Oct 21,2026 | Milo
The 2026 Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix runs from November 27 to 29 at Lusail International Circuit, just north of Doha. It is round 22 of the season and the penultimate race before Abu Dhabi. The weekend uses the standard format, with three practice sessions, qualifying, and the race, and no Sprint.
The race is a night event, which matters if you're watching from another continent. For many viewers it falls in the early morning or the middle of the night.
Qatar is on Arabia Standard Time (UTC+3). The race starts at 19:00 local time on Sunday, November 29. Here are the key sessions converted for several regions. Daylight saving has ended in North America by this date, so the US and Canada are on standard time.
| Session (Qatar time) | US Eastern | UK | India | Singapore / Malaysia | Sydney |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practice 1, Fri 16:30 | Fri 8:30 am | Fri 1:30 pm | Fri 7:00 pm | Fri 9:30 pm | Sat 12:30 am |
| Practice 2, Fri 20:00 | Fri 12:00 pm | Fri 5:00 pm | Fri 10:30 pm | Sat 1:00 am | Sat 4:00 am |
| Practice 3, Sat 17:30 | Sat 9:30 am | Sat 2:30 pm | Sat 8:00 pm | Sat 10:30 pm | Sun 1:30 am |
| Qualifying, Sat 21:00 | Sat 1:00 pm | Sat 6:00 pm | Sat 11:30 pm | Sun 2:00 am | Sun 5:00 am |
| Race, Sun 19:00 | Sun 11:00 am | Sun 4:00 pm | Sun 9:30 pm | Mon 12:00 am | Mon 3:00 am |
For US Pacific time, subtract three hours from the Eastern column. Session times can shift, so check the official F1 schedule the week before.
Broadcasters differ by country. This table follows Formula 1's official broadcast list.
| Country or region | Official broadcaster | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Apple TV | Exclusive US rights from 2026 |
| United Kingdom | Sky Sports F1, NOW | Channel 4 shows free highlights |
| Canada | TSN, RDS, RDS 2, Noovo | Listed on F1's official list; check which sessions and platforms each one carries |
| Australia | Fox Sports, Foxtel, Kayo | Kayo is the streaming-only route |
| Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines | beIN SPORTS | Regional rights holder |
| India | FanCode | Streaming platform |
| Middle East and North Africa (including Qatar) | beIN SPORTS | Regional rights holder |
| China | Tencent, Shanghai TV, Guangdong TV | Check local listings for sessions |
Before you pay, check which sessions your plan includes and whether a separate sports package is needed.
A free live broadcast of the full race is not available in most countries. These are the realistic free options:
Be careful with sites that promise a free full-race stream. Unlicensed streams can be unreliable and may expose viewers to intrusive ads or security risks.
If you’re in the country, beIN SPORTS is the Formula 1 rights holder for the whole Middle East and North Africa region. Coverage is usually available through beIN’s TV channels and its streaming service, but which sessions you can watch depends on the subscription or package you have access to.
Check beIN’s schedule during race week to confirm which channel carries each session and which commentary languages are offered. If you’re staying in a hotel, ask the front desk whether sports channels are included in your room and whether beIN is shown in the lobby or restaurant. A subscription from your home country will not necessarily work in Qatar, so test any streaming login before race day.
The race starts at 19:00 local time on Sunday, so it’s worth deciding where you’ll watch before the evening rather than looking for a screen at the last minute.
Going to the circuit is a different experience. The official ticketing page lists a three-day general admission ticket for Lusail Hill at QAR 600. Ticket categories, prices, and availability can change, so check the official ticketing page before booking. The weekend also includes fan zone activities and live entertainment.
The race is under floodlights, so you'll likely return after dark. Save your ticket offline, screenshot your hotel address in Arabic and English, and plan the trip home before the race ends, because exit traffic builds quickly after the flag.
Live video can use several gigabytes of mobile data over a race weekend. As a rough comparison, Netflix estimates up to 3 GB per hour for HD streaming and up to 7 GB per hour for 4K, although live sports services may use different amounts. Check your streaming app's quality settings before watching over mobile data.
Network performance can vary in crowded venues, so save your digital ticket offline and download essential maps before arriving. A stable connection also helps with rideshares and finding friends.
An eSIM lets you install a data plan before you travel and switch it on when you land, with no local SIM shop. Check that your phone supports eSIM, compare data allowance against how much you expect to stream, and confirm which local network the plan uses. Install it before departure so you can solve any setup problems on home Wi-Fi.
Install a ByteSIM Qatar eSIM before you fly, so mobile data is ready when you land. And pick one that fits your trip length.
View Qatar eSIM→
