Formula 1 has confirmed that the upcoming Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GPs, scheduled to be held in April 2026, have been cancelled due to ongoing conflict in the Middle East. There will be no replacements for these races, leaving a lengthy five-week gap between the Japanese GP in end-March and the Miami GP in early-May.
“While several alternatives were considered, it was ultimately decided that no substitutions will be made in April. The Formula 2, Formula 3 and F1 Academy rounds will also not take place during their scheduled times,” F1 shared in an official statement.
- Bahrain GP was scheduled for April 10-12
- Saudi Arabian GP was scheduled for April 17-19
- Cancellation leaves five-week gap in 2026 F1 calendar
F1 cancels 2026 Bahrain GP, Saudi Arabian GP
2026 F1 calendar reduced to 22 races
The World Endurance Championship (WEC) was the first racing series to postpone a round due to the US-Israel war with Iran. The 2026 season-opener in Qatar was postponed to a later date as a result. F1 hasn’t officially ruled out rescheduling the Bahrian and Saudi Arabian races to later in the year. However, given just how packed the current calendar is, this seems unlikely.
“While this was a difficult decision to take, it is unfortunately the right one at this stage considering the current situation in the Middle East,” said Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank the FIA as well as our incredible promoters for their support and total understanding as they were looking forward to hosting us with their usual energy and passion. We cannot wait to be back with them as soon as the circumstances allow us to do so.”
No replacement for cancelled races
F1 explored a host of options to fill the gap in the calendar, including a potential double-header in Japan or even European venues like Portimao and Imola. However, a decision was reached to not replace the two cancelled races.
With another 22 races already confirmed on the calendar, TV contracts are already fulfilled. So, there is no contractual obligation to replace the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia races.
“The FIA will always place the safety and wellbeing of our community and colleagues first. After careful consideration, we have taken this decision with that responsibility firmly in mind. We continue to hope for calm, safety and a swift return to stability in the region, and my thoughts remain with all those affected by these recent events,” added Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA President.
