Formula 1 Will Race at Sepang in October 2026
The Bahrain Grand Prix will be held at Malaysia's Sepang International Circuit from October 2 to 4, 2026.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Asia
Live Poll
Do you plan to attend or adjust your local travel for major international sporting events?
Formula 1 has rescheduled its Bahrain Grand Prix to the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia due to ongoing Middle East conflict. The event will run from October 2 to 4, 2026.
Why it matters
The change forces a shift in travel patterns as fans aim to combine the Malaysian race with the Singapore Grand Prix scheduled for the following week. This concentration of events is driving significant demand for regional travel and accommodations.
Bookings for one to five-night stays in Kuala Lumpur grew by 17%, while six to 13-night stays in Singapore rose by 49%. These figures follow 2025 trends that saw Singapore hotel occupancy increase by 4% and average daily rates rise by 15%.
The players
Formula 1
This is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars.
Sepang International Circuit
This is a world-class motorsport venue located in Malaysia that has historically hosted major international racing series.
The details
Fans are increasingly booking back-to-back trips between Malaysia and Singapore, capitalizing on the proximity of the two races. Malaysia is further supporting this influx by planning 25 international performances in Kuala Lumpur for the same period.
Timeline
The Bahrain Grand Prix was cancelled in April 2026.
The rescheduled race will occur at Sepang from October 2 to 4, 2026.
Peak air travel for fans is expected between October 5 and 11, 2026.
The Singapore F1 race is set for October 9 to 11, 2026.
Travel Outlook
This race relocation mirrors the broader trend of major sporting events clustering in Southeast Asia to capture dual-destination tourism. It updates figures previously established by the 2025 F1 Singapore Grand Prix hotel occupancy and rate benchmarks.
Travelers should prepare for significantly higher airfare costs for flights between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, which are currently trending 74% higher than last year. Booking long-stay accommodations in Singapore well in advance is essential given the 49% growth in demand for longer visits.
The takeaway
The concentration of high-profile sporting events in Southeast Asia is creating a unique travel window for fans. Proactive booking and itinerary planning are required to manage the increased costs and limited availability of transit and lodging during this peak period.
Further reading
For more information on major regional events, visit the Asia section.
Live Poll
Do you plan to attend or adjust your local travel for major international sporting events?
