Malaysia is set to officially host Formula 1's 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix, with Sepang named as the venue for the race weekend from 2-4 October. The event marks F1's return to Malaysia for the first time since 2017, bringing the world championship back to one of its former regular stops.
The move comes as Formula 1 completes contingency planning for its 2026 calendar amid the Iran war. With the early part of the season initially built around several rounds in the Middle East, the championship has adjusted plans to ensure the Bahrain GP can still be staged on schedule, even if it is held outside Bahrain.
Under the revised arrangement, Sepang will stage the Bahrain Grand Prix rather than a Malaysian Grand Prix. That makes the race unusual on the calendar: it keeps the Bahrain GP name while being run in Malaysia, highlighting how F1 is prioritising continuity for the championship during a period of regional uncertainty.
For Sepang, the decision puts the circuit back on the Formula 1 map after a long absence. The track last hosted an F1 weekend in 2017, and its return in October 2026 gives Malaysia a temporary but high-profile role in one of the season's key contingency measures.
