Formula E Postpones Jeddah Opener to April as Mexico City Launches the Gen4 Era

Formula E has moved its Jeddah double-header from 18–19 December to 16–17 April 2027. Mexico City now opens Season 13 and the Gen4 era on 16 January.

Formula E will not start its Gen4 era in Saudi Arabia after all. The championship has moved the Jeddah E-Prix double-header from 18–19 December 2026 to 16–17 April 2027, so Mexico City now opens Season 13 on 16 January.

The decision was announced on Thursday 12 November. It ends weeks of uncertainty over the Jeddah Corniche Circuit opener, which had been at risk since the security situation in the region got worse this autumn.

Same races, new dates

In its statement, reported by Motorsport.com, Formula E said the decision came after talks with its main partners and took into account recent developments in the region and the logistics involved. The series added that the change preserves “the complete integrity and scope of the championship”.

Nothing is lost on paper. Jeddah keeps its two night races, and the season still runs to 21 races. Jeddah takes the April weekend that had been pencilled in for Sanya, which moves forward to 3 April.

Revised Formula E Season 13 calendar with Mexico City opening on 16 January and Jeddah on 16-17 April — Season 13 main stops after the change. Graphic: BISER3A

The revised order

16 January – Mexico City (new season opener)
6 February – Austin, followed by Miami
13 March – São Paulo
3 April – Sanya
16–17 April – Jeddah double-header
May – Monaco (1–2), Berlin (8–9), London at Brands Hatch (29)
June – Zandvoort debut (18–19), then Madrid
July – Shanghai (10–11) and the Tokyo finale

Part of a bigger pattern

Jeddah is the latest regional event to fall victim to this year’s conflict. Formula 1 cancelled its April rounds in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. In September, the FIA dropped Rally Saudi Arabia from the World Rally Championship, and the Saudi federation later cancelled the event altogether, which left Cyprus to close the Middle East Rally Championship.

Formula 1 is still pushing ahead with its season finale in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. Formula E, which starts its season in December, chose not to take that risk.

Next stop: Madrid, from Monday

Pre-season testing runs at Jarama near Madrid from 16 to 20 November. It will be the first time the whole grid runs the Gen4 car together. Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein starts the season as defending champion.

Update to our 13 November report: that story was written before Formula E’s announcement and said Jeddah was still planned for December. This article replaces it.