Following the cancellation of the Abu Dhabi opener earlier this month, the 2026 Gran Turismo World Series is set to kick off in Italy, and tickets for the Milan round are now available to purchase.
The event is set for Saturday, May 23 at the Teatro Lirico Giorgio Gaber, a historic theater in the center of Milan. It marks the first time Italy has hosted a Gran Turismo World Series event, continuing the championship’s trend of expanding into new cities and countries each season.
As with recent preliminary rounds, the Milan event will follow the single-day format, with the Manufacturers Cup and Nations Cup staged back-to-back with an interval in between. Doors open at 3:00pm local time, with the Manufacturers Cup kicking off at 5:00pm and the Nations Cup following at 7:30pm after a break for food and drink. The show is expected to wrap up around 9:00pm.
The field will feature 12 Manufacturers Cup drivers and 12 Nations Cup drivers from the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East, and Africa). Nations Cup competitors will include the top qualifiers from the online season alongside seeded drivers returning from the 2025 World Series standings, all looking to establish early momentum in what will be a four-round championship culminating at the World Finals in Tokyo on December 5-6.
Two ticket tiers are available, with both granting access to the full day of competition:
- Premium Ticket:
- €30 for adults
- €20 for under-18s
- Guaranteed seating in the front rows, closest to the action
- Classic Ticket:
- €25 for adults
- €15 for under-18s
- Standard seating
You can grab your tickets now through the official ticket page on the Gran Turismo website.
The Teatro Lirico Giorgio Gaber (known locally as just “Teatro Lirico”) has a long history as one of Milan’s premier performance venues, and it should offer a fitting atmosphere for the World Series. It will hopefully be much like last year’s stop at the Orpheum in Los Angeles, which proved that ornate, traditional theaters can make for a surprisingly compelling esports backdrops.
With Abu Dhabi off the table, Milan takes on added significance as the drivers’ first and only opportunity to score points before the as-yet-unannounced Rounds 2 and 3. If you’re anywhere near northern Italy in late May, this one should be worth the trip.
As always, drop a note in the forums if you’re planning to attend!
