2026 Canadian Grand Prix Schedule, Start-Time, Where To Watch

Canadian Grand Prix 2026 Schedule For F1 Montreal Date, Session Times, How to Watch, TV Channel, Live Stream Online.

The 2026 Canadian Grand Prix (officially the Formula 1 Lenovo Grand Prix du Canada) is set for the weekend of May 22-24, 2026, at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Canada. This marks a shift from its traditional June slot to an earlier May date, and it's the first time the event features the Sprint format. It's the seventh round of the 2026 F1 season.


The circuit, located on Notre Dame Island in the St. Lawrence River, remains a fan and driver favorite for its mix of heavy braking zones, flowing high-speed sections, and iconic spots like the Senna 'S' (Turns 1-2), the Hairpin (Turn 10) for overtakes, the Casino Straight, and the infamous Wall of Champions (Turn 14). The track is 4.361 km long with 70 laps for the main race (total distance ~305.27 km). The lap record stands at 1:13.078 (set by Valtteri Bottas in 2019).

When Is Canadian Grand Prix 2026?

The event takes place over the weekend of May 22-24, 2026, shifting earlier from its traditional June slot to improve calendar flow (following the Miami GP). The main race is on Sunday, May 24, 2026.

Where is Canadian Grand Prix 2026?

The race is held at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, a 4.361 km semi-permanent track located on Île Notre-Dame in Parc Jean-Drapeau, in the middle of the St. Lawrence River, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The official address is 222 Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3C 6A1. This has been the permanent home since 1978.

Where to watch the live stream of 2026 Canadian Grand Prix Online?

Canada 

TSN+ → All sessions live (English) with onboard cams, timing, pit lane. ~$8/mo or $80/yr.  

F1 TV Pro → Full coverage (HD/4K, multi-view, no ads during action); often 7-day free trial.  

RDS/Noovo → French-language streams.  

CTV → Main race free (Sunday, May 24) via app/website.

United States 

Apple TV → Exclusive for full weekend (~$12.99/mo or $99/yr; trials via Prime Channels or new Apple device).  

Netflix → Simulcasts the entire Canadian GP weekend (no extra cost if subscribed).

International (where available) 

F1 TV Pro → Best for live HD/4K, onboard cams (check formula1.com for geo-availability; not in US/UK).  

Canadian Grand Prix 2026 Schedule

This is a Sprint weekend (all times local Montreal time, EDT; confirm closer to the event as minor adjustments can occur):


Friday, May 22 

Free Practice 1: 12:30 - 13:30  

Sprint Qualifying: 16:30 - 17:14

Saturday, May 23 

Sprint Race: 12:00 - 13:00  

Qualifying (for the main Grand Prix): 16:00 - 17:00

Sunday, May 24 

Race: 16:00 start (lights out), approximately 2 hours duration (expected finish ~17:59-18:00).

(Note: Some sources list slight variations in converted times, e.g., UK BST start at ~21:00 for the race.)

Canadian Grand Prix 2026 Circuit Detail

The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is a challenging, stop-start track known for its mix of heavy braking zones, quick flowing sections, and low grip due to limited use outside race weeks.

Key features include:

Length: 4.361 km  

Iconic corners: Senna 'S' (Turns 1-2 chicane), Hairpin (Turn 10, prime overtaking spot), Casino Straight, Wall of Champions (Turn 14 – named after crashes by champions Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve, and Michael Schumacher in 1999).  

The track demands precision, as mistakes often end in barriers or the famous wall. It rewards strong braking, traction, and overtaking opportunities, often producing dramatic races with weather variability (especially in May).

Canadian Grand Prix 2026 Laps


The main Grand Prix consists of 70 laps, for a total race distance of approximately 305.27 km (meeting the minimum 305 km requirement for most F1 races).


Canadian Grand Prix Past Champion

The most recent winner (2025) was George Russell (Mercedes), followed by Max Verstappen (second) and Kimi Antonelli (third). 


Historically, the most successful drivers at the Canadian GP are Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton (7 wins each). Ferrari leads constructors with 14 victories overall (some pre-1978 at other venues), followed closely by McLaren with 13. The circuit's first winner in 1978 was Gilles Villeneuve (after whom it's named).

Most F1 Canadian Grand Prix wins.

Michael Schumacher: 7 wins (1994, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004)

Lewis Hamilton: 7 wins (2007, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019)

Nelson Piquet: 3 wins (1982, 1984, 1991)






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