Liberty Media, Formula 1’s commercial rights holder, remains hopeful that the championship will race in both Saudi Arabia and Bahrain during the 2026 season despite ongoing scheduling uncertainty.
The two Middle Eastern venues have been fixtures on the F1 calendar in recent years, with Bahrain traditionally hosting the season opener and Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah street circuit holding a night race early in the championship. Both circuits signed multi-year deals to remain on the calendar through the current regulations cycle.
Calendar Planning Underway
While the provisional 2026 calendar has not been formally published, Liberty Media’s continued pursuit of races at both venues indicates that negotiations remain active. The 2026 season represents a landmark year for Formula 1, with sweeping technical regulations introducing new chassis designs, substantially increased hybrid power unit output, and active aerodynamics.
Bahrain International Circuit has hosted Formula 1 since 2004 and has served as the season-opening round for much of the past decade. The Sakhir facility offers multiple layout configurations and extensive run-off areas that accommodate the championship’s testing and racing requirements.
Jeddah’s Place on the Calendar
Saudi Arabia joined the calendar in 2021 with the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, a high-speed street track along the Red Sea coast. The venue quickly established itself as one of the fastest street circuits in motorsport, with average speeds exceeding 250 km/h and a layout featuring long straights punctuated by sweeping high-speed corners.
The exact timing and structure of the 2026 calendar will become clearer in the coming months as the FIA World Motor Sport Council reviews and ratifies the provisional schedule. Teams and drivers typically receive the finalised calendar ahead of the winter testing period, allowing them to plan logistics and preparation around the confirmed race dates.