Car Events in Spain 2026

Spain’s motorsport calendar in 2026 is headlined by something genuinely new: Formula 1 arrives in Madrid. But beyond that marquee debut, the country offers a rich spread of events that take advantage of its varied terrain, excellent circuits, and a climate that makes outdoor spectating pleasant for most of the year. From volcanic island rallies to Andalusian mountain roads, here’s what’s worth your time.

ERC Andalusia Rally | 17-19 April

The European Rally Championship opens its 2026 season in Cordoba, and the Sierra Morena stages provide a properly demanding start to the year. The roads wind through the Andalusian hills with a mix of tight, technical sections and faster stretches that reward commitment. April in southern Spain means warm conditions and dry tarmac, which tends to produce close competition and some spectacular driving. Cordoba itself is a wonderful city to use as a base, with the rally service park typically set up close to the historic center. It’s a strong combination of competitive rallying and a genuinely pleasant place to spend a weekend.

WRC Rally Islas Canarias | 23-25 April

A week after the ERC gets underway in Andalusia, the World Rally Championship visits the Canary Islands for one of the most visually dramatic rounds on the calendar. The stages run across volcanic landscapes on roads that were carved into mountainsides, with elevation changes that seem almost unreasonable and views out over the Atlantic between corners. The tarmac surface is uniquely abrasive, which changes tire strategy significantly, and the narrow roads with sheer drops on the outside make for proper edge-of-seat spectating. Rally Islas Canarias has grown into one of the fan-favorite rounds on the WRC calendar, and once you see the footage you’ll understand why.

MotoGP Spanish GP | May | Jerez

Jerez hosts the traditional Spanish round of MotoGP, and the Circuito de Jerez has been a fixture on the grand prix motorcycle calendar for decades. The Andalusian sun, the passionate Spanish fans, and a track layout that consistently produces good racing make this one of the most enjoyable rounds to attend. The atmosphere in the grandstands has a football-match intensity to it, especially when a Spanish rider is in contention, and the surrounding area of sherry country and white hilltop towns gives you plenty of reasons to extend the trip.

FIA Hill Climb Subida Al Fito | 9-10 May

Hill climbing might not get the global attention that circuit racing does, but the Subida Al Fito in Asturias is a reminder of how thrilling the discipline can be. This legendary hillclimb winds up through the mountains of northern Spain on a road that offers almost no margin for error. The cars range from purpose-built single-seaters to heavily modified touring cars, and watching them attack the climb at full commitment with spectators lining the roadside is a properly old-school motorsport experience. The Asturian landscape adds to it considerably, green and dramatic in a way that feels more like the Alps than what most people picture when they think of Spain.

Drift Masters Madrid | 16-17 May

Professional drifting comes to the Jarama circuit in May, and the combination of modern drift competition with this historic track just outside Madrid works surprisingly well. Drift Masters has grown into Europe’s premier drifting series, with drivers from across the continent competing in cars that produce absurd amounts of smoke, noise, and sideways angle. Jarama has history going back to the Spanish Grand Prix era of the 1960s and 70s, and while the drifting is obviously a very different discipline, there’s something fitting about the circuit hosting a new generation of motorsport spectacle.

F1 Madrid Grand Prix | 6-8 June

The biggest addition to Spain’s 2026 calendar is the debut of the Madrid Grand Prix. A brand-new circuit built around the IFEMA exhibition complex gives the capital city its first taste of Formula 1, and the anticipation is considerable. New circuits always bring uncertainty about the racing quality, but the designers have had the benefit of learning from recent additions to the calendar. Madrid in early June will be warm and vibrant, and the city’s infrastructure means getting to and from the event should be more manageable than at some of the newer grands prix venues. Whether the track itself delivers great racing remains to be seen, but being there for the inaugural event is the kind of thing you’ll be glad you did.

MotoGP Catalunya GP | 12-14 June

The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya hosts the Catalan round of MotoGP just a week after Madrid’s F1 debut, making June an exceptionally strong month for Spanish motorsport. The Barcelona circuit is a known quantity that reliably produces competitive racing, and the proximity to the city means you can combine world-championship motorcycle racing with everything Barcelona has to offer. The track’s long straight and technical final sector tend to create good overtaking opportunities, and the Catalan fans bring serious energy to the grandstands.

GT World Challenge Barcelona | September

The GT World Challenge Europe visits Barcelona in September for a round of GT3 endurance racing that brings together factory-backed teams from Porsche, Ferrari, BMW, Lamborghini, and Mercedes. The racing is close and hard-fought, with multi-class competition adding strategic depth to what you see on track. September in Barcelona means the worst of the summer heat has passed, and the paddock at GT World Challenge events tends to be very accessible compared to F1 or MotoGP, which makes it a great choice if you want to get close to the cars and teams.

Spanish Grand Prix (F1) | 11-13 September

Madrid gets a second Formula 1 race in its debut season, and by September the teams and fans will have a much better understanding of how the IFEMA circuit races. The second visit often produces better competition as teams arrive with data from the first event and drivers have the track committed to memory. A September date also means slightly cooler temperatures than the June round, which can influence tire behavior and race strategy. Two F1 races in a single city in one season is a rarity, and it makes Madrid one of the most significant new destinations on the 2026 calendar.

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