Formula 1 is set to return to Sepang International Circuit in 2026, with Malaysia confirmed as the host of the Bahrain Grand Prix. The move brings F1 back to the venue for the first time since 2017, ending a long absence for one of the sport’s most familiar former stops.
According to the reported plan, the race will take place in October after Bahrain agreed to relocate the event because of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. That means the grand prix will be staged in Malaysia while continuing to be identified as the Bahrain Grand Prix.
The decision gives Sepang an unexpected place on the 2026 Formula 1 calendar and puts the spotlight back on a circuit that was once a regular part of the championship. For fans in the region, it also marks a notable return of top-level single-seater racing to Malaysia after several years away.
While the change is tied to wider geopolitical circumstances rather than a permanent calendar switch, it is still a major development for both Formula 1 and Sepang. The relocation underlines how external events can reshape the schedule, while also reopening the door for the Malaysian circuit to host a world championship race once again.
