Bahrain International Circuit
حلبة البحرين الدولية
Bahrain International Circuit in the Sakhir desert opened in 2004 as the first Formula 1 venue in the Middle East and runs motorsport and track experiences all year.
About Bahrain International Circuit
Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) sits in the Sakhir desert in the south of the island. It opened in 2004, when Bahrain became the first country in the region to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix. The circuit has five track layouts, and the Grand Prix layout runs to 5.412 km. Alongside the main track there is a quarter-mile drag strip, a karting circuit and a vehicle dynamics area used for drifting.
You do not need a race ticket to visit. BIC sells open track sessions where you bring your own car or motorbike, circuit tours, a dragster passenger ride, an off-road experience and karting. During race weekends the site turns into an entertainment hub with concerts and family activities, and it hosts festivals, car launches and local championships through the year.
2026 has been an unusual year. The April 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix was called off because of the regional situation, and Formula 1 instead held the race at Sepang in Malaysia on 2 to 4 October 2026, officially named the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. The November 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship 8 Hours of Bahrain was also cancelled.
Racing returns to Sakhir in 2027. The official Formula 1 ticket store lists the 2027 Bahrain Grand Prix for 12 to 14 March 2027, and the race is contracted to stay on the calendar until 2036. The WEC is due back for its season finale in November 2027. Local events such as drag nights and karting continue to run at the circuit.
Watch
Highlights
- Book an open track session in your own car or on your motorbike
- Take a guided circuit tour behind the scenes
- Ride as a passenger in a dragster on the quarter-mile strip
- Race karts on the 1.414 km Bahrain International Karting Circuit
- Watch the Bahrain Grand Prix, back on 12 to 14 March 2027
- Catch a Drag and Drift Night on selected Monday evenings
Good to know
- The 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix was held in Malaysia and the 2026 WEC 8 Hours of Bahrain was cancelled; ticket holders were refunded automatically.
- 2027 Grand Prix tickets were on an official waitlist in October 2026, so check reseller dates against the official 12 to 14 March weekend.
- Experiences such as open track days, tours and karting are booked through bahraingp.com.
- Beyon Al Dana Amphitheatre and Exhibition World Bahrain sit next to the circuit, so check event days for traffic.
Getting there
In Sakhir in the south-west of Bahrain, about 30 km from Manama; reached by car via Zallaq Highway or Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Highway
Questions people ask
Was the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix held at Bahrain International Circuit?
No. The April 2026 race was cancelled because of the regional situation and was held at Sepang in Malaysia on 2 to 4 October 2026 as the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
When is the next Bahrain Grand Prix?
The official Formula 1 ticket store lists the 2027 Bahrain Grand Prix for 12 to 14 March 2027 at Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir.
Can I drive my own car at Bahrain International Circuit?
Yes. BIC runs open track sessions for cars and motorbikes, plus Drag and Drift Nights on the drag strip and vehicle dynamics area. Book through bahraingp.com.
When did Bahrain International Circuit open?
The circuit opened in 2004 and hosted the first Formula 1 Grand Prix in the Middle East that year.
