Formula 1 returns to Malaysia this weekend for the first time since 2017, as the relocated Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix takes over Sepang International Circuit from October 2-4, 2026. The race was moved from Bahrain earlier this year due to regional safety concerns, and Sepang — long a MotoGP venue — steps in as an unusual but welcome stand-in.
Race Weekend Schedule
Practice sessions run Friday (FP1 and FP2), with FP3 and qualifying on Saturday, and the 56-lap race itself on Sunday afternoon, local time. The FIA confirmed the event keeps F1’s usual daytime format rather than Bahrain’s traditional night race, so expect a different look and feel on TV and in person than the race normally has.
Tickets Are Going Fast
Discounted “Madani” tickets for Malaysian residents sold out back in August, and grandstand seats have been selling quickly since. If you’re hoping to attend in person without advance tickets, expect limited availability and higher resale prices for the remaining race weekend.
What It Means If You’re in Kuala Lumpur This Weekend
Sepang sits roughly 45 minutes from central Kuala Lumpur, so expect heavier traffic around KLIA and the Sepang area through Sunday, plus a noticeable bump in hotel demand across the Klang Valley. If you’re passing through KL regardless of the race, our weekend stopover itinerary still works well around race-weekend traffic if you plan your timing. For a places-to-stay option with a view, our roundup of Kuala Lumpur hotels with skyline views covers several properties worth considering even outside their original New Year’s framing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is a Bahrain-named race happening in Malaysia?
The event was relocated from Bahrain earlier in 2026 over regional safety concerns, but kept its original “Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix” name and sponsorship even though it’s physically being held at Sepang.
Has F1 raced at Sepang before?
Yes — Sepang hosted the Malaysian Grand Prix from 1999 to 2017 before F1 dropped it from the calendar. This weekend marks its return after a nine-year gap.
Do I need a visa to attend as a foreign visitor?
Requirements depend on your nationality — check our Malaysia visa guide for who needs one and how to apply before you travel.
Bottom Line
Whether or not you have race tickets, F1’s return to Sepang this weekend is worth building into any Kuala Lumpur travel plans for October 2-4 — expect extra traffic, fuller hotels, and a genuinely rare chance to see F1 back at a circuit that hasn’t hosted it in nearly a decade.
Sources: Formula1.com, New Straits Times