Malaysia Confirmed to Host Bahrain Grand Prix in October as F1 Returns to Sepang

Formula 1 has confirmed that Malaysia will return to the calendar this year, with the Sepang International Circuit stepping in to host the postponed Bahrain Grand Prix. The event, still carrying the Bahrain Grand Prix name as the Gulf state continues to fund the race, is scheduled for October 2-4 and will mark Malaysia's first Formula 1 race since 2017.

The switch comes after continued conflict in the Middle East forced organizers to abandon hopes of staging the rescheduled event back in Bahrain itself. Slotting between rounds in Baku and Singapore, the Malaysia date creates a demanding triple-header, and pushes the 2026 calendar up to 23 races overall.

Formula 1 president Stefano Domenicali said the sport had demonstrated its ability to adapt, find solutions and deliver in pulling the change together, while Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the country was ready to welcome Formula 1, the FIA, the teams and fans from around the world back to Sepang. The change still needs sign-off from the World Motor Sport Council, though that is regarded as a formality.

With Bahrain's ability to host the season's final two rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi also in question, F1's willingness to move quickly on Malaysia suggests further calendar changes could follow before the year is out. For now, fans get a rare bonus: a Grand Prix weekend at a circuit that hosted 19 previous races before dropping off the schedule in 2017.

Playdash will be keeping a close eye on how the sudden addition of a Malaysia round shapes betting markets and driver form heading into the final stretch of the 2026 season.