Formula 1 and the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) announced Sunday a major last-minute reshuffle to the 2026 F1 calendar, confirming that Malaysia’s iconic Sepang International Circuit will step in to host the cancelled Bahrain Grand Prix from October 2 to 4. The Bahrain round, originally scheduled for April, was scrapped earlier this year alongside the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix amid escalating conflict in the Middle East.
What looked like a gap in the 24-race original schedule will now be filled by Sepang, a venue making its return to the F1 calendar for the first time since it hosted its final original Grand Prix in 2017. The relocated event will officially be named the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, fittingly acknowledging the event’s original roots while marking its new host location.
Talks had circulated earlier in July about the possibility of retaining a Gulf-region race on the October date, but renewed military tensions between Iran and the United States in recent weeks eliminated all viable options for holding the event in the Middle East. That left F1 officials searching for an alternative, and Sepang emerged as a prepared, practical choice. Located just a short distance from Kuala Lumpur’s international airport, the circuit already has a long-established track record hosting major international motorsport, including MotoGP races which it has held continuously since 1999. F1 also confirmed that Bahrain will cover the majority of costs associated with the rescheduling and relocation, smoothing the logistical and financial path for the surprise return.
The newly added Malaysia-hosted round slots neatly into the calendar between the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on September 26 and the Singapore Grand Prix on October 11, bringing the total number of confirmed 2026 races back up to 23. F1 Chief Executive Stefano Domenicali hailed the last-minute arrangement as a win for teams, drivers and fans worldwide.
“This is fantastic news for our fans. They will continue to enjoy a full and exciting Formula 1 calendar, while also seeing the sport return to a great venue,” Domenicali said in an official statement. “Malaysia is an incredible country, and Sepang holds a special place in Formula 1 history. It will provide a spectacular setting for racing and an unforgettable experience for fans at the circuit and watching around the world.”
Despite the resolution for the October gap, significant uncertainty remains over the final two rounds of the 2026 season, which are currently scheduled to take place in Qatar on November 29 and Abu Dhabi on December 6. Both events remain at risk of cancellation due to the ongoing regional instability, and F1 officials have already drawn up a list of contingency options to replace them if needed.
Sources within the F1 paddock speaking to AFP outlined two leading contingency plans: one would see two consecutive Grands Prix staged at Las Vegas’ circuit in late November, while the other would see one or two final rounds added at European circuits. Italy’s Imola and Portugal’s Portimao are the most likely candidates to step in under that scenario, sources said.
No final decision on the fate of the Qatar and Abu Dhabi rounds will be made until late September or early October, as governing authorities have opted to wait for further developments in the regional security situation before locking in any changes.