The Sunday of Memorial Day weekend is always the biggest day of the year for motorsport fans. It’s even called the “Greatest Day in Motorsport.”
This is because fans get a full day of racing action, from Formula 1’s Monaco Grand Prix in the morning, IndyCar’s Indy 500 in the afternoon and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 in the evening.
But not this year.
In 2026, Formula 1 will not be racing the Monaco Grand Prix on Memorial Day weekend. The event on the luxurious street track now has a different slot on the calendar.
Here’s why the Monaco Grand Prix is not part of the “Greatest Day in Motorsport” this year:
Why is F1 not holding the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix on the ‘Greatest Day in Motorsport?‘
Formula 1 has expanded as a sport and now has a record 24 races on the calendar.
In a statement during the 2026 schedule release last May, the FIA said the change to the Monaco Grand Prix was to make “further improvements to the geographical flow of races” and create a “consolidated European leg.” The luxurious race was dropped to later in the summer and will now flow into the Spanish and Austrian legs of the calendar.
Now, on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, F1 stars like Lando Norris, Kimi Antonelli, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton will be competing in the Canadian Grand Prix in Montréal instead of the historic race. This follows the Miami Grand Prix earlier this month and keeps the series in North America instead of having to bounce back and forth between continents.
When will the F1 Monaco Grand Prix be raced in 2026?
This year’s F1 Monaco Grand Prix will be held June 5-7, 2026. This is two weekends later than its usual date on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend as part of the Greatest Day in Motorsport.
Are the Indy 500 and NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 still being raced on Memorial Day Weekend?
Yes! The Indy 500 is still going on per usual, as Alex Palou will start at pole in an attempt to defend his win at the famed Indianapolis circuit last year, and the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 will still be raced as well.
Katherine Legge is attempting to make history and complete “The Double” by participating in both races on the same day.
Will the F1 Monaco Grand Prix return to the “Greatest Day in Motorsport?”
At this time, it’s uncertain if the F1 Monaco Grand Prix will return to the “Greatest Day in Motorsport” and rejoin the Indy 500 and NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. But the F1 schedule is usually released around this time, so fans can keep their eye out to see what 2027 holds.
