Free Spots to Watch F1 Singapore 2026: Which Ones Are Actually Free

F1 Singapore 2026 session times

This is Singapore's first Sprint weekend, so the timetable looks different from past years. From the organiser: First Practice is Friday 9 October, 4.30pm to 5.30pm, and Sprint Qualifying is Friday 8.30pm to 9.14pm. The Sprint is Saturday 10 October, 5pm to 5.30pm, then Qualifying 9pm to 10pm. The Grand Prix is Sunday 11 October, 8pm to 10pm.

The concerts are inside the Circuit Park, so those need a race ticket. Our October events round-up has the line-up, and CORTIS fans have a pop-up at Plaza Singapura to tide them over.

The ones that are actually free

Helix Bridge is a public footbridge between Marina Bay Sands and the Marina Centre side, and in past years people lined it for a view of the Bayfront stretch. In the Raffles area, the link bridges between Suntec City, Marina Square and Millenia Walk sit over parts of the track, and Marina Square's roof garden is on level 3. Marina Square is open 10am to 10pm daily, which covers Sunday's race window.

Our honest take: these are glimpses. You see a car flash past, you hear all of it, and that is the deal. Hoarding and screens around the circuit can block parts of the view, so we cannot promise any sightline this year until race week. Get there before the session starts, because the good railings go first.

Not free: the rooftop bars on our list

LeVeL33 at Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 1 is open 12 noon to 11pm daily. Its night race programme runs lunch and dinner all weekend: à la carte, a four-course sharing menu at $168++ per guest, or three hours of free flow at $149++ per guest. Great view, not free.

HighHouse (1 Raffles Place, levels 61 and 62) and Nova (level 63) screen every session. Race viewing dinner is a $150++ per person minimum spend for a bay or Padang view, $50++ for a non-window seat. The late after-parties charge a cover: $35 early bird or $40 at the door on Friday and Saturday with two drinks, $40 or $50 on Sunday with one Leclerc Spritz. HighHouse is closed for a private event on Saturday from 5pm to 10pm.

The National Gallery's rooftop bar on our slide was Smoke and Mirrors, which closed in March 2025. Milli now runs levels 5 and 6, and it is a restaurant, bar and club, so budget for it. The Gallery's own Level 6 Padang and Coleman Decks follow museum hours, 10am to 7pm daily, which means the Saturday Sprint at 5pm is the only session that falls inside them.

Skip Esplanade on race weekend

We put Esplanade Waterfront on our list. That was wrong for race days. Esplanade sits inside the F1 Circuit Park, and its own advisory says it is closed to all members of the public except F1 ticket holders from Friday 9 to Sunday 11 October. Its carpark is shut from 7 October to the early hours of 13 October.

So if you were planning a free night by the bay at Esplanade, move it to Helix Bridge or the Marina Square side. Take the MRT, because Esplanade warns of extensive road closures around it for the race.

FAQs

When is the Singapore Grand Prix 2026?

Friday 9 to Sunday 11 October 2026 at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. The main race is Sunday 11 October, 8pm to 10pm Singapore time.

Can you watch F1 Singapore for free?

Partly. Public spots like Helix Bridge, the Suntec City to Marina Square link bridges and Marina Square's level 3 roof garden have given glimpses of the track in past years. Expect crowds and partial views, and hoarding can block sightlines.

Is Esplanade open during F1 2026?

No, not to the public. Esplanade is inside the Circuit Park and is closed to everyone except F1 ticket holders from 9 to 11 October 2026.

Is LeVeL33 free to watch the F1?

No. LeVeL33 is a restaurant and microbrewery. On race weekend it offers à la carte, a $168++ four-course sharing menu or a $149++ three-hour free flow package.

What time is the F1 Sprint in Singapore?

Saturday 10 October 2026, 5pm to 5.30pm. Sprint Qualifying is Friday 9 October, 8.30pm to 9.14pm.