F1 Sim Racing World Championship 2026 begins

The Formula 1 Sim Racing World Championship returns this week, launching its 2026 season on one of the biggest stages in global gaming.

From March 27-29, DreamHack Birmingham hosts the opening event, marking the first time the festival comes to the UK and putting F1 Sim Racing in front of a major live gaming audience.

Sim racing sits firmly within the wider Formula 1 story, connecting fans, drivers, and technology in a unique way. The championship continues to grow in scale and relevance.

The 2026 championship builds on the momentum of previous years, with a four-event format and 12 races in total, as the official F1 teams field elite three-driver lineups.

DreamHack sets the tone as a stunning opener. A full F1 Sim Racing fan zone, team activations, and live competition bring fans closer to the action.

After the opening weekend, the championship moves to Formula 1’s state-of-the-art Media and Technology Centre in Biggin Hill. That shift places sim racing even closer to the operational heart of the sport and underlines its growing role in Formula 1’s future.

With a $750,000 prize pool and global broadcasts across F1’s digital platforms, the competitive stakes continue to rise alongside the production scale.

The new multi-year partnership between Fanatec and Formula 1 reinforces that momentum.

As Official Sponsor of the F1 Sim Racing World Championship, Fanatec will continue to supply hardware across the series while also developing the next generation of officially licensed Formula 1 products.

The focus is on consistency between professional and consumer experience. The same hardware principles apply across live events, team environments, and fan-facing activations, creating a clear and direct link between virtual racing and the wider world of Formula 1.

This season, the teams continue to use the officially licensed ClubSport Racing Wheel F1®, with most drivers opting for the Podium Advanced Paddle Module upgrade, and the CSL Elite Pedals V2 in a two-pedal configuration.

The final rounds of the 2025 championship delivered the kind of tension that has come to define top-level F1 Sim Racing, with the title fight staying compelling deep into the season and delivering one of the most competitive finales in recent memory, with Jarno Opmeer securing his third title and Red Bull reclaiming the Teams’ Championship.

Relive the final round here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QOohijaZ_c

A live stage and a festival atmosphere give this year's opening round a different energy. For returning champions, rising talent, and fans stepping into the experience for the first time, the 2026 season begins with a bang.

You can watch every round live on the official Formula 1 YouTube channel.