IMAX Formula 1 is about to turn race weekends into something bigger than your living room. Starting March 7, 2026, Apple TV’s exclusive U.S. coverage of the FIA Formula One World Championship expands beyond streaming screens and into more than 50 IMAX theaters nationwide. Five Grands Prix are scheduled for the theatrical rollout: Miami, Monaco, Silverstone, Monza, and Austin.
For fans who already plan their weekends around lights out, this adds a new option. Instead of watching from the couch, you can step into a theater engineered for scale, depth, and sound. Formula 1 is built on speed and detail, and the IMAX format magnifies both.
Apple TV and IMAX Bring F1 to the Big Screen
Apple secured exclusive U.S. rights to Formula 1 through a multi-year agreement, and beginning March 7, 2026, all races stream on Apple TV. The IMAX partnership extends that coverage into physical venues, creating live theater events for select races during the season.
The confirmed IMAX race lineup includes:
- Miami Grand Prix — May 3, 2026
- Monaco Grand Prix
- British Grand Prix at Silverstone
- Italian Grand Prix at Monza
- United States Grand Prix in Austin — October 25, 2026
At least 50 IMAX locations across the United States will carry the live broadcasts. Each race will be presented in IMAX’s large-format projection with enhanced sound, giving fans an alternative way to experience race day.
The move builds on Apple and IMAX’s prior collaboration around “F1: The Movie,” which became the top-grossing IMAX Hollywood release of 2025 with $97.6 million in IMAX box office receipts. That result demonstrated strong audience appetite for Formula 1 on a large theatrical scale.
Apple TV + IMAX + Formula 1
Formula 1 already relies on cinematic camera work: wide track angles, aerial passes, cockpit views, and slow-motion replays. In IMAX, those visuals stretch across a towering screen. Monaco’s harbor corners, Silverstone’s high-speed curves, and Monza’s long straights benefit from the expanded field of view.
Sound design also plays a central role. Engine notes, gear shifts, and crowd reactions carry differently in a theater calibrated for immersion. It shifts the viewing experience from passive streaming to shared live spectacle.
IMAX has gradually expanded its programming beyond traditional film releases into live sports and event screenings. Broadcasting Formula 1 continues that strategy, positioning cinemas as venues for real-time global events.
Race Streaming
For U.S. fans, 2026 marks a structural change in how Formula 1 is accessed. Apple TV becomes the centralized platform for the championship in the United States, consolidating race streaming under one service.
IMAX screenings offer a complementary option rather than a replacement. Fans can choose between home viewing and theater attendance depending on the race weekend. A Miami Grand Prix crowd in a packed theater carries a different energy than watching alone at home. The Austin race in October gains a communal element inside large-format auditoriums.
The rollout aligns with Formula 1’s continued growth in the American market. More U.S. races, higher attendance, and expanded media interest have pushed the sport further into mainstream awareness. Apple TV’s broadcast deal and IMAX’s theater participation both respond to that rising demand.
How to Watch
All 2026 Formula 1 races stream on Apple TV beginning March 7. The five IMAX screenings will be available at select U.S. locations, with ticket details published by participating theaters. Availability may vary by region.
Fans planning to attend should check local IMAX listings in advance to confirm participating venues and showtimes.
IMAX Formula 1 introduces a second layer to race weekends in 2026. Apple TV remains the exclusive streaming platform in the United States, while IMAX theaters create an alternate venue for five headline Grands Prix across the season.
