Formula 1 Reroutes the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix to Malaysia's Historic Sepang Circuit
The October fixture rescues a race that would otherwise have vanished from this year’s calendar.
Summary
Formula 1 and the FIA have confirmed that Malaysia's Sepang International Circuit will stage the 2026 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix
The race is scheduled for October 2 to 4, landing between the Azerbaijan and Singapore rounds while the rest of the season stays intact
The arrangement marks a return to a venue that has been off the Formula 1 grid since the late 2010s
Formula 1 and the FIA have confirmed that Malaysia will host the 2026 F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit, moving one of the season’s marquee events to Southeast Asia for a run from October 2 to 4. The race retains its Bahrain Grand Prix billing even as it shifts venues, slotting into the calendar between the Azerbaijan and Singapore Grands Prix.
The logistics behind the move double as its rationale. Reached between Formula 1, the FIA, and the governments of Bahrain and Malaysia, the agreement preserves a Grand Prix that would otherwise not have taken place, keeping the championship’s schedule whole. The rest of the 2026 calendar remains unchanged, and the deal still requires final agreements and official sign-off, including approval from the World Motor Sport Council. Ticketing details are set to follow shortly.
The choice of venue turns a scheduling fix into a genuine homecoming. Sepang made its debut as a Formula 1 host in 1999 and built a reputation as one of the sport’s most demanding and atmospheric circuits, defined by its passionate crowds, hard racing, and famously unpredictable weather. Its return restores a layout that generations of drivers came up on, and it reintroduces a track whose last Grand Prix winner was Max Verstappen, who took victory there in 2017.
The framing from the sport’s leadership leaned into that adaptability. Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali pointed to the sport’s capacity to adapt, find solutions, and deliver, casting the outcome as a win for fans who keep a full schedule. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem echoed the emphasis on collaboration and safety throughout the process, while officials from both Bahrain and Malaysia framed the cross-border staging as a reflection of the close ties between the two nations. For Malaysia, hosting a race under Bahrain’s banner also doubles as a showcase of its readiness to stage major international events.
