F1 Bahrain Grand Prix 2026 has moved to Malaysia
Formula 1 and the FIA confirmed on 26 July 2026 that Malaysia will host the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit from 2 to 4 October 2026.
The event keeps the Bahrain Grand Prix name and its Gulf Air title sponsorship. Only the venue changes.
F1 describes the arrangement as one reached between Formula 1, the FIA, the Government of Bahrain and the Government of Malaysia to preserve a Grand Prix that would otherwise not have happened. The rest of the 2026 schedule is unchanged.
The event remains subject to final agreements and official sign-off, including approval by the World Motor Sport Council.
Why the race moved from Bahrain to Sepang
The Bahrain Grand Prix was originally scheduled for 10–12 April 2026 at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir. It was called off, along with the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, following the regional security situation in the Gulf earlier this year.
At the time, the position was that the races would not be rescheduled. The July announcement supersedes that: Bahrain will now stage its Grand Prix abroad rather than lose it.
His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain, framed the move as Bahrain standing “as a pillar of stability for Formula 1” amid ongoing regional challenges.
Bahrain Grand Prix 2026 dates, venue and calendar slot
The race weekend runs Friday to Sunday, with race day on Sunday 4 October 2026.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Official event name | Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2026 |
| Venue | Sepang International Circuit, Selangor, Malaysia |
| Dates | Friday 2 – Sunday 4 October 2026 |
| Race day | Sunday 4 October 2026 |
| Local time zone | Malaysia Time (UTC+8) |
| Calendar position | Round 16, between the Azerbaijan GP (24–26 Sep) and the Singapore GP (9–11 Oct) |
| Session times | Not yet published by Formula 1 |
| Tickets | Not yet on sale; pricing to be set by Bahrain |
Formula 1’s official 2026 calendar page now lists this round as Round 16, shown under the Bahrain flag but staged in Malaysia. Earlier listings had left the round unnumbered while the switch was finalised.
Bahrain Grand Prix 2026 tickets at Sepang
Tickets are still not on sale as of 5 August 2026. Formula 1, Bahrain International Circuit and Sepang International Circuit (SIC) have all said only that ticket information is coming soon.
Earlier reports pointed to an early-August on-sale window, but that window has passed with no tickets released. No grandstand map, hospitality tiers or confirmed prices exist yet for the Sepang edition.
Treat any specific price you see quoted right now as unofficial.
Who actually sets the price has also become a point of public confusion. Bahrain is paying Formula 1’s hosting fee for this race and will keep the ticket revenue, so Bahrain — not Malaysia — has the final say on pricing.
SIC chief executive Azhan Shafriman Hanif has said he will try to negotiate a discounted local rate for Malaysians, similar to the MyKad pricing used at past Sepang races. He has confirmed the final decision on price still rests with Bahrain.
Petronas, which owns the Sepang circuit but is not the event organiser, has said it has no role in ticket allocation, sales or distribution.
Once sales open, buy only through an official channel:
- Sepang International Circuit’s own ticketing page
- Ticket2U, SIC’s authorised ticketing agent
- Formula 1’s official ticket site
Treat any other seller as unofficial, including listings on WhatsApp, Facebook Marketplace or unfamiliar websites.
For scale only, and not as a price prediction: Sepang’s last Malaysian Grand Prix in 2017 priced its Main Grandstand from RM613.68 (RM336.18 with MyKad), with K1 from RM225.18, F from RM169.68 and the C2/K2 Hillstands from RM58.68.
The original, since-cancelled 2026 Bahrain race in Sakhir had priced its cheapest three-day grandstand at around US$296 and its Main Grandstand at around US$517. Neither figure tells you what Sepang will actually charge.
Bahrain is expected to set new prices for this event, and local Malaysian media reports describe anything below roughly RM100 as unlikely.
Bahrain International Circuit is still running a register-your-interest form so fans can be notified first when sales open. It is also worth following Sepang International Circuit’s own ticketing page and social channels for updates.
If you already had tickets for the Bahrain race
After the April race was called off, Bahrain International Circuit said ticketholders who had purchased directly from BIC would be emailed their options, which included a full refund or a credit note redeemable against a future Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix.
Those options relate to the cancelled Sakhir event and are not an automatic transfer to Sepang. Here is what to do now:
- If you bought directly from BIC and have not been contacted, get in touch with Bahrain International Circuit rather than Formula 1.
- If you bought through a travel agent, hospitality provider or resale platform, contact that seller — their own terms apply.
- If you want a seat at Sepang, register your interest on the BIC site or watch for the official on-sale announcement.
For Indian travellers: the dates line up with a long weekend
Race weekend falls on India’s Gandhi Jayanti long weekend, which is unusually convenient timing.
Friday 2 October 2026 is Gandhi Jayanti, one of India’s three national holidays, observed across all states and union territories. That makes Friday to Sunday a natural three-day break that maps exactly onto the F1 weekend.
Three things make Malaysia an easy F1 trip from India this year:
- No visa needed for short visits. Indian passport holders can enter Malaysia visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism and business, under an exemption Malaysia has extended to 31 December 2026.
- Wide direct connectivity. Kuala Lumpur is served non-stop from around a dozen Indian cities by carriers including Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia X, Batik Air, Air India and IndiGo.
- Short flights. Southern Indian metros are roughly four to five hours out; Delhi is closer to five and a half.
Note that the visa exemption covers tourism and business visits only. Travelling for work or study still requires a visa obtained before departure.
For Gulf travellers: your home race has relocated
Gulf-based fans who planned their year around Sakhir now face a long-haul trip instead of a short hop, but the entry side is straightforward.
Passport holders from all six GCC states — Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE — are listed as visa-free for stays of up to 90 days in Malaysia. Confirm your own status on the Immigration Department of Malaysia site before booking.
Expatriate residents of the Gulf travel on their own national passports, so your rules follow your citizenship, not your residency. Indian passport holders living in Dubai, Doha or Riyadh get the same 30-day exemption as those flying from India.
Two points worth planning around:
- Flying time roughly doubles. Non-stop Gulf–Kuala Lumpur services run around seven hours, versus a short hop to Sakhir.
- Two Gulf races remain in 2026. The Qatar Grand Prix runs 27–29 November in Lusail and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix closes the season on 4–6 December, if you would rather stay closer to home.
Getting to Sepang
Sepang is one of the easiest circuits in the world to reach, because it sits next to the airport.
The circuit is around 45 km south of central Kuala Lumpur and adjacent to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL), so many fans fly in and reach the track without going into the city at all. The KLIA Ekspres rail link connects KL Sentral to the airport in about 30 minutes.
The table below shows the main non-stop options into Kuala Lumpur from India and the Gulf. Frequencies change seasonally, so confirm the specific route and date on the airline’s own site when you book.
| From | Non-stop carriers to Kuala Lumpur |
|---|---|
| Delhi | Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia X, Batik Air, Air India |
| Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru and other Indian metros | Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia X, Batik Air, IndiGo (routes vary by city) |
| Dubai | Emirates |
| Abu Dhabi | Etihad Airways |
| Doha | Qatar Airways |
| Jeddah | Saudia, Batik Air |
| Muscat | Oman Air |
| Riyadh, Kuwait, Bahrain | Mostly one-stop via Gulf hubs; some seasonal non-stops operate |
Because race weekend coincides with an Indian public holiday, seats on India–Kuala Lumpur routes are likely to move quickly once tickets go on sale.
Visa and entry requirements at a glance
Almost everyone flying in needs to file the free Malaysia Digital Arrival Card, whether or not they need a visa.
| Passport | Visa for a short visit | Permitted stay |
|---|---|---|
| India | Not required until 31 Dec 2026 | Up to 30 days |
| GCC states (BH, KW, OM, QA, SA, AE) | Not required | Up to 90 days |
| All other nationalities | Check the Immigration Department of Malaysia list | Varies |
The Malaysia Digital Arrival Card must be submitted online within three days before your arrival date, and it is free. Use only the official Immigration Department portal — Malaysian authorities have warned about copycat sites that charge for it.
Standard entry conditions still apply: a passport valid for at least six months, a return or onward ticket, and sufficient funds for your stay.
Where to stay
You have two broad options, and they suit different trips.
- Near the circuit — hotels around KLIA, Sepang and Putrajaya minimise travel time on race day but offer less to do in the evenings.
- Central Kuala Lumpur — KLCC, Bukit Bintang and KL Sentral give you the city, with a 45-minute-plus transfer each way to the track.
Rooms near KLIA typically sell out first for major Sepang events, so book before the ticket on-sale date if your plans are firm.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix still happening in Bahrain?
No. The race keeps the Bahrain Grand Prix name but will be held at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia from 2 to 4 October 2026.
When do tickets go on sale?
No date has been announced. Formula 1, Bahrain International Circuit and Sepang International Circuit have all said ticket information is coming soon, and pricing will be decided by Bahrain rather than Malaysia.
How much will tickets cost?
No official prices exist yet. Sepang’s 2017 Malaysian GP prices ranged from about RM58.68 to RM613.68, and Bahrain’s original 2026 prices ranged from about US$296 to US$517 — but neither range is a confirmed Sepang 2026 price.
Where will tickets be sold?
Through official channels only. Once sales open, expect tickets on Sepang International Circuit’s own site, its authorised agent Ticket2U, and Formula 1’s official ticket site — treat any other seller as unofficial.
Do Indians need a visa for Malaysia in October 2026?
Not for a short visit. Indian passport holders can enter visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism or business until 31 December 2026, but must submit the free Malaysia Digital Arrival Card within three days before arrival.
Do GCC nationals need a visa for Malaysia?
Not for a short visit. Passport holders from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are listed as visa-free for up to 90 days, and the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card still applies.
What happens to tickets bought for the original April race?
Contact your point of purchase. Bahrain International Circuit said direct purchasers would be emailed options including a full refund or a credit note; anyone who booked through an agent or reseller should deal with that seller.
Can I combine the Sepang race with the Singapore Grand Prix?
Yes, they are a week apart. Sepang runs 2–4 October and Singapore follows on 9–11 October, which makes a two-race trip through Southeast Asia realistic.
How far is Sepang from Kuala Lumpur airport?
The circuit sits beside KLIA. It is roughly 45 km south of central Kuala Lumpur, so flying in and staying near the airport is a practical option for race weekend.
Sources
- Formula 1 — Formula 1 and FIA confirm Malaysia will join 2026 calendar as host venue for Bahrain Grand Prix
- Bahrain International Circuit — Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2026 event overview and ticket update
- Formula 1 — 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship race calendar
- Sepang International Circuit — Ticketing
- The Star — Bahrain to decide F1 ticket prices for Sepang race, says SIC chief
- paultan.org — Ticket prices for Formula 1 race at Sepang to be determined by Bahrain government, says SIC CEO
- Malaysian Review — F1 Malaysia Tickets 2026: how to buy and best seats at Sepang, including 2017 reference pricing
- Immigration Department of Malaysia — Visa requirement by country
- Immigration Department of Malaysia — Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC)
- BERNAMA — Visa exemption for Indian nationals extended until December 2026
- Fragomen — Malaysia visa exemption for Chinese and Indian nationals: terms and expiry
- Time Out Bahrain — F1 Bahrain refund or credit note announced for ticket holders
- Gulf News — Bahrain Grand Prix moved to Malaysia: Sepang to host rescheduled F1 Bahrain GP in October 2026
- Office Holidays — Mahatma Gandhi Birthday (Gandhi Jayanti) in India, 2 October 2026
Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.
