Know Before You Go
We look forward to welcoming you to the Circuit of The Americas for a weekend full of action both on and off the track! Below you will find everything needed to maximize your experience at COTA during this year's event. Please note: this page will continue to be updated throughout the weekend with the newest and most up-to-date information.
Download the COTA App
The 2026 version of the COTA app is now available! Get the most out of your USGP experience with the updated COTA App. With the live race schedule, interactive map, giveaways, and more, it’s your the best guide to the USGP in the palm of your hand.
Make sure you have notifications on within the COTA App to get a real-time updates related to on-site experiences, weather and track activity. The COTA App will continue to be updated leading up to the USGP. Update the app under settings (the gear in the upper right corner on the home screen) on Wednesday, October 21 to ensure you have the most up-to-date information.
Plan Your Visit
Tips for Your USGP Weekend Experience
- Wear comfortable shoes. COTA is a large but accessible venue with a lot to explore. Comfortable shoes are recommended to enjoy your experience to the fullest.
- Arrive early. The USGP is one of the biggest events in the world, and the COTA team works diligently to provide an efficient and smooth experience. Like any major sporting event or concert, allow ample time to arrive on-site for the weekend’s events and expect your travel home to take longer than average.
- Stay for the post-race activities. Rather than sit in traffic, get on the track at the post-race Fan Track Walk or dance to Alesso at the Germania Insurance Amphitheater.
Parking
- Thursday, October 22: 11:00AM
- Friday, October 23: 8:30AM
- Saturday, October 24 8:00AM
- Sunday, October 25: 8:00AM
Gates
- Thursday, October 22: 11:30AM
- Friday, October 23: 9:00AM
- Saturday, October 24: 8:30AM
- Sunday, October 25: 8:30AM
Transportation and Mobility
To view directions and a comprehensive guide outlining the best ways to get to COTA, please click here.
On-Site Parking
Please have your parking pass readily displayed in your vehicle before arriving at COTA. For the best route to your designated lot, please click here to view our recommended directions. If you did not purchase an on-site parking pass, you will not be able to park at COTA during the weekend. No vehicles will be permitted on COTA Blvd without a valid parking pass.
Rideshare
COTA Blvd will be restricted to permitted vehicles and buses only. Similarly, rideshare (Uber, Lyft, taxi, etc) services will operate out of the North McAngus parking lot. Complimentary trams will be available to transport guests from North McAngus to the Grand Plaza front gates. To ensure a successful transit experience, rideshare vehicles will not be permitted on COTA Blvd during race weekend.
Shuttles
Take the shuttle! With expanded roads, exclusive lanes for shuttle buses, and dedicated pick-up/drop-off areas, travel to Circuit of The Americas has never been easier. Sit back and relax as you let our award-winning shuttle program transport you from either Travis County Expo Center or Waterloo Park to COTA’s front gates. For logistical shuttle information, please click here.
COTA Trams
Get around COTA with ease on one of our complimentary trams! Trams will be running continuously throughout the event and stopping at various pickup locations around the perimeter.
Tickets & Box Office Information
Mobile Tickets
All tickets (with the exception of parking and 3-day general admission wristbands) will be mobile for Circuit of The Americas events. These tickets can be accessed via the COTA app. If you need assistance, please review these step-by-step instructions.
Redeeming Your Concert Floor Upgrade Wristband
Stop by the Ticketmaster Box Offices in the Grand Plaza or Main Grandstand or one of the Guest Services tents in Turn 9 or the infield to scan your concert upgrade and redeem your wristband to enter with ease.
Box Office Hours
Our Grand Plaza and Main Grandstand Box Offices will be open to assist with ticketing issues. Keep your ticket on you at all times. Exit and re-entry is permitted with your original ticket. All tickets must be scanned upon exit and re-entry, and all guests will be subject to security screening upon re-entry. Starting Monday, October 19, the COTA Box Office at the Grand Plaza will be open for guests to visit and purchase tickets.
Grand Plaza Box Office Hours (beginning Monday, October 19)
- Monday – Thursday: 10:00AM – 5:00PM
- Friday, October 23: 8:30AM – 8:00PM
- Saturday, October 24: 8:30AM – 8:00PM
- Sunday, October 25: 8:30AM – 5:00PM
Main Grandstand Box Office Hours
- Friday, October 23: 9:30AM – 4:50PM
- Saturday, October 24: 8:30AM – 4:30PM
- Sunday, October 25: 8:30AM – 2:30PM
Map
Concert Experiences
The American Soundtrack – Various Stages
COTA’s American Soundtrack lineup will showcase 20+ musical acts spanning genres across various stages all over the track. Check out the lineup here.
Maroon 5 & Post Malone on the Germania Insurance Super Stage
Both headlining concerts will take to the Germania Insurance Super Stage on the Festival Lawn located between Turn 11 and Turn 12. All guests with a COTA-purchased USGP ticket receive access to the Festival Lawn for that specific day’s performance. Guests who purchased tickets through a different provider should contact their point-of-purchase to see if general admission concert access is included.
- Friday, October 23: Maroon 5
- Saturday, October 24: Post Malone
Accessing the Super Stage
The Germania Insurance Super Stage Festival Lawn gates will open approximately 1.5 hours after on-track activity ends that day. Gate times are subject to change due to the logistics of quickly converting a Formula 1 track to a concert venue. To access the Germania Insurance Super Stage, please follow these steps based on your ticket:
- General Admission Festival Lawn: Enter via the Infield Entrance near Tunnel 2 and The Ranch or at the entrance between Turn 10 and 11.
- Concert Upgrades (Concert Floor Upgrade and Reserved Seats): Stop by the Ticketmaster Box Offices in the Grand Plaza or Main Grandstand or the Guest Services tents in Turn 9 or the infield to scan your concert upgrade and redeem your wristband. Wristbands are required to enter the concert upgrade areas. Maroon 5 wristbands are available for pick up starting Friday morning and Post Malone wristbands starting Saturday morning. When it’s time for the show to begin, enter via the Infield Entrance near Tunnel 2 and The Ranch.
Alesso – Germania Insurance Amphitheater
Alesso will round out our concert lineup in the Germania Insurance Amphitheater on Sunday immediately following the USGP. Guests are encouraged to stay after the race, beat the traffic and cap off an exciting weekend with red dirt country tunes. The Germania Insurance Amphitheater is located at the base of the COTA Tower Observation Deck near the Grand Plaza.
To access the Germania Insurance Amphitheater for Alesso (Sunday, 5:30PM), we recommend entering from the Grand Plaza, following signs and ushers to the seating area of your choice.
Attractions and Entertainment
F1 Fan Zone (Grand Plaza)
Hop into the driver’s seat and see how you hold up against the pros with F1 Sim Racing or try your hand at an F1 Pit Stop and much more within the F1 Fan Zone in the Grand Plaza. Also located in the Grand Plaza are many exciting sponsor activations. Don’t forget to take a ride on the wild side by trying out our mini-ride destination. Ride tickets are available upon arrival.
World’s Largest Cowboy Hat
Everything’s bigger in Texas—and we mean everything! Snap a photo with the World’s Largest Cowboy Hat and take home a Texas-sized memory from race weekend. Located in Lonstar Land
COTA Pong
Think you’ve got the perfect shot? Grab your crew and put your aim to the test with a game of COTA Pong
Friendship Bracelets
Make it, trade it, wear it! Create your own friendship bracelet and take home a one-of-a-kind keepsake from race weekend.
Tower Observation Deck Experience (Behind Germania Insurance Amphitheater)
Take in one of the most breathtaking views in motorsports from 251 feet above the United States Grand Prix. Tickets are available at the base of the Tower for $40. If you’re interested in elevating your experience with a Champagne Toast, you can purchase this premium add-on for $20.
Tower Observation Deck Hours
- Thursday, October 22: 12:30PM – 5:00PM
- Friday, October 23: 12:30PM – 5:00PM
- Saturday, October 24: 9:00AM – 1:00PM, 3:30PM – 5:30PM
- Sunday, October 25: 11:00AM – 6:00PM
F1 Opening Ceremonies (Track)
Before the Grand Prix on Sunday, enjoy the pomp and circumstance as F1 drivers parade around the track, drivers are announced, and the National Anthem is sung.
Fan Track Walk (Starting Grid / Podium)
Celebrate on the starting line with your champions! After the checkered flag flies on Sunday, fans will be invited onto the grid for the podium ceremony and celebrations. This is the chance to walk the same track that challenges the world’s greatest drivers. Fan Track Walk will take place on the starting grid between Turn 20 and Turn 2. Fan Track Walk entry points: Turn 2, Main Grandstand East, and Main Grandstand West.
Villages & Experiences
The Saloon (Turn 2)
The Saloon pays tribute to the timeless Western spirit found in iconic Texas towns like Bandera, New Braunfels, and Luckenbach. Here, the beer is ice-cold, the fryers are working overtime, and the atmosphere feels straight out of the Wild West. Grab a seat and sing along as dueling pianos go head-to-head, all surrounded by swinging doors, weathered wood, and vintage signs. It’s your go-to spot for a laid-back, boots-up kind of good time.
Texas Tailgate (Turn 3)
Step into Texas Tailgate, where the legendary college football towns of Texas come to life. Here, gameday isn’t just a tradition—it’s a way of life. This sports-bar style hotspot brings all the energy of a Saturday afternoon straight to the track, with screens showing the biggest matchups, bleacher-style seating, and ceilings lined with team jerseys. Grab your crew and put your skills to the test with a round of COTA Pong while you soak up the ultimate Texas gamey atmosphere.
La Cantina (Turn 6)
Dive into a spirited celebration of Texas’ vibrant Mexican-American heritage at La Cantina! Move to the infectious beats of cumbia and enjoy live music alongside colorful folklórico dance performances. Get ready for flips, throws, and high-flying action as lucha libre returns to the village, then get crafty and create your own friendship bracelet to remember the weekend. ¡Es hora de celebrar!
The Ranch (Infield)
Saddle up for a rodeo-style adventure filled with Texas-sized entertainment at The Ranch! Head to the Nail Saloon for an F1-themed manicure or request a design of your own, then enjoy live music throughout the weekend. Check out a colorful display of art cars, challenge your crew to COTA Pong, customize your own COTA cowboy hat, or put your skills to the test with Texas-style calf roping. There’s plenty of ways to get in on the action!
Lonestar Land (Tunnel Road, Near Turn 2)
Get the Texas treatment in the perennial fan favorite: Lonestar Land! Step into a village celebrating the landscapes, lifestyle, and larger-than-life spirit that make Texas unique. Feast on mouthwatering BBQ, snag some unforgettable memorabilia, or make your visit permanent with a tattoo. And you can’t miss a truly Texas-sized photo op: the World’s Largest Cowboy Hat! Everything really is bigger in Texas.
Event Operations
To see our official venue policies, click here. Please note that we are a cashless facility. We accept Visa, Discover and MasterCard for payment.
Bag Policy & Prohibited Items
COTA will only allow bags smaller than 12X12X20 inches inside the venue. Bags are subject to screening by security personnel. COTA uses the revolutionary CEIA OpenGate™ Detection Systems for screenings, allowing items to be kept in bags and cutting down wait times during the entry process.
Prohibited Items & Event Safety
Our guests’ safety is of the utmost importance. Bags are subject to screening by security personnel. COTA uses revolutionary technology for screenings, allowing items to be kept in bags and cutting down wait times during the entry process. Guests entering the venue should prepare accordingly to ease entry. Please adhere to safety guidelines and leave all prohibited items at home. View our prohibited items list here.
Inclement Weather
Circuit of The Americas is a rain or shine venue and Formula 1 cars race in the rain. However, the safety of our guests is paramount, and in the event of severe or inclement weather, there may be changes to the event schedule. Any changes will be posted via social media and updated online and within the COTA App as soon as they’ve been determined. If immediate action is required to move guests to safety, announcements will be made via our public address system and video boards, and our staff will assist with directions to shelter.
ADA Accessibility
Providing a world-class experience to all is paramount to Circuit of The Americas. We recognize the diverse needs of thousands of our guests and are here to support all guests’ experiences by providing a range of accommodations to ensure all our guests create wonderful memories to last a lifetime. Please view our ADA Accessibility page to learn more
On-Site Assistance
If you need assistance at any point while you’re at Circuit of The Americas, swing by a Guest Services Tent (view map for locations, or check the COTA App). We’re here to help you have a great time and answer your questions! If you aren’t near a Guest Services Tent, send us a text at 69050 with “COTA” followed by your request or question. If it’s a location-based inquiry, please also include your location.