Canadian Grand Prix drew 360,000 fans

Bell GPCanada said the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix drew about 360,000 fans to Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve over the May 22-24 weekend, according to local television coverage. The figure was up from 352,000 spectators reported for the 2025 event by Bell Canada, which owns the race promoter. Kimi Antonelli won Sunday’s race for Mercedes, local and international race reports said. Montreal officials and tourism-linked businesses had spent the week describing the Grand Prix as the city’s largest annual tourism event and a major draw for hotels, restaurants and retailers. ### Where did the 360,000 figure come from? CTV News Montreal reported on May 24 that around 360,000 fans watched the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal. The station described the turnout as an attendance record for the event. Bell Canada said in a June 17, 2025 statement that the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix attracted 352,000 spectators from across Canada and abroad at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve. (ctvnews.ca) That gives the clearest year-over-year comparison available from a primary event stakeholder. Bell introduced Bell GPCanada in April as the new brand identity of the official promoter of the Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada, saying it was aligning its role as owner, promoter and broadcaster of the event. (newswire.ca) ### Why were Montreal officials and businesses focused on turnout before the race? CityNews Montreal reported on May 19 that Montreal businesses were preparing for hundreds of thousands of visitors during race weekend, with hotels expecting a rush tied to Formula 1 and the city’s playoff hockey run. Hôtel Saint-Sulpice general manager Marc-André Dandeneau told CityNews, “We’re sold out for the four nights.” (newswire.ca) CoStar reported on May 20 that the Canadian Grand Prix remains Montreal’s largest annual tourism event and routinely attracts more than 350,000 spectators over three days. The publication said Tourisme Montréal estimated the event generates major visitor spending and hotel demand across the city. (montreal.citynews.ca) Formula 1’s official race page also described Montreal as a city that embraces Grand Prix weekend, with activity extending beyond the circuit into the urban core. Montreal’s official tourism site said the May 22-24 event turns the city into “the centre of the racing world” for three days. ### Did the 2026 date change matter? (costar.com) Formula 1 and local funding partners announced in November 2024 that the Canadian Grand Prix would move to the last weekends of May starting in 2026. The change was presented as part of Formula 1’s calendar rationalization and was backed by the Canadian government, the Quebec government, the City of Montreal, Tourisme Montréal and the Société du parc Jean-Drapeau. (formula1.com) Tourisme Montréal said at the time that the earlier date would allow an earlier start to the tourist season. In a May 19 CityNews report, Fanabox founder Max Bitton said the earlier slot would bring “a really good, fresh influx of tourism for all the businesses here.” (corp.formula1.com) ### What was happening in the city around the race? Montreal was managing overlapping sports crowds during the Grand Prix weekend, with local outlets reporting packed hotels, heavy downtown traffic and transit pressure around Parc Jean-Drapeau. CTV News Montreal said getting around downtown and to the circuit would be a challenge with thousands of visitors expected. (newswire.ca) The 2026 race was held on May 24 at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, and Formula 1’s official site lists the event as the Formula 1 Lenovo Grand Prix du Canada 2026. Ticket listings on the promoter’s site showed 2026 prices ranging from C$75 for general admission to more than C$5,600 for some hospitality packages. ### What comes next for the race and the city? (montreal.citynews.ca) Formula 1’s 2026 calendar places the Monaco Grand Prix on June 5-7, the next race after Montreal. Montreal’s place on the schedule is secured through 2035 under an agreement announced in 2025 by the City of Montreal, the Quebec and Canadian governments, Tourisme Montréal and other partners. (newswire.ca) (formula1.com)