09/26/2026
Getting Married During the Las Vegas Grand Prix
2026 race dates, session times, and road closures — plus how to plan a Las Vegas wedding around F1 race week, whether you're here for the race or just happen to share the date.
Formula 1 on the Strip
The Las Vegas Grand Prix Returns November 19–21, 2026
For the fourth year in a row, Formula 1 takes over Las Vegas Boulevard. The 2026 Las Vegas Grand Prix runs Thursday, November 19 through Saturday, November 21, on a 3.8-mile, 17-turn street circuit that races past Caesars Palace, the Bellagio fountains, and the Sphere. It’s a night race: the lights go out at 8:00 PM Pacific on Saturday.
That makes race week one of the biggest weeks on the Las Vegas calendar. The 2024 race brought an estimated $934 million into the local economy, and organizers expect 2025 and 2026 to top it. Whether you’re an F1 fan who wants to get married on race weekend or a couple who picked a November date before you knew the race was on, here’s what to plan around.
2026 Session Times
Race Weekend at a Glance
All times Pacific. Every on-track session runs from late afternoon into the night, so mornings stay free for a ceremony.
Thu, Nov 19
4:30 PM & 8:00 PM
Practice 1 & Practice 2
The first two practice sessions open race weekend. A Thursday morning ceremony gives you a full day to celebrate before the cars hit the track that evening.
Fri, Nov 20
4:30 PM & 8:00 PM
Practice 3 & Qualifying
Final practice in the afternoon, then qualifying under the lights. Friday is a popular choice for fans who want the ceremony and the race on separate days.
Sat, Nov 21
8:00 PM
The Race
Lights out at 8 PM. A sunrise or late-morning ceremony still leaves plenty of time to get back to the city, change, and be trackside or at a watch party before the start.
For F1 Fans
Planning a Wedding Around the Race
If F1 is the reason you’re in Las Vegas, race week is a memorable time to get married. A few things make it easier:
Get your marriage license early in the trip. The Clark County Marriage License Bureau is downtown, well north of the circuit, and open 8 AM to midnight every day, including race week. Picking it up Wednesday or Thursday morning keeps it off your plate once sessions start. There’s no waiting period, so you can marry the same day.
Have your ceremony in the morning. Nothing runs on track before 4:30 PM on any day of race weekend. A sunrise desert elopement at Valley of Fire, followed by brunch and an afternoon nap, still gets you to the grandstands in time. It also gets you in and out of the Strip before the evening road closures.
Plan your photos with the track in mind. Strip photo spots near the circuit are fenced, crowded, and closed off in the evenings during race week. If you want city-lights portraits, schedule them away from the track (downtown and Fremont Street work well), or book them after the race weekend. Desert venues give you open space and golden light with no grandstands in the shot.
Keep the theme small. Checkered-flag details, team colors in the bouquet ribbon, or a quick photo in your team kit after the ceremony are fun touches. Most fans find a nod to the race works better than a full theme.
