The FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) has confirmed that the planned opening round of the 2026 season in Qatar will no longer take place as scheduled. Ongoing geopolitical instability in the Middle East has forced organisers to postpone the event, which had originally been set to launch the championship later this month.
Following discussions with the Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation, Lusail International Circuit and the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, the championship has now confirmed a revised date for the race.
The Qatari event will instead take place from 22–24 October and will serve as the penultimate round of the 2026 FIA WEC campaign.
Revised 2026 season calendar ????️
— FIA World Endurance Championship (@FIAWEC) March 13, 2026
The pre-season Prologue will now take place on 14th April in Imola, while the Qatar 1812km has been moved to the 22-24 October and becomes the penultimate round of the season.#WEC pic.twitter.com/Y7d8ejZAK3
Safety remains the top priority as FIA WEC moves Qatar round to October; Imola moved to top of calendar
Championship organisers emphasised that they took the decision with the safety of all participants and attendees in mind. The governing bodies involved will continue to monitor the evolving situation in the region before the rescheduled event takes place later in the year.
The Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation, Lusail International Circuit, the FIA and the FIA World Endurance Championship organisation collectively reaffirmed that the safety and security of competitors, team personnel and fans remain their highest priority.
With the Qatar round postponed, the 2026 FIA WEC season will now begin in Italy. The championship will open at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, located in the Emilia-Romagna region, with the 6 Hours of Imola scheduled for 17–19 April.
Before the race weekend, teams will gather at the historic circuit for the traditional Prologue group test. The two-day session will take place on Tuesday, 14 April, giving competitors valuable track time to prepare their machinery and refine performance ahead of the first race of the season.
Teams prepare for revised campaign
The change to the calendar marks an unusual start to the championship, but the revised schedule allows teams and organisers to maintain the integrity of the 2026 season while prioritising safety.
As preparations continue, the focus now shifts to Imola, where competitors across the Hypercar and LMGT3 classes will begin their pursuit of world championship honours.
