Global Social SeasonWhere the world gathers ★
Drivers' Parade at the 2021 United States Grand Prix

Motorsport · Formula 1 · Austin

United States Grand Prix

Confirmed · Circuit of the Americas

Formula 1 at Circuit of the Americas outside Austin, a purpose-built track opened in 2012 and contracted to host the race until 2034.

An event page tells you when it happens (with how sure we are of the date), why it matters, how the week around it feels, when to arrive and leave, where people stay, how access works, and which events come before and after it on the circuit.

Dates ConfirmedRound 18 of the 2026 Formula 1 season per Formula 1's official calendar, with the race on Sunday 25 October. ExpectedThe 2027 Formula 1 calendar had not been published as of 6 September 2026 and the circuit's own site carried no 2027 dates. Estimated from the event's pattern of running in the second half of October, which has fallen between the third and fourth weekends in recent years; the estimate could move by a week in either direction. Circuit of the Americas is contracted to host Formula 1 until 2034.
DestinationAustin, United States · Circuit of the Americas
CategoryMotorsport · Formula 1
Importance63 Notable · Circuit Score, editorial and provisional
International drawInternational
AccessTicketed
Typical stay4-5 nights
Best arrivalThursday
Best departureMonday
Typical timingthe second half of October, usually the third or fourth weekend
OrganizerCircuit of the Americas · since 2012
Official sitecircuitoftheamericas.com/ ↗
CalendarAdd to calendar (ICS) · Plan a trip around it
Large crowds cheered the return of Formula 1 to the USA at the 2012 US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, United States Grand Prix Sunset at Circuit of the Americas, United States Grand Prix Formula One cars wind through the infield section of Indianapolis Motor Speedway at the 2003 United States Grand Prix The start of the 1991 United States Grand Prix

Circuit of the Americas sits on eight hundred acres of Texas ranch land southeast of Austin, ten minutes from the airport. Designed by Hermann Tilke and opened in 2012, it is 5.513 kilometers long and openly quotes other circuits: a blind uphill left-hander at the first corner, a fast sequence of esses, a long back straight into heavy braking.

The event is sold as a three-day festival with music at its center, and the circuit's amphitheater stages headline concerts across the weekend.

01Why it matters

This is the United States Grand Prix proper, and the American round with the deepest continuity: the first Formula 1 event at a purpose-built American facility since Indianapolis, running since 2012 with a contract to 2034. In our reading it is the most enjoyable of the three American races to attend without a hospitality pass.

02The week around it

Austin absorbs the weekend into an already crowded autumn: the city's large music festival occupies the first two weekends of October, and race weekend pushes downtown occupancy to its annual peak. Brand activations and ticketed parties cluster on Rainey Street and in East Austin from Thursday.

03When to arrive

Thursday, when the city's programme starts before the track does, leaving Monday.

04Where to stay

Downtown Austin is the default and the right answer for most visitors. Rainey Street and the warehouse district put you inside the social programme; South Congress is calmer; East Austin has the better restaurants. The airport hotels are unglamorous and quickest to the track.

05Access and hospitality

The circuit sells general admission covering the grass viewing areas, reserved grandstands, and club and suite hospitality including a guest house at the far end. Concerts at the amphitheater have historically been included with three-day tickets, and Formula 1's Paddock Club operates at the round.

06Where the social activity happens

At the circuit, the amphitheater and the fan areas behind the main grandstand; in the city, Rainey Street, the warehouse district, East Sixth and the restaurants of East Austin and South Congress.

07Getting there

Commercial aviationAustin-Bergstrom (AUS), ten minutes from the circuit and twenty from downtown.
RailNo useful passenger rail to Austin or the circuit.
CarAlmost everyone drives; the circuit is reached from Texas 130 and local farm roads.
Private aviationAustin-Bergstrom's fixed-base operators, with Austin Executive (EDC) taking overflow.
HelicopterTransfers between downtown and the circuit are sold commercially.

08Practicalities

DressHot-weather clothing with something for a cool evening, a hat, and shoes for long distances on grass and gravel.
WeatherLate October in central Texas is usually warm and dry, with hot afternoons and comfortable evenings, and a chance of a heavy rain system moving through.
Getting aroundThe road network into the circuit is the constraint, and both ends of the day take far longer than twenty kilometers suggests; the downtown shuttle is least painful.
HotelsRace weekend is the peak of Austin's hotel year alongside the March festival, with minimum stays downtown; good rooms go two to three months ahead.
RestaurantsAustin's restaurants and barbecue institutions are fully committed across the weekend; reserve three to four weeks ahead.
Reservation timingHotels two to three months ahead; restaurants three to four weeks; grandstands from spring release.
TicketsSold by Circuit of the Americas through its own site: general admission, reserved grandstands and premium hospitality, with three-day and single-day options.
HospitalityThe circuit sells its own club, suite and guest-house products, and Formula 1's Paddock Club operates at the round.

09History

The United States Grand Prix has had more homes than any race in the championship, from Sebring and Watkins Glen to Long Beach, Detroit and Indianapolis, and it left the calendar entirely after 2007. Circuit of the Americas was privately financed to end that pattern, opening for the 2012 race. Miami and Las Vegas later made Austin one of three American rounds.

10Who is there

American followers from across the southern states, a large Latin American contingent that often continues to Mexico City, Europeans on an autumn trip, and a music audience buying partly for the concerts.

What else is happening

Overlap finder →

Same country

The circuit continues

A night view of the Singapore skyline viewed from Gardens by the Bay East, Singapore Grand Prix SingaporeSingapore Grand PrixOct 1, 2027 AustinUnited States Grand PrixOct 23–25Here Corrected by Jacek Halicki, Mexico City Grand Prix Mexico CityMexico City Grand PrixOct 30 – Nov 1 Autódromo José Carlos Pace, a motorsport race track located in the Interlagos neighborhood of São Paulo, Brazil, and home of, Sao Paulo Grand Prix Sao PauloSao Paulo Grand PrixNov 6–8

Part of: Formula 1 Social Circuit

Dates on record

EditionDatesStatusSourceVerified
2027 ExpectedThe 2027 Formula 1 calendar had not been published as of 6 September 2026 and the circuit's own site carried no 2027 dates. Estimated from the event's pattern of running in the second half of October, which has fallen between the third and fourth weekends in recent years; the estimate could move by a week in either direction. Circuit of the Americas is contracted to host Formula 1 until 2034. Circuit of the Americas - official site ↗ 6 September 2026
2026 ConfirmedRound 18 of the 2026 Formula 1 season per Formula 1's official calendar, with the race on Sunday 25 October. F1 Race Calendar 2026 ↗ 6 September 2026
Confirmed means the organizer or governing body has published the dates. Expected and Historical pattern are estimates from the event’s usual timing and can move. Date pending means nothing reliable can be said yet.

Related events

Start of the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America at the F1 Miami GP, Miami Grand Prix Miami Gardens Miami Grand Prix Apr 30 – May 2, 2027 The Bellagio in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, Las Vegas Grand Prix Las Vegas Las Vegas Grand Prix Nov 19–21 Photograph of SXSW Austin SXSW Mar 15–21, 2027 Mexico City Mexico City Grand Prix Oct 30 – Nov 1 Formula One 2006 Rd.18 Interlagos: #1 Fernando Alonso ( Renault), Sao Paulo Grand Prix Sao Paulo Sao Paulo Grand Prix Nov 6–8

In the press

All news →

Sources

  1. Circuit of the Americas - official site, Circuit of the Americas official accessed 6 September 2026
  2. F1 Race Calendar 2026, Formula 1 governing body accessed 6 September 2026
  3. United States Grand Prix, Wikipedia encyclopedia accessed 6 September 2026
Last verified: 10 September 2026 · Confidence: MediumReport an error on this page