Formula 1 travel is gaining momentum for 2026, with 27% of travel agents reporting increased interest for next year’s races, driven by the sport’s expanding global fan base and demand for race-weekend experiences.
“We are seeing increased demand for long-haul F1 travel, especially to marquee destinations like Las Vegas, Abu Dhabi and Singapore. Multi-city trips that combine the race with wider regional touring are becoming more popular, as travellers want to maximise their holiday around the event,” said Angie Cachao, Product & Contract Executive at Thompsons Holidays.
Booking trends
Rather than opting for basic race entry, travellers are prioritising a range of additional features and packages, including hospitality, trackside lounges and upgraded seating.
“Flights-hotels-race tickets remain the most popular package as travellers want convenience, price certainty, and guaranteed availability where accommodation sells out quickly. VIP hospitality packages are gaining traction, especially among high-nett-worth clients and corporate groups. These offer exclusive access, elevated viewing, and premium inclusions, which travellers see as an investment, given the overall cost of attending F1 events,” said Cachao.
Early bookings are also trending due to limited availability and rising accommodation costs in host cities.
Challenges
One of the biggest challenges when booking F1 is the cost of accommodation and airfares closer to race dates as well as limited accommodation during race weekends.
“Circuits in city-centre locations with limited hotel capacity, such as Monaco, Zandvoort, Mexico City, and São Paulo, are typically the most challenging. Las Vegas is complex due to high demand, premium pricing, and strict event-controlled zones. European circuits with smaller surrounding towns can be challenging as accommodation options are limited and sell out quickly. Long-haul destinations with heavy seasonality, such as Singapore and Abu Dhabi, require navigating peak periods and long minimum-stay requirements,” said Cachao.
Illana Pereira, Managing Executive of Tourvest Destination Management’s Sports and Events division, which operates Pure-Travel, warns that too many choices can overwhelm clients. “We have seen a proliferation of packages and special offers enter the market, flooding the customer with choices and options. Agents run the risk of affecting the quality of the experience a client may receive by choosing what is cheaper over what may be a better package.”
Adding value
According to Pereira and Cachao, the best way agents can add value to the F1 booking experience is by working with an experienced tour operator.
“Agents can add immense value to the booking and travelling process by working with tour operators who have the expertise and experience. Full packages, including all travel services and official tickets, present the best value and best service offering. Pairing this with expert advice on track seating, hotel locations, transfer options and sightseeing mean clients benefit from the best possible experience on the ground,” said Pereira.
Ready-Made F1 Packages: Direct to Clients
For fans looking to skip the complexity of searching all over the web, our B2C brand, Travel.co.za, has already done the heavy lifting. The platform currently features a premium selection of fully curated Formula 1 packages live on the website, designed to capture the exact market demand highlighted by industry experts.
Instead of navigating strict event-controlled zones or piecing together sold-out accommodation, agents can leverage Travel.co.za’s pre-packaged solutions. These offers seamlessly combine flights, strategically located hotels, and guaranteed race tickets—including those highly sought-after trackside lounges and VIP hospitality options—into single, high-conversion bookings.
By utilizing Travel.co.za’s ready-made inventory, agents can instantly provide price certainty and premium track access for marquee 2026 races. It’s the fastest way to turn the current F1 momentum into profitable sales while ensuring clients enjoy a seamless, elite-tier race weekend.
