Official: Barcelona and Monza instead of Qatar and Bahrain

Two races in Europe

In the end, the definitive announcement has arrived: the last two races of the 2026 season will no longer be the same as those scheduled at the beginning of the year. The reason is due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which is why the 1812 km of Qatar and the 8 Hours of Bahrain will not take place. Consequently, ACO and FIA have decided to replace these with Barcelona and Monza, circuits that had already been indicated in recent days as possible substitutes for Lusail and Sakhir.

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Barcelona debut, Monza returns

Both races will last 6 hours, with the Spanish event scheduled from October 16 to 18. For the Catalan circuit, it will also be the absolute debut in the WEC, but currently there is a clash with the final round of the GT World Challenge Europe in Portimao. SRO Motorsports Group is nevertheless working to move this latter event. The Autodromo of Monza, on the other hand, will be the venue for the final round of the 2026 championship, scheduled for the weekend from November 6 to 8. For the ‘Temple of Speed’ it will be a return after the last edition held in 2023: “We have closely followed developments in the Middle East in recent months – said Frédéric Lequien, CEO of the FIA WEC – a few weeks ago we were optimistic about the possibility of racing in Qatar and Bahrain, but unfortunately the current situation forces us to change plans. We have therefore decided to replace these two end-of-season events with Barcelona and Monza. From a logistical point of view, it was essential to make this decision now to allow manufacturers, teams, and the FIA WEC organization to prepare everything necessary. I warmly thank Qatar and Bahrain for their understanding in this difficult moment. We have been in constant dialogue with both circuits and their respective national federations and we are proud of the close and lasting relationships we have built in the Middle East. These are events of enormous importance and well established in the FIA WEC, and they will remain so for many years to come.”

These statements were joined by those of Mohammed ben Sulayem, President of the FIA: “I am incredibly proud of the collaboration that will allow Barcelona and Monza to host the rounds of the FIA World Endurance Championship this year. The FIA has worked closely with our partners in Qatar and Bahrain in recent months to explore every possible option to preserve both events this season, but due to the ongoing situation in the region, the safety of our teams, colleagues, and motorsport fans remains our top priority. These are never easy decisions, but protecting the well-being of our motorsport community will always come first. I thank all our Member Clubs who contributed to making these updates possible, the Lusail International Circuit, the Bahrain International Circuit, and our championship colleagues, whose collaboration and support throughout this process reflect the best of our sport. Our thoughts are with all those affected by the situation in the region and we look forward to returning when circumstances allow.”

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