Barcelona is once again beating to the rhythm of F1®

Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya today launched the FORMULA 1 MSC CRUISES GRAN PREMIO DE BARCELONA-CATALUNYA 2026 (12-14 June) and its major inaugural event in Barcelona, the F1 Barcelona Fan Village (9-13 June). The city centre will once again host an exciting programme of activities to celebrate the arrival of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship and bring it closer to the public.

The event was attended by Miquel Sàmper, Catalan Minister for Business and Labour and President of Circuits de Catalunya, and Pau Relat, Chairman of the Board at Fira de Barcelona and Fira Circuit.

The institutional representation was completed by Pol Gibert, Secretary General of the Catalan Ministry of Business and Labour and CEO of Circuits de Catalunya; Pere Rodríguez, Mayor of Montmeló; Anna Álvarez, Coordinator of the Economic Development and Tourism Department of the Barcelona Provincial Council; Raquel Gil, Councillor for Economic Promotion at Barcelona City Council; and Josep Mateu, President of the RACC.

From the sporting world, two major national figures from the championship took part: Pedro Martínez de la Rosa, former F1 driver and ambassador for the Aston Martin Aramco team, and Marc Gené, also a former F1 driver and ambassador for the Scuderia Ferrari HP team.

The F1 Barcelona Fan Village, in detail

Against this very special backdrop, the Circuit has organised a series of activities in Plaça de Catalunya to commemorate the event’s long-standing ties with Barcelona and to ensure an unforgettable Grand Prix for fans and the city’s residents alike.

• Where: Plaza de Catalunya
• When: from 9 to 13 June, from 12 noon to 9:00 p.m.
• Admission: free, but registration via the App is required (placenet.app)
• What’s on: F1-related activities and experiences, single-seater car exhibition, live music, food and drink, entertainment for all ages, and the chance to follow the Barcelona-Catalunya GP qualifying sessions live.

One of the main highlights of the Village will be the concert by the Philharmonia Orchestra of London, which will perform “84 Bells of Gaudí”, a piece composed in honour of the architect to mark the centenary of his death.

Other attractions of the Barcelona-Catalunya F1 GP

Some details about the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix have also been revealed today, including the activities and attractions that visitors will find all around the venue.

To begin with, the Circuit has three official grandstands this year dedicated to World Championship drivers and teams. The Carlos Sainz Grandstand is back, a classic feature that will once again fill Grandstand B with 3,000 die-hard fans of the Madrid-born driver. The big new feature this year is Alonso Land, a paradise for Alonso fans. This is a large entertainment area (General Admission and Grandstand N) dedicated to the two-time world champion and Circuit ambassador. Fans in these areas will enjoy exclusive activities and a limited-edition merchandise pack. Last but not least, the Circuit has added the Scuderia Ferrari HP Grandstand, which is designed for true tifosi and is located in Grandstand M, offering spectacular views.

As usual, there will also be activities for the public in the Circuit’s two Fan Zones (one behind the Main Grandstand and the other behind Grandstand N) during the event, as well as the classic Pit Walk and Open Track. As every year, a mobility plan has been developed to make access to the circuit as easy as possible, alongside other initiatives relating to sustainability and connectivity to ensure that fans have an unforgettable experience at the Circuit.

Statements from the event

Miquel Sàmper, Minister of Business and Labour of the Generalitat de Catalunya and President of Circuits de Catalunya:

“The 2026 Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix is not only a world-class sporting event, but also an opportunity for Catalonia to showcase itself to the world through what it does best: combining talent, innovation, organisational skills and national pride.”

Pau Relat, Chairman of the Board at Fira de Barcelona and Fira Circuit:

“Hosting the Formula 1 Grand Prix is an opportunity to showcase Barcelona and the country to the world through organisational excellence and high-quality services. At Fira de Barcelona, we are promoting a model that integrates the city and the venue, and which guarantees a first-class experience in terms of mobility, sustainability and customer service, consolidating the Circuit as an international benchmark.”

Pedro de la Rosa, former F1 driver and ambassador for Aston Martin Aramco:

“It’s going to be a tough weekend. You know how the season has started for us. But we have our very own Gaudí in the form of Adrian Newey. The project is spectacular; we just need to be patient. We’ll start to get back on track little by little, perhaps after the summer.  I don’t know if this will be Fernando’s last year either. What I do know is that he has incredible drive and vitality, even in less competitive cars. There are plenty of races, but there’s only one Fernando Alonso.”

Marc Gené, former F1 driver and ambassador for the Scuderia Ferrari HP team:

“The change to the F1 regulations has been very challenging, and it is surprising that the cars are now racing in Grand Prix events when, at the start of the year, it was unthinkable that they would manage to complete more than 100 laps during the test held at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. That is partly thanks to the great work done by the manufacturers, simulators, etc. Pedro and I come from a completely different era, when testing was done on the track. For us, it will be a weekend of improvements, and we hope to go head-to-head with Mercedes.”