FIA WEC confirms venues for final two rounds of 2026
The FIA World Endurance Championship has relocated its final two 2026 rounds from Qatar and Bahrain to Barcelona and Monza due to regional instability. The decision aims to ensure logistical stability for teams and manufacturers while maintaining the integrity of the racing calendar.
Why it matters
The shift highlights how geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are impacting the scheduling and operations of major international sporting events.
The final two rounds, originally scheduled to take place in Qatar and Bahrain, will instead be held at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and Autodromo Nazionale Monza.The inaugural 6 Hours of Barcelona will take place over the weekend of 16-18 October, and will mark the first time FIA WEC has visited the track, which has in recent years successfully hosted the European Le Mans Series and Michelin Le Mans Cup.Monza, meanwhile, has a long association with the pinnacle of international endurance racing stretching back more than 60 years, having welcomed the FIA World Sportscar Championship on multiple occasions – yielding victories for heroes of the sport such as John Surtees, Mario Andretti and Jacky Ickx.From 2021 to 2023, FIA WEC travelled to ‘The Temple of Speed’ for three consecutive seasons, resulting in triumphs for Toyota and Alpine.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in