Last updated: August 2026
Formula 1 might be what brings you to Austin, but the United States Grand Prix is only part of the experience. From the unmistakable climb into Turn 1 at Circuit of The Americas to live music, Texas barbecue and evenings exploring one of the USA’s most exciting cities, Austin delivers a Grand Prix weekend with a personality all of its own.
Circuit of The Americas, usually known simply as COTA, has hosted the United States Grand Prix since 2012 and has become a firm favourite with Formula 1 fans. Away from the track, Austin is famous for its live music, independent food scene and laid-back Texan atmosphere.
Our Paramount Cruises team knows Austin well, having visited the city numerous times for both work and leisure. So whether this is your first visit to COTA or your first time in Texas, here’s what we’d want to know before race weekend.
When is the 2026 United States Grand Prix?
The 2026 United States Grand Prix takes place at Circuit of The Americas from Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October 2026. Friday and Saturday bring the practice sessions and qualifying before the main United States Grand Prix takes place on Sunday.
Race weekend is about much more than the Formula 1 sessions, though. COTA combines the on-track action with fan areas, food, entertainment and major live music performances, so it’s worth allowing plenty of time to explore the venue rather than simply arriving for qualifying or the race.
What is Circuit of The Americas like?
Circuit of The Americas is a purpose-built Formula 1 circuit located outside central Austin. The 5.513-kilometre track features 20 corners and plenty of elevation change, but its most recognisable feature has to be the dramatic climb from the start line towards Turn 1. It’s one of those sections of track that looks impressive on television but feels even steeper when you’re standing beside it.
Further around the lap, the fast sequence of corners from Turns 3 to 6 showcases just how quickly a Formula 1 car can change direction, while other sections of the circuit provide opportunities for overtaking and close racing. One thing that’s easy to underestimate before visiting COTA is its size. This isn’t a compact city-centre circuit like Singapore or Monaco. You’ll be covering plenty of ground during the weekend, and some of it is uphill.
Paramount Cruises top tip: Comfortable shoes are essential at COTA. You’ll probably walk considerably further than you expect, particularly if you’re exploring the fan areas, entertainment stages and different parts of the circuit between sessions.
Don’t rush back to Austin after the racing
One of the things that makes the United States Grand Prix such a great weekend is the entertainment after the track action. COTA attracts major international artists every year, and the 2026 line-up is particularly impressive.
Maroon 5 perform on Friday 23 October, followed by Post Malone on Saturday 24 October. After the Grand Prix on Sunday 25 October, Alesso closes out the weekend.
There are also numerous entertainment areas and stages around COTA throughout race weekend, so there’s plenty happening between the Formula 1 sessions. If you’re planning to stay for the headline performances, think about your return journey before you head to the circuit. Staying later can have the added advantage of letting some of the immediate post-race crowds disperse, but you’ll still want to check the timings of your chosen transport option.
It’s all part of the COTA experience, so unless you’ve got somewhere you urgently need to be, we wouldn’t automatically rush for the exit the moment the chequered flag falls.
What’s the best way to get to the United States Grand Prix?
Unlike some of the other Grand Prix destinations, you can’t simply walk out of your Austin hotel and straight into the circuit. COTA is located outside central Austin, so we’d recommend deciding how you’re going to travel to and from the track before race weekend begins.
Official off-site COTA shuttles are usually one of the easiest options for visitors staying in the city. Services operate from selected locations around Austin and take fans directly to and from the circuit. Exact shuttle locations, timetables and prices can vary, so check the latest COTA information shortly before travelling.
Uber, Lyft and other rideshare services are also an option, although dedicated pick-up and drop-off arrangements are used during the Grand Prix. Heavy traffic is inevitable at peak times, particularly before qualifying and the Grand Prix and immediately after the day’s action finishes.
Whichever option you choose, give yourself far more time than an ordinary journey to COTA might suggest. Getting there early is rarely a problem. There’s plenty happening around the circuit while you wait. Missing the beginning of qualifying because you’re sitting in Austin traffic is considerably less fun.
Paramount Cruises top tip: Paramount Cruises guests stay at ARRIVE Austin on East Sixth Street, putting you in a fantastic position to enjoy East Austin when you’re away from the circuit. We’d recommend working out your race-day transport before the weekend rather than leaving it until Friday morning.
Download the COTA app before you go
The official Circuit of The Americas app is well worth downloading before race weekend. It’s useful for checking the latest schedules, venue information, food and drink locations and circuit maps, and can make navigating such a large venue considerably easier.
We’d download it before leaving the UK rather than waiting until you arrive at the circuit. It’s also sensible to save any important information you might need to your phone before setting off each morning. With tens of thousands of people using their mobiles at the same time, you don’t want to rely entirely on having a perfect signal whenever you need to find something.
Ticket delivery and access can vary depending on how your Grand Prix tickets were booked, so follow the instructions supplied with your own tickets when it comes to accessing them.
Paramount Cruises top tip: Take a screenshot of the COTA map before you travel to the circuit. Work out where your grandstand, entrance and the main entertainment areas are before you arrive. COTA is huge, and a few minutes of planning can save a lot of unnecessary walking.
Getting around Circuit of The Americas
Give yourself time to explore COTA. The circuit stretches across a large site and you’ll find grandstands, general admission areas, food outlets, merchandise, fan experiences and entertainment spread around the venue. Don’t assume that two places which look fairly close together on a map will necessarily be a five-minute walk.
The famous elevation changes that make COTA such an interesting racetrack also mean you’ll encounter hills as you move around the venue. It’s another reason we’d avoid scheduling every minute of your day. If there’s something you particularly want to see on another part of the circuit, give yourself plenty of time to get there.
For your first day, arrive earlier than you think you need to and use some of that time to get your bearings. You’ll appreciate knowing where everything is once Saturday and Sunday’s larger crowds arrive.
What should you wear to the Austin Grand Prix?
Texas can still be surprisingly warm in late October, so don’t assume race weekend will bring cool autumn weather. Check the Austin forecast shortly before travelling and dress for spending much of the day outside. Light, comfortable clothing works well if temperatures are high, while sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat are useful additions for long periods in exposed grandstands.
And once again, wear comfortable shoes. COTA is a large circuit and a Grand Prix weekend can involve thousands of steps each day, so trainers are usually your safest bet. Fancy doing Texas properly? Cowboy boots are welcome, but only if you’ve worn them in first. COTA involves a lot of walking, and blisters are not part of the authentic Grand Prix experience. A cowboy hat or trucker cap is a much lower-risk way to lean into the Austin look and keep the sun off at the same time.
If you’re staying for the evening entertainment, a light extra layer can also be useful once the sun goes down.
COTA is a cashless venue, so make sure you’ve got a suitable card or digital payment option available too.
Austin comes alive during Grand Prix week
The racing might take place at COTA, but Formula 1 fever spreads throughout Austin. Bars, restaurants and entertainment venues embrace race week, while Formula 1 teams, sponsors and brands often stage pop-ups, parties and fan experiences around the city.
The exact programme changes every year, and some of the most interesting events aren’t announced until much closer to the Grand Prix. It’s therefore worth checking what’s happening around Austin in the weeks before you travel rather than planning your entire stay months in advance.
Downtown Austin, East Austin and South Congress are all areas worth keeping an eye on for race-week events. But don’t worry if you don’t find a Formula 1 activation every evening. Austin has more than enough going on without one.
Things to do in Austin during the United States Grand Prix Weekend
Austin is one of those cities where it’s very easy to fill your free time. Known as the Live Music Capital of the World, music is woven into the city’s identity, but there is plenty more to discover. Food is a serious business here, neighbourhoods have distinctly different personalities, and Texas culture is never very far away. If you’ve travelled all the way to Austin for Formula 1, make sure you experience the destination as well as the racetrack.
Experience Austin’s live music scene
You can’t talk about Austin without talking about music. Live performances take place across the city every night of the week, covering everything from country, blues and rock to jazz, indie and electronic music. Sixth Street is perhaps Austin’s most famous nightlife area, with bars and music venues packed into several different sections of the street.
For something that feels a little more local, explore the venues and bars around East Austin, or head towards South Congress and the surrounding neighbourhoods. You don’t necessarily need to book a famous artist or enormous venue either. Half the fun is hearing music spilling out of a bar, walking inside and discovering someone you’ve never heard of before.
Eat proper Texas barbecue
If there’s one food experience we’d make time for in Austin, it’s Texas barbecue. Brisket is the star of the show, slowly smoked until it’s incredibly tender, alongside ribs, sausages and classic sides. Austin has no shortage of famous barbecue restaurants, with names such as la Barbecue, Terry Black’s, Franklin Barbecue and LeRoy and Lewis attracting visitors from around the world.
Queues can be part of the experience at some of the best-known restaurants, so check opening hours and plan ahead if there’s somewhere you desperately want to try. Alternatively, don’t get too caught up in chasing a particular Instagram-famous barbecue joint. There are excellent options all over the city.
Paramount Cruises top tip: Arrive hungry. Texas barbecue portions aren’t shy, and we’d resist the temptation to order everything on the menu just because you’ve spent the day walking around COTA. Brisket, a couple of sides and something cold to drink is a pretty perfect Austin evening.
Discover Austin’s craft beer and coffee scene
Austin’s independent streak extends to what people drink. The city has a thriving brewery scene, with everything from straightforward lagers to more adventurous craft beers produced locally.
You’ll also find plenty of independent coffee shops and roasters, which can be extremely welcome after a late night enjoying Austin’s music scene. If you’re staying around East Austin, you won’t need to go particularly far to find either.
Rather than creating an enormous list before you travel, we’d pick a couple of places close to wherever you happen to be exploring and see what takes your fancy.
Start the day with breakfast tacos
Barbecue might get most of the attention, but Austin takes breakfast tacos almost as seriously. Eggs, potatoes, bacon, chorizo, beans, cheese and salsa appear in seemingly endless combinations, wrapped inside a warm tortilla and served everywhere from dedicated taquerias to food trucks and cafés.
They’re also particularly convenient on a Grand Prix morning when you want something substantial before heading towards COTA. East Austin has plenty of options, including the long-established Juan in a Million, while you’ll find excellent tacos throughout the city. Just don’t underestimate the salsa before you’ve had your morning coffee.
Walk around South Congress
South Congress Avenue, usually shortened to SoCo, is another Austin neighbourhood that’s worth building into your trip. You’ll find independent shops, boutiques, restaurants, bars and some of the city’s most recognisable street scenes, with views towards the Texas State Capitol adding to the atmosphere.
It’s an easy area to spend a few hours wandering, particularly if you want something more relaxed between busy days at COTA. Keep an eye out for Austin’s colourful murals too. They make great photos and have become part of the city’s visual identity.
Spend some time outdoors
Austin isn’t just bars, barbecue and Formula 1. Lady Bird Lake cuts through the heart of the city and provides a welcome change of pace if you want some fresh air before another busy day at the circuit.
The trails surrounding the lake are popular for walking, jogging and cycling, while the water itself is used for kayaking and paddleboarding. If you’ve got a spare morning, a relaxed walk beside the lake can be a very good antidote to the noise and crowds of Grand Prix weekend.
Combine the United States Grand Prix with a Caribbean cruise
Before or after a few high-energy days of Formula 1, live music and exploring Austin, spending some time at sea feels like a pretty good contrast. It’s one of the reasons the United States Grand Prix works so well as part of a bigger holiday.
The USA’s excellent air connections mean it’s easy to combine Texas with Caribbean cruises sailing from ports such as Miami, turning your Grand Prix trip into a much wider adventure.
With Paramount Cruises, you don’t have to choose between an incredible cruise holiday and one of Formula 1’s most exciting race weekends. Our USA Grand Prix cruise packages bring the two experiences together, combining a Caribbean cruise with time in Austin and tickets for the United States Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas.
From tropical days at sea to the roar of Formula 1 cars climbing towards Turn 1, it’s a holiday with two very different kinds of excitement.
