Until 30 September 2026, Azerbaijan is offering visas on arrival to those attending the Baku Grand Prix, which takes place on Saturday 26 September. The initiative is meant to boost F1 tourism, as many fans tend to leave their decision on whether to attend until the last minute.
Azerbaijan’s Formula One Grand Prix takes place at the Baku City Circuit, a 6.003-km street circuit designed by Hermann Tilke in the heart of the country’s capital. Formula 1 first raced in Baku in 2016, when the event was held as the European Grand Prix, before becoming the Azerbaijan Grand Prix the following year.
Until the addition of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in 2021, Baku was home to the fastest Formula 1 street circuit, mainly because of its long straight sections. It is also the third-longest circuit on the calendar in 2026, after Spa-Francorchamps (7.004 km) and the Las Vegas Strip Circuit (6.201 km).
A decade of Formula 1 in Baku
The 2026 edition marks 10 years since Formula 1 first arrived in Baku. Over the past decade, the race has developed a reputation for unpredictable action, with the characteristics of the street circuit contributing to several eventful Grands Prix.
Daniel Ricciardo came from 10th on the grid to win a chaotic race in 2017, while Lewis Hamilton took victory in 2018 after Valtteri Bottas suffered a puncture with just three laps remaining. Sergio Perez won an eventful 2021 edition, Oscar Piastri triumphed for McLaren in 2024 and Max Verstappen dominated in 2025, taking pole position, victory and the fastest lap.
Part of the circuit’s appeal comes from the contrast between its different sections. Its 20 corners combine narrow streets around Baku’s UNESCO-listed Old City with a roughly 2.2-km flat-out section along the Caspian Sea waterfront. The passage around the medieval city walls between Turns 8 and 10 is particularly narrow, leaving drivers little margin for error.
At the other extreme, the long run towards Turn 1 allows Formula 1 cars to reach some of the highest speeds seen on a street circuit and creates opportunities for overtaking. Teams therefore face the difficult task of finding a set-up that provides enough downforce for the technical sections without sacrificing too much speed on the straights.
The anniversary will extend beyond the racing itself. The 2026 Grand Prix weekend will include an F1 Fan Zone and live entertainment, with Katy Perry and Calvin Harris scheduled to perform as Baku celebrates a decade of Formula 1.
This year, the Baku Grand Prix is set to take place on Saturday 26 September to avoid coinciding with Azerbaijan’s National Remembrance Day on 27 September. Although it is not yet clear how many people will attend the event, the 2024 edition attracted 76,000 spectators. Of those, 80% were international visitors, who spent more than €2,000 on average over the weekend, while 72% said they intended to return in 2026.
More like Baku Pretty Circuit 😍
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 16, 2025
Always an incredible backdrop for a Grand Prix!#F1 #AzerbaijanGP @BakuCityCircuit pic.twitter.com/NdV1rXRtRU
Visas on arrival
In a bid to make things easier for international visitors and boost attendance, Azerbaijan is granting visas on arrival to both Formula 1 ticket holders and racing personnel. The measure runs until 30 September 2026, four days after the race, encouraging visitors to extend their stay and discover Azerbaijan beyond Baku.
“Formula 1 fans tend to decide late, and a visa issued on arrival against a ticket or accreditation means that spontaneous decision can become a weekend in Baku. That is where the lasting value lies for us: turning a three-day motorsport trip into a week in Azerbaijan, and a first-time visitor into a returning one,” Florian Sengstschmid, chief executive of the Azerbaijan Tourism Board, told Euronews.
To benefit from the special visa-on-arrival measure, applicants need to provide one of the following documents:
- An accreditation card or other document confirming accreditation in accordance with the relevant rules of Formula One Management Limited and the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the international organisers of Formula 1 races.
- An accreditation card for Baku City Circuit Operations Company.
- A ticket, including an electronic ticket, or a document confirming the purchase of a ticket for the Formula 1 race to be held in Baku in 2026.
Those who intend to attend the event but do not yet have a ticket can obtain a visa through the electronic ASAN system or through an Azerbaijani embassy or consulate.
Tickets for the Baku Grand Prix are still available and start at €186 for general admission. Beyond the race, visitors can explore Azerbaijan’s capital and its many attractions, including the undying flame of Yanar Dag and the Carpet Museum, as well as destinations elsewhere in the country.
