season at Albert Park in Melbourne, marking the first race weekend under the new regulations. With major technical changes debuting on track, fans around the world will be tuning in across very different time zones.
Below you’ll find the full Australian GP schedule in local times for key markets, plus a guide on where to watch the season opener live.
Australian GP schedule: Session times by region
All original session times are listed in Melbourne local time (AEDT, UTC+11) and converted below.
| WHERE | FP1 | FP2 | FP3 | QUALI | RACE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (AEDT) | 12:30 | 16:00 | 12:30 | 16:00 | 15:00 |
| Spain (CET) | 02:30 | 06:00 | 02:30 | 05:00 | 05:00 |
| United Kingdom (GMT) | 01:30 | 05:00 | 01:30 | 05:00 | 04:00 |
| USA – Eastern (ET) | 20:30* | 00:00* | 20:30* | 00:00* | 23:00* |
| USA – Pacific (PT) | 17:30* | 21:00* | 17:30* | 21:00* | 20:00* |
| Mexico (CST) | 19:30* | 23:00* | 19:30* | 23:00* | 22:00* |
| Brazil (BRT) | 21:30* | 01:00* | 21:30* | 01:00* | 00:00* |
| India (IST) | 08:00 | 11:30 | 08:00 | 11:30 | 10:30 |
| Japan (JST) | 10:30 | 14:00 | 10:30 | 14:00 | 13:00 |
*Sessions marked with an asterisk take place on the previous calendar day locally.
Where to watch the Australian GP 2026
Here’s where you can follow the Australian GP schedule live around the world:
- United Kingdom & Ireland: Sky Sports, Channel 4
- Spain, Portugal & Andorra: DAZN
- USA: Apple TV
- Mexico: TUDN, Sky Sports, Izzi
- Brazil: ESPN
- France: Canal+
- Germany: Sky Deutschland, RTL
- Italy: Sky Italia
- Netherlands: Viaplay
- India: FanCode, TATA Play FanCode Sports
- Japan: Fuji TV
- Australia: (local broadcasters TBC closer to event)
- MENA region: beIN Sports
- Latin America: ESPN
Most broadcasters will show full weekend coverage including practice, qualifying and race build-up.
What makes this weekend different?
Beyond just another early-morning alarm for European viewers, the 2026 Australian GP carries extra weight. It is the first competitive outing for the sport’s new generation of cars and power units.
That means:
- First real comparison between teams under new regulations
- Early signs of who interpreted the rules best
- Potential reliability surprises
- Strategy questions with new hybrid balance
The Australian GP schedule is therefore more than just timings on a table. It marks the beginning of a new era.
