Opening Gran Turismo World Series round in Abu Dhabi cancelled

The first round of the 2026 Gran Turismo World Series competition has been cancelled.

Announced last December as being held in Abu Dhabi, with support from Abu Dhabi Gaming, Gran Turismo issued a brief social media statement today (6th March 2026) confirming the change.

“Round 1 of the Gran Turismo World Series, scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi on Saturday 28 March, has been cancelled,” it read.

“The safety of everyone involved in our events remains our highest priority. We will share further details in due course.”

It follows the cancellation or postponement of other notable events in the region, such as the FIA World Endurance Championship’s opening race, also originally planned for the same weekend, but in nearby Qatar.

USA and Israeli strikes on Iran, commencing on 28th February, prompted retaliatory strikes by Iran across the Middle East. The turbulent landscape has led to the repatriation of Foreign Nationals from the United Arab Emirates, for example, intercepted drone attacks on Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport and at least three deaths in the UAE specifically, according to its defence ministry on the 3rd.

The next round for the Gran Turismo World Series is scheduled for 23rd May in Milan, Italy, before a third round still to be announced and then ending in Tokyo, Japan, between 5th and 6th December 2026.