Formula 1 week has officially touched down in Malaysia.
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri were spotted arriving at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on 28 September 2026. Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto was also reportedly seen in Malaysia ahead of this weekend’s Formula 1 race at Sepang International Circuit.
If the airport arrivals are anything to go by, it's about to get loud again.
The race weekend runs from 2 to 4 October 2026, marking Formula 1’s return to Sepang.
Malaysia last hosted Formula 1 at Sepang International Circuit in 2017. Nine years later, the cars, teams and fans are heading back.
The race name might cause a double take: the event is officially called the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia 2026. Despite the Bahrain name, the racing itself takes place at Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia.
Here’s how the weekend lines up:
The race is expected to bring a wider tourism boost too. MOTAC is targeting around 300,000 visitors in conjunction with the event, including about 50,000 international tourists. The economic impact from sports tourism and foreign visitor spending has also been projected at around RM1.3 billion.
Race weekend may be centred in Sepang, but the wider trip does not have to be.
If you have a few hours or an extra day before heading to the circuit, there is still plenty of room for Kuala Lumpur. Ideas for what to do in the city range from landmarks and heritage neighbourhoods to food stops that fit easily around race plans.
With drivers now on the ground and the first practice session only days away, Formula 1 week is no longer just coming to Malaysia.
It’s here.
Making a Malaysia trip out of F1 weekend? Email or WhatsApp our travel specialists, and we’ll help you find experiences to make the most of your time in Malaysia.
