Qatar Grand Prix packages for 2026 are built around one fixed weekend at Lusail International Circuit, round 22 of 23 in the Formula 1 season. The race weekend runs from 27 to 29 November 2026. Below: what our packages include, the timetable in UK time, the grandstands and the local rules to know before you fly.
Quick answer
Our Qatar Grand Prix packages start from £1,079pp, two sharing, for 4 nights over race weekend, with flights, a 5* hotel and a race ticket included. Every package is protected under ATOL 10713.
- Circuit
- Lusail International Circuit, 5.419 km, 57 laps.
- Sprint weekend
- No, not in 2026. Some older guides still show a Friday sprint.
- Flight time from London
- About 7 hours nonstop to Hamad International (DOH).
- Entry for UK passports
- Visa waiver on arrival for British citizens, with a passport valid for 6 months from arrival.
What’s in our Qatar Grand Prix packages?
We sell two packages with a race ticket for the 2026 weekend. One is a straightforward race break in Lusail, the other continues to the Maldives after the chequered flag.
| 4-night Qatar Grand Prix package | Qatar Grand Prix and Maldives twin-centre | |
|---|---|---|
| Nights | 4 | 10 |
| Hotels | Fairmont Doha or Raffles Doha, both in Katara Towers, Lusail. | The Ned Doha, then Sun Siyam Iru Fushi, Noonu Atoll. |
| Race ticket | 3-day ticket for practice, qualifying and race. Grandstand not named. | Official 3-day grandstand ticket. Grandstand not named. |
| Transfers to the circuit | Not included. A private arrival transfer is. | Included on all three days, plus airport and seaplane transfers. |
| Flights | Qatar Airways from London Gatwick, economy or business. | From major UK airports, economy or business. |
In business class, the 4-night package is from £2,679pp. The twin-centre is from £2,579pp in economy and £5,379pp in business.
When you compare our quote with others, line up the same points: a grandstand seat or general admission, whether circuit transfers are included and the departure airport. Also check where each hotel sits in relation to Lusail, as that sets your journey to the circuit on all three days.
The 4-night package suits a first Grand Prix or a long weekend fitted around work. The twin-centre suits a bigger trip where the race is one part of the holiday.
Qatar Grand Prix UK time: the 2026 weekend timetable
UK clocks go back on 25 October 2026, so Doha is 3 hours ahead on race weekend. Every session starts in the afternoon or evening in Doha, which leaves each morning free for sleep, the pool or the city.
| Session | Day | Doha time | UK time (GMT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Practice 1 | Friday 27 November | 16:30 | 13:30 |
| Practice 2 | Friday 27 November | 20:00 | 17:00 |
| Practice 3 | Saturday 28 November | 17:30 | 14:30 |
| Qualifying | Saturday 28 November | 21:00 | 18:00 |
| Race | Sunday 29 November | 19:00 | 16:00 |
Which grandstand should you choose for Qatar Grand Prix tickets?
The circuit operator, Lusail Sports Club, names five grandstands and one general admission area. Knowing the names helps you compare quotes that describe the same seat differently.
- Main Grandstand looks along the start-finish straight and into the pit lane. It is the only stand with assigned seats.
- North Grandstand sits between the Main Grandstand and Turn 1, facing the braking zone into the first corner. Seating is unreserved, as in the corner stands.
- T2 and T3 overlook the exit of Turn 1 and the run through Turns 2 and 3, the opening corners of the lap.
- T16 sits at Turn 16, the final corner, where each lap ends before the start-finish straight.
- Lusail Hill is general admission on raised ground overlooking Turn 1. With no seats at all, it rewards an early arrival on race day.
Beyond grandstand and general admission tickets, Lusail Sports Club sells hospitality: Lusail Hill Lounge, Novikov at Premiere Hospitality, the F1 Experiences Champions Club and Premiere Private Suites. These are sold separately, through hospitality.lcsc.qa.
Official tickets are sold through the Lusail Sports Club ticket site (tickets.lcsc.qa) and the F1 Ticket Store at tickets.formula1.com. Every ticket includes access to the fan village and the post-race concert. Children aged 2 and under go free without a ticket, except in hospitality areas, where a full-price ticket is needed.
For a first Grand Prix, we would choose the Main Grandstand. If you prefer watching cars brake and turn, pick a corner stand or Lusail Hill instead.
Getting to Lusail International Circuit
Doha’s Red Line metro runs north from the city to Lusail QNB station. On recent race weekends a free shuttle bus has run from there to the circuit gates in about 20 minutes. The organisers have also issued free three-day metro and tram passes to ticket holders. Check the 2026 event guide before you travel, as these arrangements are confirmed each year.
You cannot walk from Lusail QNB to the track, so use the shuttle. Without a free pass, the metro needs a Standard Travel Card. Taxis use marked drop-off zones outside the circuit. If you drive, the free car park lies west of the circuit via Exit 32, and spaces fill quickly. Traffic builds around sunset, so allow extra time whichever way you travel.
When to arrive and how many nights to book
Fly out on Thursday, so you have a full night’s sleep before Friday practice. The first session starts in the afternoon, so even a delayed arrival leaves room to recover. Four nights, Thursday to Monday, is how our standard package runs. A Monday flight home means no dash to the airport after Sunday’s race and concert.
Extra nights work well either side. Adding a few days before the race lets you see Doha beyond the circuit. The Museum of Islamic Art, Souq Waqif and the Corniche are all on or near the metro network. For a resort stay, extra Doha nights at Banana Island put you on a private island a boat ride from the city.
For a longer trip, the twin-centre flies on from Doha to the Maldives the day after the race, and stays at Iru Fushi until you fly home. For a second race in the Gulf, see our Abu Dhabi Grand Prix holidays. For races elsewhere in the season, see our other Grand Prix holidays from the UK.
What UK travellers need to know before Qatar in 2026
Qatar is conservative, and several local laws differ sharply from the UK.
- Alcohol is only served in licensed venues, mainly hotel bars and restaurants. Drinking in public, or being drunk in public, is illegal. The legal drinking age is 21.
- Dress modestly in public places such as malls and the souq, covering shoulders and knees.
- Photographs of local people without their consent can lead to fines or prison. Ask first, especially around families.
- Medicines that are legal in the UK may be controlled in Qatar. Carry your prescription and a medical report in English or Arabic, issued within the last 6 months. Controlled medicines can need a permit through the Ministry of Public Health’s online service.
Buy travel insurance when you book, not closer to departure. Choose a policy with event-cancellation cover, and read the exclusions for regional conflict.
