Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix

The Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix is held at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, a track laid out on the roads of Île Notre-Dame, the man-made island in the St Lawrence River created for Expo 67. It sits inside Parc Jean-Drapeau, just across the water from downtown Montréal. formula1.com lists the 2027 race as Round 7, from Friday 21 to Sunday 23 May 2027.

2027 is a Sprint weekend (a short extra race on Saturday, on top of Sunday's Grand Prix): formula1.com shows Practice 1 and Sprint Qualifying (a short session that sets the starting order for the Sprint) on Friday, the Sprint and Qualifying on Saturday, and the Grand Prix on Sunday. Session times for 2027 are still TBC. Support races also run across the weekend; at the latest edition the promoter opened the support-race paddocks (the teams' working areas), including Formula 2 and F1 ACADEMY, to all spectators.

The circuit has hosted the race since 1978, when local driver Gilles Villeneuve won; the track took his name in 1982. It is 4.361 km long, with heavy-braking chicanes (tight zigzag corners), a hairpin and a long straight along the Olympic rowing basin that ends at the chicane before the Wall of Champions. formula1.com picks Grandstands 15, 21 and 24, around the hairpin, as the best places to watch.

As a trip, Montréal is unusually easy: the promoter calls the metro the best way to reach the circuit, and Jean-Drapeau station on the yellow line is a short walk from the main gate. You can stay downtown, in Old Montréal or across the river in Longueuil and travel in each day. Tickets are sold as 3-day packages, and the 2027 general public sale has been postponed, with a new date still to be announced.

• The hairpin: Grandstands 15, 21 and 24 surround it, and formula1.com calls it an amphitheatre for overtaking.
• The Wall of Champions: the wall at the last chicane, named after the world champions who have hit it, at the end of a straight where the promoter says cars pass 300 km/h.
• A Sprint weekend in 2027: a Sprint and Sprint Qualifying join the Grand Prix, according to formula1.com.
• Fan areas included with your ticket: the Fanzone (racing simulators, DJs, stage entertainment), the Parc and Cosmos zones, a terrace by the lagoon, and the support-race paddocks, according to the promoter's FAQ.
• An island setting: the circuit sits in Parc Jean-Drapeau, facing the Montréal skyline across the St Lawrence.

• Downtown Montréal: the widest choice of hotels. Take the metro to Berri-UQAM and change to the yellow line for Jean-Drapeau, one stop away. The promoter warns of queues at the fare counters at Berri-UQAM, so buy return fares in advance.
• Old Montréal and the Old Port: historic streets by the river, close to downtown metro stations, and the starting point for the river shuttle to Île Sainte-Hélène (reservations required).
• Longueuil (south shore): at the other end of the yellow line, Longueuil–Université-de-Sherbrooke station is one stop from Jean-Drapeau, and the river shuttle also leaves from Longueuil.
• Official packages: the promoter's FAQ names Avenue as its official partner for hotel and ticket packages.

There are no hotels on the circuit island itself, so everyone travels in each day.

From the UK: fly to Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL). The airport's airline directory lists carriers including Air Canada, Air Transat and British Airways; check the airlines for current routes and schedules from the UK. From the airport, Tourisme Montréal says the 747 shuttle bus runs to downtown; it needs a 24-hour ticket ($11.25 at the time of checking), sold at kiosks on the arrivals level.

Entry: British citizens flying to Canada need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) rather than a visa for short visits, according to GOV.UK. Apply only on the Government of Canada's official site, where it costs CAN$7; most applications are approved within minutes, but the promoter advises applying at least 5 days before you leave. Border officers may ask for a return ticket and proof of funds.

On race days (from the promoter's current getting-there page; 2027 arrangements may change):

• Metro: the recommended option. Jean-Drapeau station on line 4 (yellow), in fare zone A, is a short walk from the Main Gate. Expect queues at the fare counters at Longueuil–Université-de-Sherbrooke, Berri-UQAM and Jean-Drapeau, so buy your return fare in advance; you can load fares on an OPUS card through the Chrono app.
• Taxi and Uber: three drop-off points: P8 (La Ronde), a walk from the Main Gate; the Grand Prix Hub at 1108 rue Marc-Cantin, with a shuttle to the Casino Gate; and 151 rue de l'Écluse in Saint-Lambert for the Blue Zone Gate (some grandstands only). Taxis and vehicles without a parking pass aren't allowed on the Concorde Bridge or Avenue Pierre-Dupuy.
• River shuttle: from Longueuil or the Old Port to the Île Sainte-Hélène dock, then a walk to the Main Gate. Reservations are mandatory.
• Bike: BIXI stations and bike parking near the Main Gate; bikes, scooters and skateboards aren't allowed inside.
• Driving: on-site parking is only for parking-pass holders.

For the country, see our Canada guide.

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

Tickets are sold by the promoter on the official site, gpcanada.ca. On 29 October 2026 the promoter said it had postponed the 2027 general public sale, originally planned for 24 September, and that the new on-sale date will be announced through its newsletter; tickets already bought in presales are confirmed.

All tickets are 3-day packages, with a separate ticket for each day; they aren't in your name, so different people can use different days. Children 11 and under get free general admission (one child per adult with a general admission ticket), and the family grandstand (Grandstand 33) gives children a 25% discount; everywhere else every child needs a full ticket. All sales are final.

The promoter guarantees only tickets bought on its official site, Gooticket, Grand Prix Tickets, F1 Experiences and F1.com, and says it can't confirm the validity of tickets bought anywhere else. Reselling tickets outside the gates isn't allowed.

Plan your fares: buy return metro fares before race day to skip the queues at Berri-UQAM and Jean-Drapeau.

Cards only: food stands, bars and shops on site take debit and credit cards only. There are no cash machines and no free Wi-Fi.

What you can bring: food and non-alcoholic drinks for your own use (no glass), coolers and backpacks up to 22.8 × 45.7 × 25.4 cm (9 × 18 × 10 in) that fit under your seat, cameras for personal use, and folding chairs in general admission areas only. Not allowed: alcohol from outside, umbrellas, ladders, bikes and skateboards, drones, laser pointers, barbecues, and animals other than guide and assistance dogs.

Leaving and coming back: get a hand stamp before you leave, or you won't be let back in.

Opening hours: at the latest edition the site opened at 8:00 on Friday, 8:30 on Saturday and 9:30 on Sunday, closing at 20:00; check the 2027 times nearer the race.

Children and noise: the promoter doesn't recommend bringing children aged 2 and under because of the crowds and noise. F1 cars are loud, so ear protection is sensible for everyone.

Weather: late May in Montréal can be warm and sunny or wet; bring sun protection and a light waterproof, since umbrellas aren't allowed.

The promoter offers two wheelchair-accessible grandstands and one terrace, all with unassigned seating and nearby adapted toilets reserved for wheelchair users: Grandstand 21A at the hairpin (reached via the Cosmos Bridge, with a giant screen), Grandstand 41A on the north side at Turns 8 and 9, with the city behind, and Terrace 21 at the hairpin. Chairs are available for one companion per person with reduced mobility. These are sold as 3-day tickets.

Tickets for Grandstands 21A and 41A include a parking permit for the nearest car park (P22 or P50). Other spectators with reduced mobility can request a free parking permit; spaces are limited and not guaranteed. On site, an accessible shuttle runs between the Cosmos entrance, the Concorde Bridge and several grandstands, and there's a priority entrance at the main entrance.

The yellow metro line isn't accessible from Berri-UQAM, and some yellow-line stations aren't step-free; check stm.info before you travel. STM paratransit can be booked to the circuit. For accessible tickets, contact the promoter's ticketing team on 514-350-4731 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) or through its accessibility page.

The FCDO doesn't advise against travel to Canada. Expect a security check of bags at the entrance and allow extra time. Re-entry needs a hand stamp, and spectators who climb or cross the track fences can be removed.

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