Baku F1 2026: How the Weekend Ran, Day by Day

The Formula 1 Qatar Airways Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2026 ran for three days. But its timing differed from a usual Friday-to-Sunday event. The schedule was Thursday 24 September to Saturday 26 September, with the race on Saturday rather than the usual Sunday. That kind of detail affects flights, hotel nights and any decision to leave Baku after the race.

Session times below are the ones the organiser published for 2026. When the next schedule appears on bakucitycircuit.com, use it rather than this table. The value of a day-by-day plan is simple. It puts the fixed track action first and leaves the city exploration flexible.

The 2026 timetable

Times are local Baku time, from the organiser’s 2026 schedule page.

Day	What	Time
Wed 23 Sep	Pit Lane Walk	16:00 – 17:30
Thu 24 Sep	First Practice	12:30 – 13:30
Thu 24 Sep	Second Practice	16:00 – 17:00
Thu 24 Sep	Calvin Harris, Crystal Hall	20:00
Fri 25 Sep	Third Practice	12:30 – 13:30
Fri 25 Sep	Qualifying	16:00 – 17:00
Fri 25 Sep	Katy Perry, Crystal Hall	20:00
Sat 26 Sep	Drivers’ Presentation	13:00 – 13:30
Sat 26 Sep	National anthem	14:44
Sat 26 Sep	Azerbaijan Grand Prix	15:00
Sat 26 Sep	Podium ceremony	17:00

Two things in that table caught people out, and both are worth checking in any future schedule.

The first is Wednesday. The 2026 race weekend was sold as three days and the track opened on the fourth. Anyone who arrived on Thursday morning had already missed the pit lane walk, which is the one time you stand on the circuit surface.

The second is that the concerts were not at the circuit. Crystal Hall is a separate venue. A 20:00 start meant leaving the centre well before it and getting back around midnight, twice, on the two busiest nights of the week.

Thursday: Practice 1 and Practice 2

In 2026 Thursday 24 September was the opening day, with Practice 1 and Practice 2. A practice day is a useful moment to learn the walking route from your hotel. Find the ticket gate and see how the circuit boundary changes the street pattern. The long shoreline main straight and the Old Town section offer two very different Baku views. Use the sessions to understand the place before the busiest days.

Keep any city exploration close to the area you will use later. Icheri Sheher’s old walls are part of the circuit setting, and the waterfront reflects the very different speed of the main straight. Avoid a rigid city checklist that makes you late for the route back to the circuit.

Friday: Practice 3 and qualifying

In 2026 Friday 25 September had Practice 3 and qualifying. Qualifying day is the day to leave more margin in the travel plan. Road closures remain in force and there is no venue parking. Taxis or rideshares stop at designated points rather than at the entrances. Cross the perimeter through the footbridges and underpasses on foot.

If you are meeting friends, agree a point outside the most confusing part of the circuit before you enter. This is simpler than trying to coordinate across the track after the session.

Saturday: Race and departure choices

In 2026 Saturday 26 September was race day. Arrive early enough for the walking approach and keep the post-race plan simple. A Saturday format means a departure may fall on Saturday evening, the next morning, or after an extension to Gabala or Guba. If you have a flight, allow extra time for the road situation after the race. Check the pickup plan in advance.

Put the practical pieces beside the schedule

The weekend plan is only one layer. GYD is about 20 km from the city centre, so the airport transfer should be planned separately from circuit access. A driver can take you to a hotel area, while the final circuit approach must still be on foot from a permitted point. Review the circuit guide and arrival checklist before race week.

Make the fixed parts work first

Treat the ticket, hotel address and arrival time as the fixed parts of the trip. Then allow room for the city to work differently during a street-race weekend. The roads around the circuit close on race days. The most useful plan is one that still works when the final walk is longer than expected. Keep your hotel address, ticket details and meeting point saved offline.

Arrange the journey around your plan

RH Travel can plan a private transfer around the details you already know. A driver can meet a guest with a name board in the arrivals hall, at the exit or in the car park. The choice depends on the guest’s preference. The driver waits until the guest comes out, with no time limit. Night travel is the same price. Child seats are available on request, and payment can be made by cash, card or bank transfer. Service is available in Azerbaijani, Russian and English.

For an airport arrival, share the flight, hotel area, group size and luggage. A sedan is right for one large bag. A minivan can take up to four bags. This lets the transfer be planned for the actual journey rather than for a generic race-weekend assumption.