The alliance between Apple TV and IMAX Apple is revolutionizing the way people follow the Formula 1 World Championship by bringing several races directly to movie screens in the United States. This move reinforces Apple's commitment to sports rights and opens the door to a racing format that, if successful across the Atlantic, could soon arrive in Europe.
After the good impression it left "F1: The Movie" in IMAX theatersBoth companies have decided to go a step further and offer live broadcasts of selected Grand Prix races. The idea is for fans to experience Formula 1 with cinematic picture and sound quality, a far cry from the traditional living room experience, and one that could set a trend if the public response is positive.
An agreement born from the success of "F1: The Movie"
The current operation has its origins in the very famous "F1: The Movie" produced by Applewhich served as a testing ground for this collaboration. This feature film, starring Brad Pitt and directed by Joseph Kosinski, was shot entirely with IMAX-certified digital cameras and ended up becoming one of the format's biggest releases.
The film achieved a worldwide revenue close to $654 millionOf that total, almost 100 million came specifically from IMAX theaters. This performance confirmed that Formula 1, with its combination of speed and technical precision, was a perfect fit for the immersive experience offered by these giant screens.
Last October, Apple took a decisive step towards to acquire the Formula 1 broadcasting rights in the United States, thus reinforcing its catalog of sports content on Apple TVThe agreement with IMAX for theatrical releases is directly supported by this new rights framework and the positive chemistry generated during the film's launch.
Jonathan Fischer, IMAX's Director of Content, has emphasized that The collaboration with Apple is deepening Following the film's success, the company intends to continue expanding its Formula 1-related offerings within its cinema network. For IMAX, the pinnacle of motorsport is ideal content for developing special large-format experiences.
Five Grand Prix races from the 2026 World Championship in IMAX theaters
As a result of this alliance, five Grand Prix races of the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship They will be screened live in select IMAX theaters across the United States. These aren't just any races; they are some of the most iconic events on the calendar, both for their history and the allure of their tracks.
Apple TV and IMAX have confirmed that the races coming to the big screen will be the Grand Prix races of Miami, Monaco, Great Britain (Silverstone), Italy (Monza) and the United States (Austin)This selection combines European events with a long tradition with two key events on American soil, helping to consolidate the championship's appeal in the North American market.
In total, it is expected that at least 50 IMAX theaters spread across the United States Join the live broadcast of these races. Each circuit will have very specific screening dates, linked to the Grand Prix weekend itself, so that the public can go to the cinema as if it were a film premiere, but with the excitement of a live sporting event.
In this way, Formula 1 sneaks into cinema listings as just another regular feature, although with the difference that Each session will be unique and live, without the possibility of repeating the experience exactly the same, which adds an extra component of exclusivity for fans.
Schedule of races that will be shown in IMAX
Cinema screenings will begin to coincide with F1's return to the United States in 2026. The first Grand Prix in giant format will be the one in Miami, scheduled for May 3rd, which will kick off the series of five special weekends on the IMAX network.
From there, the schedule set by Apple TV and IMAX for these live screenings is as follows, always within the 2026 season of the championship:
Miami Grand Prix – May 3, 2026
Monaco Grand Prix – June 7, 2026
British Grand Prix (Silverstone) 5th of July 2026
Italian Grand Prix (Monza) – September 6, 2026
United States Grand Prix (Austin) – October 25, 2026
Meanwhile, other reports about the championship place these Grand Prix races within its regular competition weekendsThe events, which run from Friday to Sunday, include practice, qualifying, and the race. For moviegoers, the focus will primarily be on the Sunday race, although the format could be expanded in the future if it proves successful.
With this planning, the United States now has two national appointments with IMAX treatment (Miami and Austin), complemented by three leading European Grands Prix. For Formula 1, this mix of venues is a way to maintain its global image, but with a clear nod to the American market, where the sport continues to gain ground year after year.
A new way to experience F1: from TV to cinema
Apple TV and IMAX's strategy is based on the idea that watching a Formula 1 race in a IMAX screen with surround sound It's a completely different experience than watching it on TV at home. The visual immersion, the image size, and the powerful audio aim to transport the viewer to the heart of the circuit, with the single-seaters practically "jumping" off the screen.
According to Oliver Schusser, Apple's vice president of Music, Sports and Rhythms, Formula 1 is a A discipline experiencing rapid growth in the sporting and cultural spheres of the United StatesBringing Apple TV live broadcasts to IMAX cinemas is seen by the company as a way to expand access, bring the energy of the races to more screens, and offer a different way to enjoy the championship.
For his part, Jonathan Fischer from IMAX highlights the speed, precision and artistic component of F1 They fit very well with the visual language of the format.The company sees these broadcasts as a way to further expand its catalog of live experiences, beyond traditional cinema, and to attract motoring enthusiasts who may not have regularly visited its theaters.
In practice, this initiative turns each selected Grand Prix into a kind of "live film event"With specific showtimes and a community of viewers sharing the experience in the same theater, IMAX offers a unique alternative for many fans, especially in markets where access to F1 tickets is limited or very expensive. For them, experiencing the race in IMAX can be a good middle ground between the track and the couch.
Furthermore, the experience gained with "F1: The Movie" demonstrates that There is an audience willing to pay to see Formula 1 content on the big screenprovided that a clear added value is offered. In this case, that added value comes from the live performance and the technical infrastructure of IMAX, designed to maximize the sensation of speed and detail.
Impact on the US market and potential effects on Europe
The 2026 Formula 1 season arrives packed with technical changes and sporting innovations, but also with a special focus on how broadcasts are consumedThe agreement between Apple TV and IMAX fits into a broader strategy by Apple to strengthen its presence in the live sports arena, starting in the United States.
In a market where F1 has been growing in audience for years, the IMAX races serve both as championship promotional vehicle as a showcase for Apple TV. The company is confident that the media impact of these screenings will help solidify its image as the leading platform for following the competition in the country.
From a European perspective, the movement is being watched with interest. Although for now, IMAX screenings are limited to American cinemas, including races held in Europe Like Monaco, Silverstone, or Monza, the agreement is presented as an exportable model. If attendance and satisfaction figures are positive, it wouldn't be surprising if similar formulas were explored in European countries with a strong automotive tradition in the coming years.
For Spanish and European fans, these kinds of initiatives can pave the way for what might come in the future: local cinema screenings Key Grand Prix races will be broadcast using the network of large-format screens already in place in many capital cities. Everything will depend on the audience response in the United States and the willingness of rights holders in each territory.
In any case, the Apple and IMAX experiment reinforces the trend of treating major sporting events as premium content with associated experiencesBeyond conventional streaming. If Formula 1 works in this format, it wouldn't be unreasonable to imagine other European competitions, such as football or motorcycling, trying similar approaches in the medium term.
With this agreement, Apple consolidates its commitment to Formula 1 in the United States, IMAX adds one of the world's most spectacular sporting events to its catalog, and fans gain a a new way to enjoy the 2026 World CupPending box office results, the move paints a picture where racing can coexist on both mobile and cinema screens, and leaves open the possibility that, if the formula works, similar initiatives will eventually reach European cinemas as well.
