The brief
- Where it goes: Sepang International Circuit will host the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix on October 2–4, 2026.
- Where it sits: The event falls between the Azerbaijan and Singapore Grands Prix.
- What is not changing: Formula 1 says the rest of the 2026 schedule remains unchanged, but the event still needs final agreements and World Motor Sport Council approval.
Bahrain’s race survives by moving countries
The 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix will take place in Malaysia under its existing event identity. Formula 1 and the FIA said the arrangement preserves a race that otherwise would not have happened, with Bahrain, Malaysia, the FIA and Formula 1 agreeing to use Sepang as the host venue.
That makes this a logistical solution rather than a new Malaysian Grand Prix. The calendar slot is October 2–4, between Azerbaijan and Singapore, and the official announcement says the rest of the season is unchanged.
Sepang is a sensible emergency venue because it already has the infrastructure and history. The circuit made its F1 debut in 1999, is known for its long straights and heavy braking zones, and last hosted a Grand Prix in 2017. The return also brings weather uncertainty back into the schedule: Sepang’s heat and storms are part of the venue’s identity.
Approval is the final gate
The announcement is significant, but not yet the same as a completed sporting order. Formula 1 and the FIA still require final agreements and approval from the World Motor Sport Council. Ticket information will follow separately.
For teams, the important change is already clear. The season’s late run now carries an additional long-haul transition and a circuit the current grid has not visited in nearly a decade. The Bahrain race remains on the calendar; its geography is what changed.