Why Is the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix Being Held in Malaysia?
The 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix takes place at Malaysia's Sepang circuit on 2–4 October. Why it moved, what happened to the Saudi race, and when to watch.
Key takeaway
The Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix planned for April 2026 were called off in March because of conflict in the Middle East. In July, F1 and the FIA announced that the Bahrain Grand Prix would instead be held at Malaysia's Sepang International Circuit on 2–4 October 2026. The race keeps the Bahrain name, and Bahrain receives the proceeds. The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix stays cancelled for 2026.
Round 16 of the 2026 season is officially the Bahrain Grand Prix, but it takes place more than 6,000 km from Bahrain, at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit. Here’s how that came about.
April: two races called off
In mid-March, F1 and the FIA called off the Bahrain (12 April) and Saudi Arabian (19 April) Grands Prix because of the conflict in the Middle East. Stefano Domenicali called it “a difficult decision”, while FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said the governing body “will always place the safety and wellbeing of our community and colleagues first.” The season went straight from Japan on 29 March to Miami on 3 May.
July: Malaysia steps in
On 26 July 2026, F1 and the FIA confirmed that Malaysia would host the Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang, between Azerbaijan and Singapore on the calendar. The event keeps its Bahrain name and Bahrain receives the proceeds, under an agreement between F1, the FIA and both governments. It’s F1’s first visit to Sepang since 2017.
What about Saudi Arabia?
The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is still cancelled for 2026, and no replacement date has been confirmed. That’s why the season has 23 rounds rather than the original 24.
Watching from the US
| Time | |
|---|---|
| Local (Kuala Lumpur) | 15:00, Sun 4 Oct |
| UTC | 07:00 |
| US Eastern | 3:00 a.m. |
| US Pacific | 12:00 a.m. (midnight Sat night) |
See how to watch F1 in the US, and read our Sepang preview for the storylines. The recap will be up here within 12 hours of the chequered flag.
FAQ
When is the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang?
The race weekend is 2–4 October 2026. The race starts at 15:00 local time on Sunday 4 October, which is 07:00 UTC, 3:00 a.m. Eastern and midnight Pacific.
Why was the Bahrain Grand Prix moved?
The original April race in Sakhir was called off in March 2026 because of conflict in the Middle East, with F1 and the FIA citing safety. Malaysia agreed to host the event at Sepang, under the Bahrain Grand Prix name.
Is the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix happening in 2026?
No. The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was called off at the same time as Bahrain's April date, and no replacement date has been confirmed. The 2026 calendar has 23 rounds.
When did F1 last race at Sepang?
The 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix, won by Max Verstappen.