The Formula E championship will open its season on January 16 in Mexico City, moving away from a previously planned mid-December start in Saudi Arabia.
Organizers announced that the Jeddah event, originally scheduled for December, has been postponed to April 16 and 17. The decision was driven by the regional geopolitical situation, with organizers citing the need to account for recent developments in the Middle East and associated logistical requirements, as reported by Starsporttv.
The shift follows concerns regarding travel safety in the region. According to reporting from Autosport.nl, major automotive groups involved in the series—including Stellantis and the Volkswagen Group—maintain strict travel protocols for Saudi Arabia, and the German Foreign Office has issued an official travel warning for the country.
“Taking into account recent developments in the region and the associated logistical aspects,” organizers stated in a release provided to Starsporttv.
Revised 2026 Season Calendar
The 21-race calendar now begins in Mexico and concludes in Tokyo on July 24 and 25. Following the opener, the series moves to the United States for events in Austin on February 6 and Miami on February 20. The schedule continues to São Paulo on March 13 and Sanya, China, on April 3—a round that was moved two weeks earlier than originally planned to accommodate the rescheduled Jeddah double-header, Autosport.nl noted.
The European leg of the season features double-headers in Monaco on May 1 and 2, Berlin on May 8 and 9, Brands Hatch on May 29 and 30, Zandvoort on June 18 and 19, and Jarama on June 26 and 27. The season concludes with double-headers in Shanghai on July 10 and 11, followed by the finale in Tokyo.
Stoffel Vandoorne Returns to the Grid
Stoffel Vandoorne is set to return to the Formula E grid for the upcoming season after a one-year absence. The 34-year-old Belgian, who won the world championship in 2022 while driving for Mercedes, will compete for Jaguar. His career in the series includes stints with Racelab, Mercedes, DS Penske, and Maserati.
Teams Prepare for Gen4 Cars and Upcoming Tests
Whether travel conditions to Saudi Arabia will stabilize by April remains unclear.
All teams are currently preparing for the introduction of Gen4 cars, with testing sessions scheduled in Valencia and an official pre-season test set for next week in Jarama, according to Autosport.nl.
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