Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2026 in Baku: Tickets, Grandstands and Staying Online

The Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix runs on a Saturday in 2026: lights out at 15:00 Baku time (11:00 UTC) on 26 September 2026. A Sunday flight home misses the race.

The 2026 race weekend: dates, times and a Saturday race

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is Round 15 of 23 in 2026, run from Thursday 24 to Saturday 26 September at the Baku City Circuit. It moved off Sunday 27 September, Azerbaijan's Remembrance Day, at the promoter's request.

The on-track schedule, subject to change, all times Baku (UTC+4):

• Wednesday 23 September: pit lane walk, 16:00
• Thursday 24 September: practice 12:30 and 16:00; Calvin Harris at Crystal Hall, 20:00
• Friday 25 September: practice 12:30, qualifying 16:00; Katy Perry at Crystal Hall, 20:00
• Saturday 26 September: Grand Prix, 15:00

No sprint. The 2027 race is set for 24 to 26 September 2027, back on a Sunday.

How to buy tickets for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix

The promoter, Baku City Circuit Operations Company, sells tickets at bakucitycircuit.com through iTicket.AZ. Buy there or from an authorised agent; the promoter disowns tickets from anywhere else.

There are no single-day tickets. Grandstand tickets run Wednesday to Saturday and include the pit lane walk and both concerts; General Admission runs Thursday to Saturday and includes neither.

On the international price list at the time of writing, VAT included: General Admission 180 USD, City 650, PASHA Real Estate (Azneft A and B) 960, Absheron A, B and E 1,490, Absheron C Upper and Lower 1,580. Junior tickets (ages 2 to 16) cost less in every grandstand. The lower manat prices on the same site are for Azerbaijani citizens and residence-permit holders only.

Tickets are non-transferable, non-refundable and not for resale; a refused visa is no refund ground. For 2026 a presidential order of 25 August lets race visitors get a visa on arrival at Azerbaijan's international airports until 30 September by showing a race ticket, e-ticket included; the airport's arrivals page confirms it. Check before you fly.

Which grandstand to choose at Baku City Circuit

At the time of writing, Absheron A, B, C Upper, C Lower and E, Azneft A and B, City and General Admission were on sale; eleven other stands, including Icheri Sheher and Sahil, had sold out.

• Absheron B sits on the start/finish line; Absheron A is at the podium end.
• Absheron C Upper and Lower take in start, finish, braking and pit stops from one seat, and are the only stands flagged as covered.
• Absheron E faces the Turn 1 braking zone.
• Azneft A and B look at Turn 16.
• City is new for the tenth anniversary: 678 seats by the Musical Theatre.
• General Admission buys the fan zone, not a seat.

Absheron E and Azneft A are the wheelchair-accessible stands, booked by phone; the promoter's terms warn that some areas sit in direct sunlight during the 15:00 to 17:00 race.

Getting around Baku on race weekend

The circuit runs through the city centre, so do not drive: there is no spectator parking. Use the metro; Icherisheher and Sahil sit beside the track and 28 May is 700 metres away. Taxis (Bolt and Yango work here) drop you near the circuit, not at the gates. A metro ride costs 0.60 AZN, a BakıKART card 3 AZN and the H-1 airport express 1.30 AZN.

The promoter publishes a road-closure plan every year; none had appeared for 2026 when this guide was written. Assume the central streets close for about a week and book near a metro station outside the ring. Entry is airport-style screening, with ticket and passport needed every day.

Staying connected in Baku: why a Donesim eSIM fits a race weekend

Sort data before you travel: no public Wi-Fi is advertised at the circuit or fan zone.

The usual routes cost time or money. Roaming on your home SIM works, but Azerbaijan sits in many operators' most expensive zone, so check the daily rate. A local SIM means a shop visit with your passport in Baku's busiest week; tourist bundles start at 39 AZN for 30 days (Azercell), and a foreign phone on a local SIM must register its IMEI within 30 days (Bakcell's rules).

A Donesim eSIM skips all of that. Buy it at home, install it from a QR code in minutes and land with data working: no shop, no passport registration and no IMEI clock, because the phone stays on roaming. Your own SIM and number stay in place for calls. Plans run on Bakcell and Azercell and are sized for a trip, not a month: 3 GB for 7 days cost 6.52 USD at the time of writing, against about 23 USD for the smallest tourist bundle, or see every Azerbaijan plan.

Set up your eSIM before you fly

1. Check that your phone supports eSIM and is not locked to a carrier.
2. Buy an Azerbaijan plan while you are still on home Wi-Fi.
3. Scan the QR code from your email or dashboard; see our guide to installing an eSIM with a QR code.
4. After landing, turn on data roaming for the eSIM line only.
5. Before walking to the circuit, download your ticket and an offline map.

Frequently asked questions

How much are Baku F1 tickets?

At the time of writing, General Admission was 180 USD and grandstands 650 to 1,580 USD on the international list, VAT included; check the official site for current prices.

Which grandstand should I choose at Baku City Circuit?

Absheron C for start, finish and pit stops from one covered seat; Absheron E for Turn 1; Azneft for Turn 16 at a lower price.

Does an eSIM work in Azerbaijan?

Yes. A Donesim eSIM installs before you fly on any unlocked eSIM phone and works on Bakcell or Azercell from landing, with no passport registration and no IMEI clock.