Singapore's race season officially kicks off next month, and this year the city gets a new "paddock" on Orchard Road, adidas pop-ups at two malls, and Southeast Asia's first stop on a global esports championship — all before a single F1 car hits the grid.

TL;DR

  • Grand Prix Season Singapore (GPSS) runs 2–11 October 2026, building up to the FORMULA 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix on 9–11 October.
  • Three headline precincts anchor this year's programme: Orchard Paddock (new, Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza), Ray-Ban presents Beyond the Track (returning, CQ at Clarke Quay) and adidas Motorsport Popups (new, Funan and Raffles City).
  • Singapore also becomes Southeast Asia's first stop on PlayStation's Gran Turismo World Series, at Marina Bay Sands on 3 October.

What is Grand Prix Season Singapore, and when is it on?

Grand Prix Season Singapore (GPSS) is the Singapore Tourism Board's citywide programme of race-themed lifestyle events that runs alongside the Singapore Grand Prix. This year's edition, the 17th, runs from 2 to 11 October 2026, ahead of the F1 race weekend itself on 9–11 October at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. STB announced the full 2026 line-up, including two new headline attractions, on 2 September 2026.

"Grand Prix Season Singapore amplifies the race experience by building anticipation and bringing fans together in the lead-up to one of the most exciting weekends on Singapore's events calendar," said Lilian Chee, Director, Sports, Singapore Tourism Board. "Every year, our programme partners bring fresh ideas and experiences to GPSS, adding to the energy across the city and reinforcing Singapore's position as a dynamic and vibrant destination."

What's new this year — and where should I go?

Two new headliners join the roster alongside the returning Clarke Quay event. Orchard Paddock 2026 debuts at Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza from 8 to 10 October, transforming the plaza after dark with late-night dining, open-air movie screenings and live local music. The 8 October line-up is headlined by rapper-producer Alyph and singer-songwriter YAØ, with support from bands 53A, Reverie and Dreamsound.

The adidas Motorsport Popups land at Funan (adidas x Audi Revolut F1 Team) and Raffles City Shopping Centre (adidas x Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team), running from 28 September to 12 October with showcar displays, racing simulators and exclusive merchandise. They follow adidas' Orchard Ignition event in August, which drew crowds with a live race car demo and an appearance by K-pop group BABYMONSTER.

Over at the Singapore River, the returning Ray-Ban presents: Beyond the Track takes over CQ at Clarke Quay from 1 to 14 October, bringing the Scuderia Ferrari Collection, race-themed challenges (a pit-stop challenge and reflex test among them), a surprise appearance from a Scuderia Ferrari HP Formula 1 driver, and live performances from international acts as part of Music Matters Live.

Why does the Gran Turismo stop at Marina Bay Sands matter?

On 3 October, Marina Bay Sands' Sands Theatre hosts Round 3 of PlayStation's Gran Turismo World Series (GTWS) — the first time this global sim-racing championship has stopped in Southeast Asia. It's the penultimate round before the finals in Tokyo, with the world's top GT drivers competing for points in the Manufacturers Cup and Nations Cup. For a city that's positioned itself as a motorsport and esports hub, hosting a qualifying leg of a major global esports tour alongside the physical F1 race is a genuine first, not just a marketing tie-in.

Elsewhere, Porsche debuts Raceborn Fest at Guoco Midtown (9–11 October), unveiling the new 911 Challenge race car in Southeast Asia for the first time, while Zouk, TRIFECTA at Somerset and a LEGO® build at Suntec City round out the programme with club nights, a charity drive with Sports Car Club Singapore, and a family-friendly build challenge.

Why it matters

For residents and visitors, GPSS has effectively stretched what used to be a single race weekend into a 10-day citywide event spanning Orchard Road, Clarke Quay, Marina Bay and Suntec — meaning there's now a race-season reason to visit precincts beyond the circuit itself even if you don't have a Grand Prix ticket. Most of the headline activations (Orchard Paddock, the adidas pop-ups, LEGO at Suntec) are free to enter, which matters for anyone planning a race-season night out on a budget.

Not yet confirmed: STB's release does not give a definitive closing date for the adidas Motorsport Popups or Beyond the Track beyond the ranges above, ticketing details for GTWS Round 3, or a full list of international acts performing at Clarke Quay — these are expected to be released closer to the event.

FAQs

When is Grand Prix Season Singapore 2026?

GPSS runs from 2 to 11 October 2026, culminating in the FORMULA 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix on 9–11 October at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.

What's new at GPSS this year?

Two debut headliners: Orchard Paddock 2026 at Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza (8–10 October) and the adidas Motorsport Popups at Funan and Raffles City Shopping Centre (28 September–12 October), plus Singapore's first-ever stop on PlayStation's Gran Turismo World Series at Marina Bay Sands on 3 October.

Do I need an F1 ticket to join the GPSS events?

No. Orchard Paddock, the adidas pop-ups, LEGO's build at Suntec City and most fringe programming are separate, precinct-based events open to the public independent of race-day tickets, though some activations (like GTWS Round 3) may require their own registration or ticketing.

Sources and Method

This article was compiled from the Singapore Tourism Board's official media release ("Grand Prix Season Singapore 2026 counts down to race weekend with new headliners and programme partners," stb.gov.sg, published 2 September 2026) and cross-checked against independent reporting syndicated from The Straits Times via Red Hot Singapore ("Grand Prix season: Orchard 'paddock', pop-ups, Porsche displays and more beyond the racetrack"), which confirmed specific run dates for the adidas pop-ups (28 September–12 October) and Beyond the Track (1–14 October) not spelled out in the STB release itself. All event details are subject to change per STB's own release; readers should check visitsingapore.com/gpss before making firm plans.