The 2026 Formula 1 World Championship kicks off on March 6th with free practice for the Australian Grand Prix. For motorsport fans, a key question arises: where can you watch the races this season? This guide breaks down all the available subscription options, costs, and ways to save money on Formula 1 coverage.
How to Watch Formula 1 in 2026?
The television rights for the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship remain consistent with the previous season. Sky holds the exclusive rights to broadcast all races, both live and on-demand through its NOW streaming platform. Italy’s TV8 will offer delayed broadcasts of select race weekend events.
But what specific packages are available for motorsports enthusiasts? Here’s a detailed appear:
- Sky Sport: Comprehensive coverage including all F1 races, MotoGP, European club competitions, and other Sky sports content (excluding Serie A, Serie C, and international championships, which are part of the Sky Calcio package). This package as well includes access to series and entertainment shows.
- NOW Sport: A single subscription providing access to all of Sky’s sports content, from Formula 1 to various championships.
- Tv8: Delayed broadcasts of some race weekend events, typically qualifying and the Grand Prix race itself, with the exception of the Italian Grand Prix, which is shown live.
The coverage offered by Sky and NOW is identical; the differences lie in costs, viewing methods, and the additional content included in each subscription.
Formula 1 Streaming: NOW Offers
As mentioned, NOW consolidates all sports content into one subscription, NOW Sport, encompassing both Sky Sport and Sky Calcio content. Accessing the platform doesn’t require a decoder or specific device; a web browser or a compatible device with the app is sufficient.
The subscription cost varies depending on the chosen payment method: a monthly subscription is more expensive but allows cancellation every 30 days, while an annual subscription offers a discount but requires a minimum 12-month commitment. Bundled offers including series and movies are also available. Here’s a breakdown of the pricing:
| NAME | FEATURES |
|---|---|
|
Now Sport |
No commitment
3 Serie A matches per round, Champions League, Formula 1, MotoGP, Europa League, Conference League, Serie C, Tennis, Basketball. |
 Now Sport |
Minimum 12-month commitment
3 Serie A matches per round, Champions League, Formula 1, MotoGP, Europa League, Conference League, Serie C, Tennis, Basketball. |
|
Cinema + Sport + Entertainment |
Minimum 12-month commitment
All Sky sports, series tv Italian and international, entertainment shows, movies. |
| Go to Nowtv.it | |
NOW Sport subscribers can watch live events on one device. To increase this to two devices, you can activate the NOW Premium add-on, which costs €5 per month and also removes advertising from on-demand content (but not live events).
Motorsports and Series with Sky Sport
Sky’s dedicated motorsports subscription is Sky Sport, which also includes the Champions League, tennis, and all Sky programming not covered by Sky Calcio (Serie A, Serie C, Premier League, Bundesliga, Ligue 1). The subscription also includes Sky TV shows and entertainment, and offers a discounted price for the first 6 months, with an 18-month commitment.
Unlike NOW, watching Sky requires connecting the Sky Stream decoder to your television. Alternatively, you can stream content using the Sky Go app, but What we have is only available on smartphones and PCs. Here are the prices:
| Name | Info |
|---|---|
 Sky TV + Sky Sport + Sky UltraHD |
After 6 months goes to 29,99€
|
| Go to Sky.it | |
The current Sky Sport offer also includes the Sky Ultra HD option, allowing you to watch select events in 4K, free for 6 months. After the promotional period, the cost increases to €5.
If you’ve never been a Sky customer, you can try all the content for 30 days, with no commitment, for 9€ thanks to the Try Sky offer.
Which Subscription Should You Choose?
Considering that the events broadcast are the same, the main differences between Sky and NOW are price, viewing method, and additional content.
If your priority is saving money while only watching Formula 1, the annual subscription to NOW Sport is the most cost-effective option. If you’re looking for an option that also includes entertainment, the Sky Sport + Sky Tv package is more convenient.
Regarding viewing methods, choose NOW if you want the flexibility of streaming, or Sky Sport for higher video quality and the extra features of the decoder.
The Tv8 option is obviously the most affordable as it’s a free-to-air channel, but you won’t be able to follow any races live, except for the Italian Grand Prix.
The 2026 Formula 1 Calendar
The Formula 1 season begins in Australia and ends in December with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Here’s the complete calendar, but a note of caution: the conflict in Iran that erupted in late February could cause changes.
Following the Japanese Grand Prix in April, F1 is scheduled to move to an area near the conflict. Currently, there’s no official news, but it’s possible these races will be moved to alternative circuits such as Imola and Istanbul.
- 6-8 March: Australian GP (Sky Sport, NOW Sport)
- 13-15 March: Chinese GP (Sky Sport, NOW Sport, delayed TV8)
- 27-29 March: Japanese GP (Sky Sport, NOW Sport)
- 10-12 April: Bahrain GP (Sky Sport, NOW Sport)
- 17-19 April: Saudi Arabian GP (Sky Sport, NOW Sport)
- 1-3 May: Miami GP (Sky Sport, NOW Sport, delayed TV8)
- 22-24 May: Canadian GP (Sky Sport, NOW Sport)
- 5-7 June: Monaco GP (Sky Sport, NOW Sport)
- 12-14 June: Barcelona-Catalunya GP (Sky Sport, NOW Sport)
- 26-28 June: Austrian GP (Sky Sport, NOW Sport)
- 3-5 July: British GP (Sky Sport, NOW Sport, delayed TV8)
- 17-19 July: Belgian GP (Sky Sport, NOW Sport)
- 24-26 July: Hungarian GP (Sky Sport, NOW Sport)
- 21-23 August: Dutch GP (Sky Sport, NOW Sport, delayed TV8)
- 4-6 September: Italian GP (Sky Sport, NOW Sport – live TV8)
- 11-13 September: Spanish GP (Sky Sport, NOW Sport)
- 24-26 September: Azerbaijan GP (Sky Sport, NOW Sport)
- 9-11 October: Singapore GP (Sky Sport, NOW Sport, delayed TV8)
- 23-25 October: USA – Austin GP (Sky Sport, NOW Sport)
- 30 Oct – 1 Nov: Mexican GP (Sky Sport, NOW Sport)
- 6-8 November: Brazilian GP (Sky Sport, NOW Sport)
- 19-21 November: Las Vegas GP (Sky Sport, NOW Sport)
- 27-29 November: Qatar GP (Sky Sport, NOW Sport)
- 4-6 December: Abu Dhabi GP (Sky Sport, NOW Sport)
Stay tuned to Archysport for further updates as the 2026 Formula 1 season unfolds. What are your plans for watching the races? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
