Our new Spanish Grand Prix guide is coming soon.
Formula 1 heads to Madrid in September 2026 for the first Spanish Grand Prix at the brand-new Madring circuit.
The Paramount Cruises team will be heading to Madrid for the inaugural race, and rather than trying to tell you what the experience will be like before anyone has actually experienced it, we’re going to wait until we’ve done it ourselves.
How to Get to the Madrid Grand Prix
One of the biggest advantages of Madrid’s new Formula 1® circuit is its location. Unlike many European Grand Prix venues that require a lengthy journey out of the city, MADRING is located around the IFEMA Madrid exhibition centre, with Metro, CercanÃas train and bus connections from across the Spanish capital.
However, there is one particularly important thing to understand before setting off: MADRING is divided into two completely separate areas, MADRING North and MADRING South.
You cannot walk between the North and South sections once you are inside the circuit, so always check your Grandstand and entrance before travelling. The best station for you will depend on where your seats are located.
Getting to MADRING North
If your Grandstand is located in MADRING North, the most convenient public transport option is generally Valdebebas station.
Valdebebas is served by the C-1 CercanÃas commuter train line. From central Madrid, you can connect to the service from stations including Atocha, Recoletos and Nuevos Ministerios, travelling via ChamartÃn.
MADRING North includes circuit sections 6, 6A, 7, 8, 8A, 9, 9A, 10, 10A, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 15A, 16 and 17.
Getting to MADRING South
For spectators seated in MADRING South, Feria de Madrid Metro station on Line 8 is likely to be the most convenient option.
Line 8 connects the IFEMA area with Nuevos Ministerios in central Madrid, making it relatively straightforward to reach the circuit using Madrid’s Metro network.
Other nearby Metro stations include Mar de Cristal, Canillas and San Lorenzo, although the best station will depend on the entrance shown on your ticket.
MADRING South covers sections 1A, 1, 2, 2A, 3, 3A, 4 and 5.
Paramount Cruises top tip: Don’t simply search for MADRING on Google Maps and follow the first route you’re given. Check whether your ticket is for MADRING North or MADRING South first, then plan your journey to the entrance closest to your Grandstand.
Can You Drive to the Madrid Grand Prix?
We wouldn’t recommend driving directly to MADRING.
Official guidance states that there is no general spectator parking at the circuit itself and private vehicles will not be permitted to access the immediate circuit area.
Public transport is therefore likely to be the easiest way to reach the Spanish Grand Prix, particularly with thousands of spectators travelling to and from the circuit at similar times.
Dedicated shuttle buses are also planned from several locations around Madrid, including Plaza Castilla, Canillejas, Avenida América and the Metropolitano Stadium.
As with any Formula 1® weekend, allow considerably more time for your journey than you normally would. Public transport, stations and entrances are likely to be extremely busy, particularly immediately after qualifying and Sunday’s Grand Prix.
What Is MADRING?
MADRING is Madrid’s new Formula 1® circuit, located around the IFEMA Madrid exhibition district close to Madrid-Barajas Airport.
The 5.4-kilometre circuit combines purpose-built sections with roads around the IFEMA area and features a mixture of high-speed sections, technical corners and one of its most distinctive features, the Peraltada Monumental, a dramatic banked corner expected to become one of MADRING’s signature viewing areas.
Its location is one of the major differences between Madrid and many traditional Formula 1® venues. MADRING is approximately 20 minutes from central Madrid and just a few minutes from the airport, making it possible to combine a Grand Prix weekend with time exploring the city.
Fan Zones will also form a major part of the event, with food and drink, entertainment, simulators, exhibitions and live music planned across the venue.
Paying for Food and Drink at MADRING
The inaugural Madrid Grand Prix is expected to use a cashless wristband payment system called MAD-coins for purchases inside the circuit.
Spectators will be able to load credit onto their wristband and use it for food, drinks and other purchases around the venue.
Full details regarding wristband collection, payment procedures and event timings are expected to be communicated through the official MADRING app closer to each Grand Prix weekend.
Madrid Grand Prix Tickets and the MADRING App
Tickets for the Madrid Grand Prix are being distributed digitally, with QR codes accessible through the event’s mobile ticketing system.
We strongly recommend downloading any required apps and setting up your account before travelling to the circuit. It is also worth making sure your phone is fully charged before leaving your hotel.
Remember that your ticket doesn’t simply determine where you sit. It also determines whether you need to enter through MADRING North or MADRING South, so check your Grandstand and access information carefully before beginning your journey.
Our Madrid Grand Prix Advice
The biggest advantage of MADRING could also be one of the easiest things to underestimate. Having a Formula 1® circuit within Madrid’s public transport network should make getting to the Grand Prix considerably easier than at many European circuits, but that doesn’t mean you should leave your hotel at the last minute.
Grand Prix weekends attract huge crowds and the inaugural event will be the first real test of Madrid’s race-day transport arrangements.
Our advice is simple: work out whether you’re in MADRING North or South, identify your station and entrance in advance, travel early and don’t make plans that depend on leaving the circuit quickly after the race.
We’ll be updating this Madrid Grand Prix guide following the inaugural event with our experience of getting to the circuit, the best transport options, Grandstand views, food and drink, Fan Zones and all the little things that are only possible to learn once Formula 1® has actually raced at MADRING.
Looking for a Grand Prix cruise package in Barcelona? The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya now hosts the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix on a rotational basis, with the race next scheduled to return in 2028.
