Sepang Confirmed as Replacement Venue for Cancelled 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix

Sepang returns to the Formula 1 calendar

Formula 1 and the FIA have confirmed that Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit will host the cancelled 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix, with the decision coming amid continuing tensions in the Middle East.

The race will be held from 2-4 October, between the Singapore and Azerbaijan Grands Prix. The FIA said the remainder of the calendar “remains unchanged”, meaning Sepang will provide a replacement for Bahrain rather than an additional event.

The announcement follows Malaysia’s earlier consideration as a possible substitute for Bahrain. The return was subsequently confirmed after discussions involving Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and Formula One Management.

Sepang made its Formula 1 debut in 1999 and was last featured on the calendar in 2017. Rising hosting costs were cited as a reason for its disappearance from the schedule, making its return a significant development for a circuit with an established place in the championship’s history.

The event will be known as the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.

Safety remains the priority

Bahrain had been scheduled to host the fourth round of the championship. However, after geopolitical tensions escalated a week after the country staged pre-season testing, both the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix were cancelled.

Ben Sulayem said the agreement reflected sustained cooperation between the FIA, FOM and Bahrain’s partners, while stressing that the safety and wellbeing of teams, volunteers, officials, staff and fans had remained the central consideration.

“I am incredibly proud of the collaboration that will enable Malaysia to host the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix at the iconic Sepang International circuit later this year,” Ben Sulayem said. He also described Malaysia’s return as a reflection of its long relationship with Formula 1 and the Motorsports Association of Malaysia.

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali praised the speed of the response from Malaysia and Bahrain, saying the championship had again demonstrated its ability to adapt and find solutions. He described Sepang as one of the sport’s iconic circuits and said its return was excellent news for fans facing a disrupted season.

Further calendar uncertainty

Despite the Sepang agreement, questions remain over the final two races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi because of the wider Middle East crisis. Several circuits are reportedly on standby should either event, or both, face cancellation.

For now, however, the replacement deal protects the 2026 calendar from losing another round and restores Sepang to the Formula 1 stage.