Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix Cancelled as Middle East Crisis Disrupts 2026 F1 Calendar

Sports

Formula 1 has confirmed that the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix will not take place in April due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, forcing a major change to the 2026 Formula 1 calendar.

The Bahrain Grand Prix was originally scheduled for 12 April at the Bahrain International Circuit, followed by the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on 19 April in Jeddah. However, escalating tensions and military activity across the region have raised serious safety concerns for teams, staff and logistics operations travelling to the area.

The crisis has intensified in recent weeks with missile and drone attacks reported across parts of the Middle East, including locations close to major cities and infrastructure. With thousands of Formula 1 personnel and large amounts of freight required to stage a race weekend, organisers concluded that it would be unsafe and impractical to proceed with the events as planned.

As a result, both races have been removed from the 2026 schedule rather than postponed. Officials considered replacing them with alternative venues, but the short notice and logistical challenges made it impossible to arrange replacement races.

The cancellations reduce the 2026 Formula 1 season from 24 races to 22, creating a long break in the calendar. After the Japanese Grand Prix on 29 March, the championship will now resume with the Miami Grand Prix on 3 May, leaving a five week gap in the schedule.

The Middle East has become one of Formula 1’s most important regions in recent years, regularly hosting multiple races and pre season testing. Bahrain has hosted the opening race of several seasons, while the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah is one of the fastest street circuits on the calendar.

Despite the cancellation of the April events, Formula 1 still intends to hold the Qatar Grand Prix and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix later in the year, provided conditions in the region improve.

The decision marks one of the most significant disruptions to the Formula 1 calendar in recent years, as the sport continues to monitor global events while prioritising the safety of teams, drivers and fans.