Madrid is just a few days away from hosting the 2026 FORMULA 1 TAG HEUER SPANISH GRAND PRIX, which will take place at the MADRING circuit from September 11 to 13. This is the first time in 45 years that the Spanish Grand Prix will be held in the capital, and the circuit has a unique feature: it is the best-connected by public transportation on the entire F1® calendar.
The venue is located just 15 minutes from downtown Madrid and barely 5 minutes from Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport—two facts that make it one of the most accessible circuits of the season.
Where is the MADRING circuit?
The circuit is located in northeast Madrid, between the districts of Hortaleza and Barajas, and is divided into two sectors: Madring North, in Valdebebas, next to Avenida de las Fuerzas Armadas and Avenida de Alejandro de la Sota; and Madring South, at the IFEMA exhibition center, accessible from Avenida de la Capital de España. Both sectors are very close to the M-11, the highway that connects that part of the city with the rest of Madrid.
This location offers two clear advantages: its proximity to downtown, just 15 minutes away, and its proximity to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, a mere 5 minutes away. In addition, Madrid’s public transportation network—including the metro, commuter trains, and EMT buses—provides direct access to the venue from anywhere in the capital.
Madring North and Madring South, two areas that are not connected to each other
One of the most important things to know before planning your trip is that the venue is divided into two separate sectors: Madring Norte, in Valdebebas, and Madring Sur, at the IFEMA exhibition center. The two areas are not connected to each other, so it’s not possible to move from one to the other from within the circuit once you’re inside.
That’s why it’s a good idea to check in advance which sector your ticket is for , since that information determines the route and access point you’ll need to take.
Each fan zone operates independently
The venue also features several fan zones (areas set aside for the public within the circuit, each with its own entrance), and these zones are not connected to one another. Before attending, be sure to check which fan zone your ticket is valid for, as it will not be possible to move from one to another during the event.
The official map allows you to locate both your designated sector and the corresponding fan zone and choose the most convenient public transportation stop for each:
- Monumental (lilac) encompasses grandstands 8, 8A, 9, and 9A in the central area of the northern section of the track, next to the hospitality areas.
- Distrito (blue) is the circuit’s largest fan zone. It encompasses grandstands 6, 6A, 7, 10, 10A, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 15A, and 16, as well as the Pelouse area, and surrounds the Monumental stand along the rest of the northern section of the track.
- The Barrio section (orange) includes grandstands 3, 4, and 5, along with the Plataforma area, on the stretch connecting the north and south sectors, near Mar de Cristal and Canillas.
- Bulevar Sol (magenta) corresponds to Grandstand 2A, located in the south sector, near Feria de Madrid.
- Bulevar Cibeles (green) encompasses grandstands 1, 1A, and 2, along with Bulevar Sol, at the southern end of the circuit next to the paddock.
- La Milla (gray) does not have its own grandstands; rather, it corresponds to the pavilion and paddock area in the southern sector.
How to get there by public transportation
The metro, commuter trains, and EMT buses connect the circuit directly to the rest of Madrid, and this is the option recommended by the organizers themselves: according to their data, MADRING is the circuit with the best public transportation access on the entire F1® calendar. The most convenient stop depends on which area of the venue your ticket is for.
In Madring Norte (Valdebebas), the main hub is the Valdebebas commuter rail station on Line C1, with connections to buses BR1, SE709, 171, and 174. The nearest metro stop is San Lorenzo (Line 4), about a 20-minute walk from the circuit, which is also served by buses T11 and 87.
At Madring Sur (IFEMA), there are two main access points. One is via the Mar de Cristal ( lines 4 and 8) and Canillas (line 4) metro stations, both a 18- to 20-minute walk from the venue, with buses T11, 73, 104, 120, and 171 offering the most direct alternative. The other is theFeria de Madrid metro station( Line 8), which connects to buses 73, 104, 112, 120, 122, and 153.
How to get there by car and where to park
For those who prefer to drive, the circuit does not have its own parking lot, except for the accessible spaces marked at the north and south entrances. The designated alternative is the Riyadh Air Metropolitano parking lot, a facility with direct access from the M-40 (exits 9A and 9B heading north, and exit 10 heading south) and from the A-2, with a free shuttle (a bus transfer service) to the MADRING circuit.
Parking spaces must be reserved via this link before the event, as it will not be possible to purchase them on-site during the Spanish Grand Prix.