F1 Is Coming Back to Malaysia in 2026 — Everything Fans Need to Know

A Homecoming Nine Years in the Making

Formula 1, the FIA, the Government of Bahrain and the Government of Malaysia have come together to bring this year’s Bahrain Grand Prix to Sepang, with Bahrain backing the event as a mark of its continued commitment to the sport. The race weekend will officially carry the name Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, but every car, every team and every fan will be right there in Malaysia — and that is more than enough reason to celebrate.

Confirming the news, Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali said F1 was “delighted to confirm that Malaysia will host the Bahrain Grand Prix,” calling it proof of the sport’s ability to adapt and keep delivering an exciting calendar for fans everywhere. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem echoed that enthusiasm, pointing to the strength of F1’s long-standing relationship with Malaysian motorsport authorities and the Malaysian Government as the foundation that made the return possible.

The celebration was shared by both host nations. Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, called it a wonderful experience in the making for fans around the world and highlighted Bahrain’s enduring passion for the sport and its close partnership with Malaysia. Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, welcomed the race as a chance to showcase the country’s world-class infrastructure and warm hospitality, describing it as a reflection of the strong friendship between the two nations.

One of the Best Tracks Formula 1 Has Ever Built

Ask any driver who raced there and you’ll hear the same thing: Sepang is special. When it opened in 1999, it was the first circuit built from scratch by designer Hermann Tilke — a blueprint so good it became the template for a generation of modern F1 tracks. At 5.543km, with 15 flowing turns and some of the widest racing lines on the calendar, Sepang was built for wheel-to-wheel racing rather than the stop-start layouts drivers often complain about elsewhere. Its long straights set up genuine overtaking opportunities even before DRS existed, while sweeping, high-speed sections like Turns 5 and 6 reward drivers brave enough to carry serious speed through them.

Seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton once summed it up simply: Sepang, he said, “is a very special place.” It’s a circuit that flows from corner to corner rather than braking hard and starting again, and that rhythm is exactly what makes it a favourite among drivers who’ve raced there.

The track’s history backs that reputation up. Michael Schumacher won there three times, Fernando Alonso three times, Kimi Räikkönen twice, and Sebastian Vettel more than anyone with four victories. Throw in Sepang’s famous afternoon downpours — sudden, tropical, and capable of turning a race on its head in minutes — and you get a venue that has produced some of the most dramatic Grands Prix in F1 history. The final race in 2017 was no exception, won by Max Verstappen and marking Pierre Gasly’s F1 debut — a fitting send-off for a track everyone hoped would return one day.

Malaysia: A Destination as Exciting as the Racing

Sepang sits just outside Kuala Lumpur, and that alone makes this one of the most rewarding trips on the 2026 calendar. KL is a city that rewards curiosity — the Petronas Twin Towers lighting up the skyline at night, sprawling night markets, and a food scene that blends Malay, Chinese and Indian traditions into something you won’t find anywhere else in the world. It’s a warm, welcoming, endlessly photogenic city wrapped in lush tropical greenery, and it offers exceptional value compared with many of F1’s European stops.

Race week only adds to the appeal. Malaysian crowds have always been among the most passionate on the calendar, and with Sepang slotting neatly between Azerbaijan and Singapore this year, fans have a golden opportunity to turn one trip into a proper Southeast Asian F1 adventure.

Register Your Interest for the Malaysian Grand Prix 2026

Grandstand Motor Sports will soon be launching official Malaysian Grand Prix 2026 travel packages.

Our packages will include everything you need for a hassle-free Formula 1 weekend, including race tickets, return flights, accommodation and circuit transfers. You’ll also have the option to combine your trip with the Singapore Grand Prix, making the most of two Formula 1 weekends in South East Asia.

Register your interest today and be among the first to hear when our Malaysian Grand Prix packages go on sale.