Formula 1
F1 2026 Cancelled Races: What Happened to Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, and the New Dates
Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were pulled from the 2026 Formula 1 calendar, then Bahrain came back in Malaysia. The full story: the cancellations, Sepang's return on 2-4 October, the five-week April gap, and why Qatar and Abu Dhabi are still being watched.
source: Formula 1The 2026 Formula 1 season was meant to be defined by its new technical rules. Instead, the calendar itself became the story. Two Grands Prix were removed from the schedule, one of them reappeared 6,000 kilometres away under its original name, and the closing rounds of the year are still being watched carefully.
Here is what actually happened, in order, and what it means if you are planning travel around the back end of the season.
What was cancelled, and why
The original 2026 schedule ran to 24 rounds and opened its Middle East stretch in April: Bahrain at Sakhir on 10-12 April, then Saudi Arabia at Jeddah on 17-19 April.
Neither took place. As the conflict in the region escalated, with Gulf states caught up in the exchange of strikes, Formula 1 and the FIA concluded that the two rounds could not be staged safely. Both were pulled, and the season dropped to 22 races.
This was not a weather cancellation or a promoter dispute. The decision was made on security grounds, in consultation with the governments involved.
The knock-on effect was a hole in the spring calendar. With no room to slot replacements into an already dense schedule, the sport went from Japan in late March straight to Miami in early May, a five-week break in the middle of a championship, and the longest in-season gap the modern calendar has seen.
The comeback: Bahrain, hosted in Malaysia
Then came the unusual part. Rather than write the race off, Formula 1, the FIA, the Government of Bahrain and the Government of Malaysia agreed to move it. The Bahrain Grand Prix is being run at the Sepang International Circuit near Kuala Lumpur on 2-4 October 2026, slotted in between the Azerbaijan and Singapore rounds.
The naming is deliberately strange: the event keeps the Bahrain Grand Prix title, with Malaysia as the host venue. Bahrain preserves its Grand Prix and its place in the championship; Malaysia gets Formula 1 back for the first time since 2017.
For drivers and fans, Sepang is a genuine gift. The circuit's long straights, fast sweepers and the two enormous braking zones at either end made it a favourite before it left the calendar, and its afternoon storms are part of the legend. The current cars have never raced there, which makes the form guide unusually open.
What it means for Singapore week
If you are travelling for the Singapore Grand Prix on 9-11 October 2026, the calendar change works in your favour. Sepang runs the weekend immediately before, a 45-minute flight or a five-hour drive away, which makes a two-race trip realistic for the first time in nearly a decade: Kuala Lumpur one Sunday, Marina Bay the next.
It also concentrates the paddock, the sponsors and the travelling circus in Southeast Asia for a fortnight. Expect Singapore's hotel and restaurant demand to start earlier than usual that week, and book accordingly, as covered in our Singapore hotels guide.
Singapore itself is unchanged: same dates, same street circuit, and still the final sprint weekend of the 2026 season, the only sprint run entirely under floodlights. The full round-by-round picture is in our 2026 F1 calendar guide.
source: Formula 1Still on the watch list: Qatar and Abu Dhabi
The season is scheduled to close with Qatar at Lusail in late November and Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina in early December. Both remain on the calendar, and Formula 1 has said publicly that it expects them to go ahead.
At the same time, the sport has been open about holding contingency plans. If the Gulf finale cannot be staged, the season would end in Europe instead, with Imola the most frequently named alternative and Portimão, Barcelona and Istanbul also mentioned in reporting. A decision point was set for the middle of September, which means the final shape of the 2026 calendar may not be settled until after the Singapore round.
The practical advice for anyone booking a season finale trip: keep flights and hotels flexible until the confirmation lands.
The 2026 calendar changes at a glance
| Race | Original plan | What happened |
|---|---|---|
| Bahrain GP | Sakhir, 10-12 April | Cancelled, then revived at Sepang, Malaysia, 2-4 October |
| Saudi Arabian GP | Jeddah, 17-19 April | Cancelled, not replaced |
| April window | Two Gulf rounds | Five-week gap between Japan and Miami |
| Season total | 24 rounds planned | 23 races |
| Qatar GP | Lusail, late November | On the calendar, under review |
| Abu Dhabi GP | Yas Marina, early December | On the calendar, under review |
| Singapore GP | Marina Bay, 9-11 October | Unchanged, final sprint of the year |
Singapore: the one 2026 race date that has not moved
Through every revision of the 2026 calendar, one weekend has stayed exactly where it was: Singapore, 9-11 October. That week, Grand Night takes over one of the city's finest rooftops for an evening of world-class music, performances and networking with APAC's top founders, investors and innovators, with the floodlit circuit below.
Calendar decisions in 2026 have moved quickly. Confirm all race dates on formula1.com before booking travel.
Frequently asked questions
Which F1 races were cancelled in 2026?
The Bahrain Grand Prix and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, both scheduled for April, were called off because of the conflict in the Middle East. Bahrain was later revived at a different venue; Saudi Arabia was not replaced.
What is the new date for the Bahrain Grand Prix?
The Bahrain Grand Prix is being hosted at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia on 2-4 October 2026, one week before the Singapore Grand Prix. It keeps the Bahrain Grand Prix name despite being run in Malaysia.
Is Malaysia back on the F1 calendar?
For 2026, yes, as a one-off host venue. Sepang last held a Formula 1 race in 2017, and returns to stage the postponed Bahrain Grand Prix rather than a Malaysian Grand Prix of its own.
How many races are in the 2026 F1 season?
Twenty-three. The original plan was 24, two were cancelled, and one of them was restored at Sepang.
Are the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix still happening in 2026?
Both remain on the calendar, Qatar at Lusail in late November and Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina in early December, but Formula 1 has said it will assess the situation and has European contingency venues, with Imola most often named, in case the finale has to move.
Does any of this change the Singapore Grand Prix?
No. Singapore keeps its slot on 9-11 October 2026 and still hosts the season's final sprint weekend. The Sepang round simply lands the weekend before it.
