Formula 1 and its governing body, the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), have confirmed that the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix will not take place in April. The race, scheduled for the weekend of 10 to 12 April, has been called off due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
For anyone who has come to look forward to this weekend as one of the highlights of the Bahrain calendar, the news stings. The annual race brings the world’s top teams and drivers to the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) for three days of motorsport at its highest level, and the energy it generates across the island is hard to replicate. BIC said the decision was made following a careful evaluation of the current situation.
BIC has confirmed that all ticketholders who purchased directly through the circuit’s website will receive an email outlining their options. These include a full refund, which will be processed as soon as possible, or a credit note that can be redeemed for a future Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix.
Ticketholders can choose either option. For any enquiries, BIC can be reached on +973 17450000.
The cancellation is not limited to Bahrain. The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, which follows the Bahrain race on the calendar (17 – 19 April), has also been called off.
Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali acknowledged the difficulty of the decision but said it was the right call given the circumstances in the region. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayam echoed that view, noting that while several alternatives were explored, it was ultimately decided that no replacement races would be added in April.
Ben Sulayem added that the FIA would always prioritise the safety and well-being of its community and colleagues, and expressed hope for a swift return to stability. He extended his thoughts to all those affected by recent events.
With both races removed from the schedule, the 2026 Formula 1 season will now feature 22 events instead of the originally planned 24. The decision not to replace the cancelled rounds likely reflects the significant logistical challenges F1 teams would face in reorganising at short notice.
No decision has yet been made regarding the other two Middle Eastern races later in the year. Both the Qatar and UAE Grands Prix remain on the calendar for now.
The cancellation comes at a time when the Kingdom’s connection to Formula 1 runs deeper than the race weekend itself. Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund, Mumtalakat, is a major shareholder in McLaren Racing, which enters the 2026 season defending both the Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championship titles.
The 2025 season was a landmark year for McLaren and for Bahrain by extension. Driver Lando Norris clinched the World Drivers’ Championship at the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi, capping off a dominant campaign. McLaren’s other driver, Oscar Piastri, came third in the overall Drivers’ Championship but won the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2025.
Bahrain did play host to two rounds of pre-season testing in February, welcoming teams and drivers to the circuit with their new cars ahead of the 2026 season. The tests marked the beginning of a new era for the sport, with a fresh set of technical regulations coming into effect and a new team, Cadillac, joining the grid.
That the circuit was able to host testing successfully makes the race cancellation all the more disappointing. But with the security situation in the region still evolving, the decision reflects a reality that the organisers, the FIA, and Formula 1 have all accepted.
For now, Bahrain’s motorsport community will be watching the season from a distance and looking forward to when the race returns to its rightful place on the calendar in 2027.
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