'The Imola Autodrome strategic hub of the Motor Valley'

Imola, beyond the Formula 1 Grand Prix. The 2026 calendar of the Enzo and Dino Ferrari International Autodrome presented yesterday in Bologna at the Emilia-Romagna Region, in the presence among others of the Mayor of Imola Marco Panieri, the Councillor for Tourism and Sport Roberta Frisoni and the General Manager of the Imola circuit Pietro Benvenuti, confirms the central role of one of the infrastructures symbolising Made in Italy in the world motorsport panorama, despite the disappearance of the appointment with the Circus.

"The highlight of a programme full of sporting and non-sporting events, such as the Cesare Cremonini concert," Benvenuti explained, "is the World Endurance Championship from 17 to 19 April with the 6 Hours of Imola, which will bring the leading international constructors to the track. There will also be space for national motorsport, with the Aci Racing Weekend from 24 to 26 of the same month and the Lamborghini Arena from 9 to 10 May".

The Autodromo will then host historical events such as Historic Minardi Day and Imola Classic, as well as events like Wow Women Motor, on eight March, and Imola Green, on 26 and 27 September, dedicated to the participation of women in motorsport and sustainable mobility. "Our goal," underlined Imola Mayor Panieri, "is to make the Autodromo an increasingly functional facility, also aiming at de-seasonalisation, to hold major international championships and historic events together, keeping Imola at the centre of motorsport. But the Autodrome is also a place directly experienced by the citizens'. In fact, 58 days open to the public are planned, where it will be possible to walk or cycle around the track.

In 2025, on the other hand, presences recorded at Imola, between events linked to the Autodrome and the city, including the Grand Prix, reached one million, as revealed by the Censis report "Events and collective identity of Imola in the Motor Valley", also released yesterday. The report highlights how 'the comparison between 2019 and 2024 shows a qualitative evolution in demand: overall presences grow by 14.2%, while the average stay goes from 2.2 to 2.6 days'. Italian tourists, then, increase by 15.6% over the same period.

The discontinuation of the Grand Prix from 2026, therefore, represents 'a change of phase but does not interrupt a development trajectory that is based on an articulated calendar of events'.