Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix

The Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix is a street race through the centre of Baku, on the Caspian Sea. formula1.com lists the 2027 race as Round 16, from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 September 2027. The Baku City Circuit first hosted Formula 1 in 2016, as the European Grand Prix, and has run as the Azerbaijan Grand Prix since 2017.

The 2027 weekend follows the standard format on formula1.com: two practice sessions on Friday, the third practice session and Qualifying on Saturday, and the Grand Prix on Sunday. Session times for 2027 are still TBC.

The 6.003 km lap is a track of two halves. A very long main straight runs along the seafront boulevard, where cars can run three abreast into Turn 1; then the track loops into the narrow, winding streets around Icherisheher, the walled Old City, squeezing past its medieval walls. formula1.com picks the Absheron grandstand at the end of the main straight, and the Icheri Sheher grandstand by the city gate section, as the best places to watch.

Because the track is the city, you're in the middle of Baku when the cars stop. The promoter's entertainment zone on Baku Boulevard drew more than 25,000 fans on individual days in 2026, with concerts on two evenings. The same year every ticket released for sale sold out, according to the promoter.

For a trip, plan around road closures: there's no spectator parking, roads around the track close for about a week, and the promoter calls buses and the metro the easiest way to the track. British visitors need an e-visa, applied for in advance.

• The main straight and Turn 1: the Absheron grandstand watches cars brake from around 350 km/h into the 90-degree first corner, where formula1.com says most overtaking happens.
• The Old City section: the track winds past the medieval walls of Icherisheher; formula1.com recommends the Icheri Sheher grandstand for the city gate section.
• Baku Boulevard entertainment zone: food, bars and concerts by the sea; in 2026 the promoter reported more than 25,000 visitors on individual days and two evening concert programmes.
• A seafront setting: the promoter describes the race against the Caspian shoreline and the old capital's architecture.

• Central Baku near Sahil, Icherisheher and 28 May metro stations: the promoter lists these as the closest stations to the track (28 May is about 700 metres away), so you can walk to the gates using the pedestrian bridges and underpasses.
• Inside the Old City (Icherisheher): right by the track, but in a restricted traffic zone during the event. In 2026 vehicles could enter and leave the Old City only between 00:00 and 06:00, so taxis can't reach your door during the day.
• Elsewhere on the metro network: further from the closures and usually quieter; ride the metro into the centre each day.

The circuit runs through the city centre, so check where your hotel sits relative to the closure zones on the promoter's traffic map before you book.

From the UK: fly to Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD) in Baku. The airport's airlines directory lists carriers including Azerbaijan Airlines; check the airlines for current routes and schedules from the UK. The airport says the Aero Express bus line runs around the clock, taking about 30 minutes to its last stop in the city, and official taxis wait outside Terminal 1.

Entry: British citizens need a visa. GOV.UK says to apply for an e-visa through the ASAN Visa service at least 3 days ahead, print it and bring it with your passport, which must be valid for at least 6 months after you arrive. Azerbaijan's land borders are closed, so arrive by air.

On race days (from the promoter's FAQ, written for the 2026 race; 2027 details aren't published yet):

• Metro: the closest stations are Icherisheher and Sahil, both near the track, and 28 May, about 700 metres away. See metro.gov.az for lines and times.
• Taxi: taxis (booked by app, for example Uber, Bolt or Yango) can take you to a drop-off point near the track but not to the gates; walk the last stretch using the pedestrian bridges or underpasses.
• Driving: there's no parking reserved for spectators.
• Road closures: in 2026 the roads within and around the circuit closed from 01:00 on 21 September until 08:00 on 28 September, with part of Pushkin Street closed from 19 September; transit corridors stayed open in the morning and evening.

For the city, see our Baku guide.

Flight delayed or cancelled on the way? See our Travel Disruption guide for your rights.

Tickets are sold through the official site, bakucitycircuit.com, its mobile app and its official ticketing provider. 2027 tickets aren't on sale yet: the promoter says they're coming soon and invites fans to sign up for sale updates. For 2026, the promoter says every ticket released for sale sold out.

At the latest edition each ticket was valid for one day only, so you need the right ticket for each day, and you must show valid ID with it at the entrance. Children under 2 get in free if they sit on an adult's lap; everyone under 18 must be with an adult who has a valid ticket and ID. Special-price tickets need government-issued ID to prove eligibility.

Bring ID: carry your passport (and your children's) every day: it's checked at the gates, and FCDO advises carrying your passport at all times in Azerbaijan anyway.

Security: expect airport-style screening at the entrance and allow time for it.

What you can't bring: alcohol, food and drink (except baby food), umbrellas, chairs and stools, cooler boxes and picnic hampers, anything too large to fit under a seat, drones, bikes and scooters, laser pointers, flags with poles over 1 m, and cameras with lenses longer than 30 cm.

Food and drink: the fan zone sells regional dishes and international fast food, with restaurants serving Azerbaijani food and bars serving alcohol.

Cash and cards: FCDO warns of card skimming; use ATMs inside banks where you can.

Noise and weather: F1 cars are loud, so ear protection is sensible, especially for children. With umbrellas banned, pack a light waterproof and sun protection for late September.

Dress: FCDO says it's now more acceptable for men to wear shorts in Baku in summer; local and foreign women usually dress in conservative western-style clothing.

The promoter doesn't publish accessibility information for spectators (accessible grandstands, viewing platforms or companion tickets) on its site. Before buying, contact the ticket team on +994 12 404 13 93 or through the contacts page.

Getting around the track involves pedestrian bridges and underpasses, and taxis can't drop off at the gates, so ask the promoter about step-free routes. At the airport, Terminal 2 parking includes spaces for passengers with reduced mobility.

FCDO advises against all travel to within 5 km of the border with Armenia, and against all but essential travel to districts in south-western Azerbaijan affected by the 2020 and 2023 conflict. Baku is far from these areas and isn't covered by that advice. FCDO also warns of a heightened risk of regional tension, which could cause travel disruption including airspace closures, so check its advice before you go.

FCDO says crime levels in Baku are generally low, but warns of bag-snatching, especially after dark in the centre, and that police sometimes check identity documents.

• Before you go, read the UK government's FCDO travel advice for Azerbaijan (entry requirements, safety and local laws).
• Flight delayed or cancelled on the way? See our Travel Disruption guide for your rights and live alerts.