Formula E continues to grow—with the introduction of the Gen4 car, which delivers over 800 PS, the electric series is increasingly shifting to permanent circuits
Formula E has unveiled a historic calendar for the 2026/27 season. The new record-breaking schedule for the electric world championship includes three circuits making their debut in the series—including the Circuit of the Americas (COTA).
The fourth race of the season will take place in Austin on February 6. In addition, the traditional circuits of Brands Hatch and Zandvoort will join the race calendar in May and June.
These changes are part of an XXL season featuring a total of 21 races—a massive leap compared to the mere four races in the 2025/26 season. This expansion coincides exactly with the introduction of the new Gen4 car, which, with over 800 PS (600 kW), will be the most powerful car in Formula E history to date.
More traditional race tracks
Since the new car is also 87 kilograms heavier and 90 millimeters wider than its predecessor, the Gen3 Evo, the electric racing series is increasingly shifting to permanent race tracks.
Brands Hatch, for example, replaces the ExCeL in London. The season kicks off this coming December with a double-header in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, followed by the traditional January race in Mexico City.
After that, the schedule includes stops in Austin, Miami, São Paulo, Sanya, Berlin, Monte Carlo, Brands Hatch, Zandvoort, Madrid, and Shanghai, before the grand season finale takes place on July 24 and 25 in Tokyo.
Here’s what the organizers have to say about the calendar
“We are incredibly proud to present our biggest and most ambitious calendar to date,” explains Alberto Longo, co-founder and CEO of Formula E. “The expansion to 21 races in 13 iconic cities is a huge milestone. Hosting world-renowned circuits like COTA in Austin, Zandvoort, and Brands Hatch provides the perfect stage for our new Gen4 era.”
“Every stop on this calendar was selected to guarantee maximum sporting drama,” Longo continues. “Kicking off the season with our very first night race in Jeddah to showcase the top speed of the Gen4 cars sets a spectacular tone.”
“At the same time, grouping our races into continental clusters ensures that we operate as sustainably as possible. The tracks are faster, the competition is tougher—and we can’t wait to kick off this historic season.”
COTA has long been on the radar
The Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix circuit in Austin will also be part of the lineup for the upcoming season. According to Formula E boss Jeff Dodds, this is part of the effort to establish “a second race in the U.S.”
“We looked at many different venues,” the Formula E CEO added in an interview with Motorsport.com. “The topic of COTA actually came up three years ago. I was there at the time and visited Bobby Epstein [track director]. We drove the track to see what would be needed for Formula E to race here.”
“We both agreed at the time: given the state of the cars back then, it might not have been the right track. It was better to wait for the Gen4 car. Austin has always felt like the right fit for us: a vibrant, growing city with a focus on technology and innovation, as well as an understanding of sustainability.“
The Gen4 era is the right time
”From the city’s perspective, it was a great fit. We just felt that the track layout wouldn’t allow the cars to show their full potential. So Gen4 became our goal for getting on the calendar—and I’m very pleased that we were able to reach an agreement.”
This makes the calendar fundamentally different from the 2014–15 debut season, when Formula E still adhered to the dogma of racing exclusively on pure street circuits in major cities.
However, since the series is now “maturing,” according to Dodds, the championship had to adapt its identity. Nevertheless, Formula E continues to prioritize using tracks near major metropolitan areas—such as Jarama (Madrid), Brands Hatch (London), or Zandvoort (Amsterdam).
New Sprint Format Coming
However, these aren’t the only changes Formula E is making. In the first Gen4 season, there will also be changes to the double-header weekends, of which a total of eight will be held: Jeddah, Berlin, Monte Carlo, Brands Hatch, Zandvoort, Madrid, Shanghai, and Tokyo.
While the second race of the weekend will follow the format of a traditional E-Prix, the first race—dubbed “E-Prix Unleashed”—will be held as a 25- to 30-minute sprint race with car settings pushed to the limit.
“Basically, it’s all about ‘Full Send,’” explains Dodds. “From the moment the lights go out, you see the full 450 kilowatts and a lot of downforce—you see these cars at their absolute limit. We’re pretty excited.”
“If you come for a weekend, one day you’ll see a complex, highly tactical strategy race. And the next day, you’ll see the drivers just going all out in these beasts of cars. So you get to see these two extreme sides.”
Here’s the full calendar
Round 1 & 2: December 18 & 19, 2026 – Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (Jeddah Corniche Circuit)
Round 3: January 16, 2027 – Mexico City, Mexico (Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez)
Round 4: February 6, 2027 – Austin, USA (Circuit of the Americas)
Round 5: February 20, 2027 – Miami, USA (Miami International Autodrome)
Round 6: March 13, 2027 – São Paulo, Brazil (Anhembi Sambadrome Circuit)
Round 7: April 17, 2027 – Sanya, China (Haitang Bay Circuit)
Rounds 8 & 9: May 8 & 9, 2027 – Berlin, Germany (Tempelhof Airport Street Circuit)
Rounds 10 & 11: May 15 & May 16, 2027 – Monte Carlo, Monaco (Circuit de Monaco)
Rounds 12 & 13: May 29 & 30, 2027 – Kent, United Kingdom (Brands Hatch)
Rounds 14 & 15: June 18 & 19 June 2027 – Zandvoort, Netherlands (Zandvoort Circuit)
Rounds 16 & 17: 26 & 27 June 2027 – Madrid, Spain (Circuito del Jarama)
Rounds 18 & 19: 10 & July 11, 2027 – Shanghai, China (Shanghai International Circuit)
Rounds 20 & 21: July 24 & 25, 2027 – Tokyo, Japan (Tokyo Street Circuit)
