The Gran Turismo World Series 2026Round 1 - Abu Dhabi Live Event
TICKET SALES NOW OPEN
The 2026 Gran Turismo World Series, PlayStation’s official esports championship for Gran Turismo 7, opens a new chapter with its first-ever event in the Middle East.
Round 1 will unfold on Saturday, March 28, at Abu Dhabi’s Space42 Arena, where the world’s elite will converge under the desert lights. Twelve drivers from the Nations Cup, joined by twelve representatives of the Manufacturers Cup, will arrive with a single objective: to set the tone for the season ahead.
Be there as precision, strategy, and raw speed meet on the virtual circuit—and witness the finest Gran Turismo drivers on earth contest the opening battle of the 2026 championship.
Program
| Date(s) | Saturday, March 28, 2026 Doors open 14:45 | Show starts 16:00 | Show ends 20:45 (Estimated) (All hours are in local time) |
|---|---|
| Location |
Abu Dhabi Space42 Arena: space42arena.com/plan-a-visit/Address: Al Raha St - Al Rahah - RBW4 - Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates (Google Maps) |
- 14:45
- Doors open
- 15:00
- Support event (TBA)
- 16:00
- Manufacturers Cup
- 17:30
- Interval
- 19:00
- Nations Cup
- 20:45
- Show ends
Tickets
Two ticket options are available, each granting access to both live shows: Premium and Standard. The Premium Ticket offers priority access to the finest seating, placing spectators at the heart of the action.
A ticket grants access to both the Manufacturers Cup and Nations Cup events.
Discounted admission is available for guests under 18 years of age. Please note that all minors must be accompanied by an adult holding a valid ticket.
| Premium Ticket | Adult | 150 AED |
|---|---|---|
| U18 | 100 AED | |
| Standard Ticket | Adult | 130 AED |
| U18 | 80 AED |
About the World Series
Modern motor racing traces its origins to Paris in 1894. With an eye toward carrying that legacy forward into its next century, the Gran Turismo World Series was inaugurated in 2018 as a vision of motorsport’s future—an official championship dedicated to identifying the world’s finest Gran Turismo drivers.
The 2026 Gran Turismo World Series will unfold across four live events, bringing together the finest drivers from the Online Qualifiers alongside a select group of seeded competitors, all contesting for the championship crown. Abu Dhabi serves as the opening round of the season, marking the series’ first visit to the Middle East. The choice of venue is fitting, coinciding with the introduction of Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit to Gran Turismo 7 as part of the Spec III update, released in December 2025.
The championship brings together the highest-ranked manufacturers from the Online Qualifiers, joined by Official Partners, forming a field of 12 teams. Points are contested at every round, culminating at the World Finals, where all three drivers from each team take to the track together in pursuit of the Manufacturers Cup title.
The Nations Cup sees drivers compete in the colors of their home country or territory. The field is limited to 12 of the world’s finest: a blend of the top performers from each region’s Online Qualifiers and the three highest-ranked drivers from the 2025 World Series Points standings, who enter as seeded competitors. Abu Dhabi represents their first chance to claim World Series points, and to set the benchmark for the 2026 championship.
