The Formula 1 United States Grand Prix returns to Circuit of the Americas in Austin from October 23 to 25, 2026. Maroon 5 headlines Friday night. Post Malone, a Texas native, closes out Saturday. The race runs Sunday at 3 PM. And the entire city of Austin turns into one of the most electric live event environments in the world for the full weekend. Whether you are a hardcore F1 fan or a first-time COTA visitor, here is everything you need to do, see, eat, and experience in Austin during Formula 1 weekend 2026.
Quick Answer — Best Things to Do in Austin for F1 Weekend 2026
The Formula 1 United States Grand Prix runs October 23 to 25, 2026 at Circuit of the Americas in Austin. The weekend features Maroon 5 on Friday and Post Malone on Saturday at Germania Insurance Amphitheater. Beyond the track, the best things to do in Austin during F1 weekend include ziplining at Lake Travis Zipline Adventures before the race, Franklin Barbecue for the mandatory Austin BBQ pilgrimage, Barton Springs Pool to reset between race days, South Congress Avenue for shopping and dining, East Sixth Street and Rainey Street for the best F1 nightlife in Austin, the Congress Avenue Bridge bat colony at sunset, and the COTA Culinary Experience featuring 30-plus Texas restaurants on site.
The F1 United States Grand Prix 2026 — The Basics
The Formula 1 United States Grand Prix race returns to Austin, Texas in 2026 and is ready to welcome fans back, October 23 to 25, 2026, at Circuit of The Americas. Visit Austin
The 2026 United States Grand Prix starts at 15:00 local time on Sunday 25th October. The Grand Prix will last for 56 laps of the COTA track layout or 2 hours, whichever is shorter.
The recently announced 2026 entertainment lineup does not disappoint with headlining concerts by Maroon 5 on Friday, October 23, and Post Malone on Saturday, October 24. Concerts will take place each night at Germania Insurance Amphitheater, located on Turn 17 of the track. KVUE
The COTA Culinary Experience features unique food villages with 30-plus restaurants, showcasing the best of Texas cuisine. From tacos and barbecue to homemade biscuits and other Austin favorites, there will be something for everyone to enjoy all weekend long. Visit Austin
The Weekend Schedule
- Friday October 23: Practice sessions plus Maroon 5 at Germania Insurance Amphitheater
- Saturday October 24: Qualifying plus Post Malone at Germania Insurance Amphitheater
- Sunday October 25: Formula 1 United States Grand Prix, race start 3 PM local time
- Location: Circuit of the Americas, 9201 Circuit of the Americas Blvd, Austin TX 78617
- Tickets: 3-day passes, single-day tickets, grandstand seats, and grounds passes all available at circuitoftheamericas.com
Pro Tip: City leaders announced the F1 US Grand Prix will remain at COTA through 2034, but that does not mean tickets are easier to get. Grandstand seats sell out well in advance every year. Book now at circuitoftheamericas.com. RacingNews365
#1 Best Thing to Do Before F1 Weekend — Lake Travis Zipline Adventures
I have lived in Austin for 30 years and guided zipline tours on Lake Travis, and I give every F1 visitor the same advice: get to the lake before the race weekend starts.
Lake Travis Zipline Adventures is the single best outdoor experience available to F1 visitors in Austin and the one that gives you the most genuinely Austin memory of the entire trip beyond what happens at COTA. Late October on Lake Travis is genuinely beautiful. The summer heat has broken, the Hill Country has shifted into fall colors, the water is still warm, and the lake is at its most stunning. F1 weekend brings tens of thousands of international visitors to Austin every October and the ones who make time for Lake Travis consistently say it was the highlight of their whole trip.
Your group boards a boat that takes everyone across Lake Travis to Zip Island, a private island in the middle of the lake about 20 to 30 minutes from downtown Austin. Three hours on five world-class ziplines through the Texas Hill Country follow, including the Double Barrel Shotgun, which sends two people side by side over 2,800 feet of cable at speeds up to 65 mph from 22 stories above Lake Travis. After the tour your ticket includes full-day access to the private lakefront property on Zip Island. Jump off the dock into the lake. Relax in hammocks. Enjoy the most peaceful and most beautiful version of Austin before COTA fills with 150,000 people.
The Details
- 5-Line Zipline Tour: $138/person, includes full-day access to the private lakefront property on Zip Island
- Double Barrel Single-Line Tour: $88/person
- Location: About 20 to 30 minutes from downtown Austin on Lake Travis
- Best For: Groups, couples, families, F1 visitor groups, all experience levels
- Reservations: Required at laketraviszipline.com
Pro Tip: F1 weekend is one of the busiest weekends of the year in Austin. Afternoon slots at Lake Travis Zipline Adventures fill up fast in October. Book your afternoon tour now at laketraviszipline.com before your preferred date sells out.
Book Lake Travis Zipline Adventures and start your F1 Austin trip the right way.
F1 Weekend at COTA — What to Know Before You Go
Having attended events at COTA and spent 30 years in Austin, here are the things every first-time F1 Austin visitor needs to know before they set foot on the circuit grounds.
Attending F1 in Austin feels closer to a three-day outdoor festival than a traditional stadium event. You will walk constantly. You will manage heat and sun exposure. You will plan bathroom breaks and meals around session schedules. Food is plentiful but expensive. Bathrooms are better organized than most festivals, but lines still peak after major track action. Gpdestinations
Most attendees walk 10,000 to 20,000 steps per day, often over uneven ground and in direct sun. Wear comfortable shoes. Not fashionable shoes. Comfortable shoes. Gpdestinations
Late October in Austin can be deceptive. Mornings can feel cool, afternoons can feel unforgiving, and shade at the circuit remains limited. It is comfortable weather by Texas standards, but it still demands preparation. Bring sunscreen, a hat, and a light jacket for the evenings. Gpdestinations
The best viewing spots at COTA are Turn 1 for the dramatic uphill climb at race start, Turn 11 through 15 for the technical hairpin section where overtaking actually happens, and the main grandstand on the start-finish straight for the widest view of the full circuit. General admission grounds passes give you the freedom to roam all three.
Transportation matters more than almost anything else for COTA weekend. The circuit sits on the southeast outskirts of Austin and driving there on race day is genuinely painful. Take the official COTA shuttle from downtown Austin, ride with a rideshare to one of the drop-off zones, or book accommodations with shuttle service built in. Do not drive and plan to park.
#2 Maroon 5 at Germania Insurance Amphitheater — Friday Night
Maroon 5 will headline Friday, Oct. 23, to kick off race weekend. Maroon 5 at Germania Insurance Amphitheater on Turn 17 of the COTA track is one of the most uniquely exciting concert settings available anywhere in the country. The stage setup inside the circuit, with the racetrack visible around you and the COTA tower lit up in the background, creates a concert atmosphere that you genuinely cannot replicate at any standard venue. This is a concert experience as much about where you are as who is playing. RacingNews365
The Details
- When: Friday October 23, 2026
- Where: Germania Insurance Amphitheater at COTA, Turn 17
- Access: Included with 3-day passes, concert upgrades available for single-day Friday tickets
- Tickets: circuitoftheamericas.com
#3 Post Malone at Germania Insurance Amphitheater — Saturday Night
Texas native Post Malone will close out Saturday night, Oct. 24. Post Malone is from Grapevine, Texas, and performing at the F1 United States Grand Prix at COTA in his home state in front of 100,000-plus fans is the kind of homecoming concert energy that makes a show genuinely extraordinary. Saturday night at COTA with Post Malone is the biggest single concert moment of the entire F1 weekend and possibly of the entire Austin fall calendar. RacingNews365
The Details
- When: Saturday October 24, 2026
- Where: Germania Insurance Amphitheater at COTA, Turn 17
- Access: Included with 3-day passes, concert upgrades available for single-day Saturday tickets
- Tickets: circuitoftheamericas.com
#4 The COTA Culinary Experience — Best Food at the Circuit
The COTA Culinary Experience features unique food villages with 30-plus restaurants, showcasing the best of Texas cuisine. From tacos and barbecue to homemade biscuits and other Austin favorites, there will be something for everyone to enjoy all weekend long. Race fans from all over the world can take a food tour through Texas, with each restaurant offering 2 to 3 menu items for guests. Visit Austin
The food situation at COTA has improved dramatically in recent years and the Culinary Experience is now one of the genuine highlights of the weekend for Austin food lovers. Thirty-plus Texas restaurants in one place means you can eat your way through the best of Austin cuisine without leaving the circuit. The taco offerings, the BBQ stations, and the Texas brewery presence all make the food village worth building into your daily circuit schedule rather than treating as an afterthought.
The Details
- Location: Food villages throughout COTA grounds
- Access: Included with COTA grounds access
- Best For: Everyone. Build it into your daily COTA schedule.
#5 Franklin Barbecue — The Mandatory F1 Austin Pilgrimage
No visit to Austin for any reason, including Formula 1, is complete without Franklin Barbecue. As a 30-year Austin resident, I say this without any hesitation: Franklin Barbecue on East 11th Street is one of the best things you will eat anywhere in the world. The brisket is extraordinary. The line is long. It is worth every minute.
Arrive by 8 AM with a cooler of drinks for your group. The line forms before the restaurant opens and it sells out every single day. F1 weekend makes the line longer than usual so arrive earlier than you think you need to. This is the Austin food experience that international F1 visitors consistently describe as the most surprising and most memorable meal of their entire trip.
The Details
- Address: 900 E 11th St, Austin TX 78702
- Hours: Tuesday through Sunday until sold out
- Best For: Everyone attending F1 in Austin. Non-negotiable.
Pro Tip: If the Franklin line is genuinely not an option, Terry Black’s Barbecue on Barton Springs Road is excellent, has no wait, and a massive outdoor patio within walking distance of Zilker Park.
#6 Barton Springs Pool — Best F1 Recovery Tool in Austin
After a full day walking 15,000-plus steps at COTA, the best recovery tool in Austin is Barton Springs Pool. This natural spring-fed pool inside Zilker Park stays at a constant 68 degrees year round. In late October that water feels genuinely restorative in a way that a hotel bathtub simply cannot replicate. Entry is under $10. It is free before 8 AM. And it is the most purely Austin thing you can do between race days.
The Details
- Address: 2131 William Barton Dr, Austin TX 78746
- Cost: $9 for non-resident adults, free before 8 AM
- Best For: Post-COTA recovery, an essential Austin experience between F1 days
#7 South Congress Avenue — Best F1 Daytime Neighborhood
When you’re away from the track, make sure you take in all the city has to offer. Take in gigs, eat famous Tex-Mex or BBQ, or go shopping on South Congress.
South Congress Avenue is the most genuinely Austin neighborhood in the city and the best place to spend your F1 daytime hours when you are not at the circuit. Locally owned boutiques, vintage stores, food trailers, the Jo’s Coffee I Love You So Much mural, Amy’s Ice Creams, and some of the best restaurant patios in Austin all come together on SoCo in a way that feels distinctly different from the COTA experience. Williams F1 historically offers fan experiences and pop-ups near downtown Austin during F1 weekend, so keep an eye on South Congress for team activations.
The Details
- Location: South Congress Avenue, South Austin
- Cost: Free to walk
- Best For: Shopping, dining, team pop-ups, the most Austin F1 daytime experience
#8 Congress Avenue Bridge Bat Colony — Best Free F1 Evening Activity
Every evening during F1 weekend, 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from beneath the Congress Avenue Bridge at dusk in one of the most spectacular free natural events in the country. International F1 visitors who had no idea the bat colony existed consistently describe it as the most unexpectedly extraordinary Austin experience of their entire trip.
The timing on F1 weekend is perfect. The bats emerge right around the time qualifying or practice sessions end and before the evening concert starts at Germania. Walk from downtown to the Congress Avenue Bridge, watch the colony take flight over Lady Bird Lake, and head back to COTA for the night show.
The Details
- Location: Congress Avenue Bridge, downtown Austin
- Cost: Free
- Best Time: Sunset, check batrefuge.org for nightly emergence times
- Best For: All F1 visitors, especially international guests experiencing Austin for the first time
#9 Rainey Street — Best F1 Nightlife in Austin
Rainey Street is Austin’s most vibrant bar corridor and during F1 weekend it reaches an energy level that is genuinely extraordinary. The bungalow bars, the outdoor patios, the food trailers, and the collision of F1 fans from every country on earth with Austin locals creates an atmosphere that is completely unique to Austin during a major international event.
After 30 years in Austin, my F1 Rainey Street picks are consistent: Banger’s Sausage House and Beer Garden for the best outdoor beer garden on the street, Lustre Pearl for a frozen cocktail on the back patio, and Handle Bar for the most F1-appropriate setting given the racing theme.
The Details
- Location: Rainey Street Historic District, downtown Austin
- Best For: Post-race and post-concert nightlife, the most international and most electric bar scene of the F1 weekend
#10 East Sixth Street — Best F1 Late Night
East Sixth Street is where F1 veterans go after the headliner concerts end. Whisler’s for the best mezcal program in Austin and the hidden Tobala speakeasy in the back. White Horse for live country music and two-stepping. Nickel City for cold beer and pinball. The whole strip comes alive during F1 weekend in a way that feels completely authentic to Austin rather than manufactured for the event.
The Details
- Location: East Sixth Street, East Austin
- Best For: Post-concert late night, craft cocktails, the most local Austin F1 bar experience
#11 Team and Sponsor Pop-Ups Around Austin
Around the city, a handful of team or sponsor pop-ups typically appear along South Congress, with Williams historically offering the most accessible fan experiences. Downtown bars and venues host aftershows and unofficial events, though much of the energy remains concentrated at COTA. Gpdestinations
Keep an eye on the official team social media accounts in the week before F1 weekend for pop-up announcements. Red Bull, Ferrari, and McLaren have all run Austin activations in recent years, and sponsor experiences from Pirelli, DHL, and AWS often appear throughout the downtown area. These are free, genuinely fun, and give F1 fans a chance to get closer to the teams outside the busy circuit environment.
Where to Stay During F1 Weekend in Austin
Austin has plenty of accommodation at all price ranges on United States Grand Prix weekend. We recommend staying downtown for the best experience.
Downtown Austin near Rainey Street and Second Street is the best base for F1 weekend. You are within walking distance of the best bars and restaurants, rideshare access to COTA is straightforward from downtown, and the shuttle pickup points are centrally located.
Book accommodations as early as possible. F1 weekend is the single most in-demand hotel weekend in Austin all year. Hotels within five miles of downtown fill up months in advance and prices climb steeply as race weekend approaches. Airbnb houses near South Congress and East Austin are a strong alternative for groups who want more space and a private gathering point between race days.
The Perfect F1 Austin Weekend Itinerary
Here is how to structure the perfect F1 Austin weekend.
Wednesday or Thursday Before the Race: Arrive in Austin. Book an afternoon tour at Lake Travis Zipline Adventures for your first full day. Best afternoon on the lake you will ever have. Dinner on South Congress or East Sixth. Early night before the weekend starts.
Friday: Franklin Barbecue line early in the day before practice sessions. COTA for Friday practice and F1 Academy. Congress Avenue Bridge bat colony at sunset between sessions and the concert. Maroon 5 at Germania Insurance Amphitheater. Rainey Street after the show.
Saturday: Barton Springs Pool to recover and reset. Lake Travis Zipline Adventures in the afternoon. Book your afternoon slot now at laketraviszipline.com. COTA for qualifying. Post Malone at Germania Insurance Amphitheater. East Sixth Street late night.
Sunday: Race day. COTA from midday. Race start 3 PM. The most electric afternoon in Austin all year. South Congress for dinner after the podium. Rainey Street to close out the most extraordinary weekend Austin produces.
Frequently Asked Questions — F1 Austin 2026
When is the F1 race in Austin in 2026?
The Formula 1 United States Grand Prix race returns to Austin, Texas in 2026, October 23 to 25, 2026, at Circuit of The Americas. The 2026 United States Grand Prix starts at 15:00 local time on Sunday 25th October. Visit AustinWikipedia
Who is performing at F1 Austin 2026?
Maroon 5 will headline Friday, Oct. 23, to kick off race weekend, and Texas native Post Malone will close out Saturday night, Oct. 24. Both concerts take place at Germania Insurance Amphitheater at Turn 17 of the COTA track. RacingNews365
How do I get to COTA during F1 weekend?
The best options are the official COTA shuttle from downtown Austin pickup points, rideshare to designated drop-off zones, or accommodations with shuttle service built in. Driving and parking at COTA on race day is genuinely difficult and not recommended. Check circuitoftheamericas.com for official shuttle schedules and parking information.
What is the best thing to do in Austin during F1 weekend besides the race?
The best thing to do in Austin during F1 weekend beyond the circuit is Lake Travis Zipline Adventures. October on Lake Travis is genuinely beautiful and the afternoon tour gives you the best outdoor experience in Austin before or between race days. Book your afternoon slot at laketraviszipline.com before F1 weekend sells out.
What should I wear to F1 Austin?
Comfortable shoes are the most important thing you can wear to COTA. Most attendees walk 10,000 to 20,000 steps per day, often over uneven ground and in direct sun. Late October in Austin can be deceptive. Mornings can feel cool, afternoons can feel unforgiving, and shade at the circuit remains limited. Bring sunscreen, a hat, layers for the evening, and the most comfortable shoes you own. GpdestinationsGpdestinations
Is Formula 1 Austin good for first-timers?
Yes. The United States Grand Prix at COTA is consistently rated as one of the best F1 race weekends on the entire calendar for atmosphere, organization, and entertainment. The combination of world-class racing, headline concerts, Texas food and culture, and the city of Austin around it makes it a genuinely extraordinary introduction to Formula 1 live. Plan ahead for transportation, accommodation, and tickets and you will have one of the best weekends of your life.
Make Your F1 Austin Weekend Unforgettable
Formula 1 in Austin is one of the most extraordinary sporting and cultural weekends the city produces all year. The racing is world-class. The concerts are genuine headliners. The food is the best of Texas. And the city around it delivers an experience that no other F1 venue in the world quite replicates.
Before the gates open at COTA, get out to Lake Travis. Book Lake Travis Zipline Adventures now at laketraviszipline.com and lock in your afternoon slot before F1 weekend sells out. Then book your COTA tickets at circuitoftheamericas.com and your Austin accommodations as early as possible.
For more Austin inspiration check out our guides to the Best Things to Do in Austin TX, Best Things to Do on Lake Travis, and Best Things to Do in Austin for ACL Fest 2026.
About the Author
Rebecca is a 30-year Austin resident, UT Austin alumna, and outdoor recreation and tourism professional who has spent her career in the Austin adventure tourism industry. She has guided zipline tours on Lake Travis and worked in outdoor recreation tourism through the University of Texas, where she studied marketing and business. When she is not writing about Austin, she is out on the lake.
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