Formula 1 and the FIA issued a joint statement confirming the relocation of the 2026 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix to Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia for a single event scheduled between the Azerbaijan and Singapore grands prix. The announcement on July 26 detailed that the race will retain its official title and sponsorship while being hosted away from Bahrain International Circuit amid ongoing security concerns linked to drone and missile activity in the region. The arrangement remains subject to final agreements between the involved parties and approval by the World Motor Sport Council.
The joint statement from Formula 1 and the FIA noted that all other events on the 2026 calendar will proceed as originally planned without further modifications at this stage. Coordination with the governments of both Bahrain and Malaysia enabled the switch to the Sepang venue which last hosted a Formula 1 world championship round in 2017. Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said he was delighted to confirm that Malaysia will host the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2026.
Bahrain which has featured on the Formula 1 calendar continuously since 2004 will instead organise two pre-season testing sessions at its Sakhir facility according to details in the statement. The retention of the Bahrain name and Gulf Air sponsorship for the Malaysian event reflects contractual obligations that allowed the race to be preserved on the schedule despite the venue change. Historical records from Formula 1 show the original Malaysian Grand Prix ran from 1999 until its removal after the 2017 season for financial reasons.
The initial cancellation of the Bahrain Grand Prix was announced in March 2026 following the escalation of conflict in the Middle East that raised safety issues for the sport’s teams and personnel. Wikipedia entries on the 2026 Formula 1 season document how the war in Iran contributed to calendar disruptions including potential risks to later races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. This one-off hosting at Sepang allows Formula 1 to maintain 24 races while addressing those immediate security constraints.
ESPN reported that the confirmation came ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend as part of broader adjustments to keep the calendar intact. The Sepang International Circuit’s promoters will announce ticket sales and further logistical details in the coming weeks according to the joint statement. Organisers from both nations continue discussions to finalise all operational aspects of the October 2-4 weekend.
