Formula 1 fans in Bahrain have a race weekend to plan around. After April’s Sakhir Grand Prix was called off because of the security situation in the region, Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) and Sepang International Circuit (SIC) have confirmed that the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix will take place at Sepang from 2 to 4 October 2026. Tickets are on sale now.
It’s a happy solution for Bahrain’s F1 fans. It also means the sport finally returns to Sepang for the first time since 2017, a circuit long known for tight racing and unpredictable tropical weather. For Bahraini fans who’ve grown up with the race happening on their own doorstep since 2004, this year asks for a slightly longer journey, but the same event, sponsor and spirit travel with it.
The agreement was reached between Formula 1, the FIA, the Government of Bahrain and the Government of Malaysia, and it lets Bahrain preserve a Grand Prix that would otherwise have disappeared from this year’s calendar entirely. The rest of the 2026 F1 schedule remains unchanged, with the Malaysia round sitting between the Azerbaijan and Singapore races.
Sepang International Circuit sits south of Kuala Lumpur and is one of the more technical tracks on the calendar, with long sweeping corners and a reputation for sudden downpours. The Bahrain Grand Prix runs there from Friday 2 October to Sunday 4 October 2026.
International fans, meaning anyone without Malaysian citizenship, can buy tickets through bahraingp.com. Three-day prices are:
All prices include tax.
Malaysian citizens with a MyKad can access separate three-day rates, also through bahraingp.com. General admission starts at MYR 200 and grandstand seats from MYR 1,291.40. A verification process checks MyKad eligibility before these tickets are issued.
Children aged three to six get a 25% discount, and children under three go free. Accessible seating is available for spectators with additional needs, though it isn’t bookable online. Call 17450000 to arrange it directly.
Hospitality packages haven’t been announced yet, so fans planning a bigger weekend out should keep an eye on bahraingp.com and sepangcircuit.com for updates.
Gulf Air launches direct flights between Bahrain and Kuala Lumpur on 29 September 2026, just in time for race weekend. Until 21 August, the airline is running a promotional fare from BHD 65 one way in Economy, tax and surcharges included, for travel between 29 September 2026 and 27 March 2027.
Gulf Air Holidays is also putting together packages that bundle flights, hotels, transfers and race tickets, aimed at fans who’d rather not piece the trip together themselves. Bookings can be made through gulfair.com, the airline’s contact centre, its Bahrain sales office or an authorised travel agent.
Kuala Lumpur gives fans plenty to do around the race. The Petronas Twin Towers, Chinatown’s night markets and the food scene in Bukit Bintang are all within easy reach of the city centre, and Sepang itself is a manageable drive south.
On track, expect close racing. Sepang’s long back straight rewards overtaking, and its humidity has caught out more than one driver over the years. Tropical downpours are common in October too, so most fans travelling from Bahrain pack for both heat and sudden rain.
For fans who’ve followed Bahrain’s home race for two decades, watching it unfold on a different continent will take some getting used to. But with direct flights now running and tickets already moving, it looks set to be one of the more talked-about weekends on this year’s calendar.
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