A couple of years ago, we decided, on a whim, to attend the inaugural Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix. Ok — it might not technically be the inaugural GP in the city (that honor goes to the 1981 Caesars Palace Grand Prix), but this official comeback of Formula 1 to Vegas was huge, splashy, and well worth the wait.
If one thing is certain, this race has definitely brought thrills, drama, and excitement in the past couple of years. And 2026 should be an even bigger show. Here’s what you need to know if you’re attending this year’s Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Formula 1 Las Vegas: What You Need to Know
Formula 1 Las Vegas: 2026 Dates and Tickets
The 2026 Las Vegas Grand Prix will be held from November 19-21. Tickets can be purchased on the official Formula 1 Las Vegas Website.
As of August 2026, tickets are still available on Ticketmaster for nearly every section. However, if you want to take a bit of a risk and wait for ticket prices to come down, I highly recommend signing up for the F1 Las Vegas Newsletter and waiting for a deal. Last year, we got 44% off tickets for the Lewis Hamilton Fan Zone a week and a half before the race. You can also check resale sites for tickets at a lower price than face value. This, unfortunately, is one of the most expensive races on the F1 calendar, but if you’re open to going at the last minute, you could potentially get a great deal.
General Admission Tickets: The most affordable option for experiencing the Grand Prix. However, you’ll have a very limited view of the track with this ticket type. With General Admission tickets, you can enter your designated fan zone, get a chance to interact with F1 activations, and enjoy complimentary food, water, and soft drinks. Heads up—this ticket is standing room only, so it might not be your most comfortable ticket option.
Grandstand Tickets: If you can’t afford a hospitality ticket, I highly recommend getting a Grandstand Ticket. You’ll get everything a General Admission ticket offers, but you’ll also have an assigned seat in the Grandstands and access to live entertainment. I sat in the West Harmon Grandstands last year, and I loved how easy it was to get food and drinks; there were plenty of things to do, and we kept ourselves entertained — even during last year’s disastrous FP1 session.
Hospitality Tickets: Want to go all out? Experience the Grand Prix like a VIP with a hospitality ticket. With this ticket, you’ll have access to premium, complimentary food and beverage, comfortable, luxurious spots to view the race, and much, much more. If you have the funds and don’t mind dropping thousands of dollars, this is hands down the best way to watch the race.
Formula 1 Las Vegas: Getting There and Getting Around Town
If you’re considering driving to Las Vegas for F1, you should be flexible with your travel plans. Your best bet for driving? Drive a few days before or after the event to avoid traffic. You’ll be guaranteed to sit in horrible traffic for hours if you try to drive out of town and back out to LA the Sunday after the Grand Prix. There are activations and fan experiences before the Grand Prix gets started, so you might want to plan to get in on Tuesday, enjoy Vegas, settle in, and take advantage of a traffic-free experience. Flying is still a good option, but just be wary about driving.
Getting around town was miserable during the race, so be prepared. We stayed off the Strip since hotel rates were sky-high, and commuting between Downtown Las Vegas and The Strip during the Grand Prix was tricky and expensive. Both rideshare and taxi rates were steeply inflated during the race, so plan on making very minimal trips to/from the Strip. If you’re coming in from off the strip, get there before street closures begin and plan to spend several hours on The Strip before the race. Bookmark this article to keep tabs on the latest road closures and alternate routes to take during the Grand Prix weekend.
Also, put on your best pair of walking shoes. You’ll be walking several miles a day, regardless of whether you’re staying off or on the strip!
Formula 1 Las Vegas: What to Wear & What to Bring
If you’re not familiar with Vegas weather, you might assume that it would be hot during the Grand Prix when, in fact, it is quite the opposite. The Vegas Grand Prix is a night race, and it gets chilly once the sun goes down in November. Last year, temperatures dipped into the low-40s (4-6°C) during practices, qualifying, and races, so I’d recommend layering up.
Similar to other sporting events in North America, the Las Vegas Grand Prix allows bags up to no bigger than 12” x 6” x 12”, and any backpacks must be clear. Small bags that do not exceed 4.5” x 6.5” are also allowed.
Lastly, as mentioned earlier in the post, bring comfortable shoes. Getting in and out of the Grandstands and GA fan zones requires a lot of walking, and you’ll be on your feet for quite a bit.
Las Vegas Grand Prix Packing List:
- Clear Bag (You’ll want to rewear these Coach bags!)
- Warm layers (I’m loving Pacsun’s F1 Merch)
- Comfortable Shoes
- Hand Sanitizer
- Portable Phone Charger
- Tickets and Other Event Passes
- Ear Plugs
This is a night race, so you can leave the sunscreen and sunglasses in your hotel room (but make sure to use them during the day!)
Formula 1 Las Vegas: The Grand Prix – Grandstand Experience
As mentioned earlier, we opted for Grandstand tickets last year and loved the experience. A couple of years ago, food and soft drinks were complimentary in the grandstands, but unfortunately, they will not be included in 2026.
The food-and-beverage operation was a well-oiled machine: Each dish was served at an individual stall. There were no long lines to grab food because each stall served only one dish. Unfortunately, this might change this year, now that food is no longer complimentary. Make sure to come hungry — you’re in for an absolute treat!
Formula 1 Las Vegas: Fan Activations
In addition to the events on the track, there are so many pop-ups and things for F1 things to do around the city. I’d recommend arriving a day or two early so you can enjoy as many F1 fan events as you’d like!
Some activations to look out for in 2026 include:
- Williams Fan Zone. The Williams Fan Zone will be returning to Las Vegas in 2025, and it was one of my highlights of the Grand Prix weekend last year. Both Williams drivers and the team principal made appearances, and you can test out an F1 racing simulator, enjoy drinks, shop for limited edition merchandise, and much more!
- Area 15 F1 Simulator. Area 15 is one of my favorite places to visit any time of year, but if you’re in town for the Grand Prix, I’d recommend booking a time to try their Grand Prix Racing Simulator. Let me tell you: this sim is difficult, but it’s a lot of fun to race on. Afterward, enjoy one of the many attractions at Area 15, from LIFTOFF to Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart to Five Iron Golf.
As I learn more about upcoming events, I’ll update this post!
Formula 1 Las Vegas: Is It Worth It?
Honestly? I had a lot of fun these past couple of years at the Vegas Grand Prix. And knowing what I know now, I hope 2026’s event will be even smoother.
Is it insanely expensive? Yes. But living in LA, this was the most convenient race for me to get to, and since we decided to go at the last minute because we live so close to Vegas, we could find discounted hotel rooms and tickets to make it a much more affordable experience.
Going to pretty much any other Grand Prix would have been cheaper, but attending this race was pretty special. Vegas is a hospitality town, after all, and we enjoyed ourselves from start to finish. If this makes sense financially, I’d go for it.
Photos by Tom McGovern & Myself
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