The Australian Grand Prix is set to lose its season-opening slot for 2027, with Bahrain expected to reclaim the honour of hosting Round 1 on March 14. Melbourne has kicked off the past two F1 seasons, but the 2027 calendar shuffle returns the Bahrain International Circuit to its traditional role at the very start of the year.
The move is largely driven by the timing of Ramadan, which concludes on March 7 in 2027. With the holy month finished, Bahrain becomes the logical choice to open the season — especially as teams typically complete pre-season testing at the same venue. It will be the first time since 2024 that Bahrain has hosted the opening round.
Australia’s Contractual Position
Australia’s recent stint as the season opener has been an exception rather than the rule. From 1995 to 2019, Albert Park held Round 1 on all but two occasions, but the 2020 cancellation disrupted that pattern. The past two years saw Melbourne return to the opening slot due to a combination of contractual obligation and logistical necessity.
Under the terms of the current Australian Grand Prix Corporation hosting agreement, Melbourne secured five guaranteed opening-round slots between now and 2035. Two of those have already been used in 2025 and 2026. Three remain, but 2027 will not be one of them.
Instead, Australia’s contract mandates that the race must feature as one of the first three events of the season. That positions Melbourne for April 4 as Round 3, immediately following Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The Albert Park race would then launch a three-race swing through Asia, with China on April 11 and Japan on April 25.
Turkey and Portugal Return
The 2027 calendar is taking shape following confirmation that Turkey will rejoin the championship next season. A five-year deal has been agreed for the Istanbul Park circuit, last seen on the schedule in 2021. That agreement locks down all 24 available calendar slots, leaving the grid at maximum capacity.
Portugal is also expected to return, potentially filling the gap left by Barcelona’s absence. Portimão last appeared in 2021 as part of the early European events. In 2020, it ran in October, bringing variable weather into play. The Portuguese circuit could slot neatly into the mid-June window.
Turkey’s historical calendar placement has varied. During its initial run, the race fell within the May-to-August European leg. More recent appearances have been later in the year — milder conditions but a higher chance of rain. Logistically, a September date for Turkey works well as a bridge between the European rounds and the flyaway events in Azerbaijan and Singapore.
Projected 2027 Calendar
| Round | Event | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bahrain | March 14 |
| 2 | Saudi Arabia | March 21 |
| 3 | Australia | April 4 |
| 4 | China | April 11 |
| 5 | Japan | April 25 |
| 6 | Miami | May 9 |
| 7 | Canada | May 23 |
| 8 | Monaco | June 6 |
| 9 | Portugal | June 13 |
| 10 | Austria | June 27 |
| 11 | Great Britain | July 4 |
| 12 | Belgium | July 18 |
| 13 | Hungary | July 25 |
| 14 | Spain | August 29 |
| 15 | Italy | September 5 |
| 16 | Turkey | September 19 |
| 17 | Azerbaijan | September 26 |
| 18 | Singapore | October 10 |
| 19 | United States | October 24 |
| 20 | Mexico City | October 31 |
| 21 | Sao Paulo | November 7 |
| 22 | Las Vegas | November 20 |
| 23 | Qatar | November 28 |
| 24 | Abu Dhabi | December 5 |
The official 2027 calendar remains a work in progress and is unlikely to be confirmed in the immediate future. The 2026 schedule was only announced in June, suggesting a similar timeline for 2027. Attention now turns to how the FIA and F1 management will finalise the precise placement of Turkey and Portugal within the packed 24-race schedule.