Sepang in Malaysia will host a Formula 1 race in October 2026, teams were told the news on Tuesday.

The deal replaces the cancelled Bahrain Grand Prix from earlier this year after instability in the region in the Gulf state made hosting impossible.

Sepang has not staged an F1 race since 2017, and reviving the event comes with a long task list.

Organisers must deal with questions over whether the circuit can be sorted for October after years of a lack of investment.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Sepang has been hesitant to relaunch major international events, which is why eyes are now on the next few months.

If the build goes wrong before race weekend, organisers may call it off, and Imola in Italy is kept ready as a backup if needed.

The October date is framed as a fresh start for Southeast Asian motorsport, though the final stretch remains heavily dependent on progress.

Tickets and detailed schedules have not yet been released, and more concrete plans are expected in the months ahead.

Fans across the region will be watching closely as the countdown to race day ticks down.