Madrid is bracing for Formula 1's arrival in the city with a parallel contest to the sporting one: that of soaring accommodation prices. The Spanish Grand Prix, to be held from 11 to 13 September at the Madring circuit, has sent the cost of short-term rentals in areas close to the track, as well as in some of the most exclusive neighbourhoods in the city centre, soaring.
In recent weeks it was still possible to find homes to rent in Valdebebas, where the circuit is located, next to Ifema, for prices reaching as high as 20,000 euros for stays of barely a few days. In some cases, owners explicitly restricted availability to the period of the race.
"A 1-minute walk from the Madring circuit: experience the Formula 1 GP of Spain 2026 from the best-located luxury chalet in Madrid", read one of the listings that could still be found (source in Spanish) on the AirBNB platform last Tuesday, which was asking 11,400 euros for four days in "a house designed for VIP groups".
The increase is particularly striking when compared with usual prices in the area. Some of these properties are priced at several multiples of the cost of a standard monthly rent, which in this neighbourhood is usually around 2,500 euros a month, taking advantage of the intense demand concentrated into a single weekend.
