F1, Tennis and Golf in the Middle East 2026: Cancelled, Postponed or Maintained Events — Complete Updated Calendar

Express timeline of the conflict

On 28 February 2026, a coalition led by the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran. Iran’s retaliation was swift: ballistic missiles and drones targeted military bases and infrastructure in several Gulf States, including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world’s oil passes, was mined by Iran. Maritime traffic has virtually ground to a halt and crude oil has surpassed the $100-per-barrel mark. A ceasefire was agreed on 7-8 April, but the Islamabad negotiations failed on 11-12 April. President Trump is threatening a naval blockade.

For international sport, the consequences are immediate: several events cancelled or postponed, others maintained subject to conditions. Here is the full breakdown, discipline by discipline.

The paddock in the line of fire

The Bahrain Grand Prix, scheduled for 10-12 April 2026, has been outright cancelled. The reason is as direct as it is tragic: Iran targeted the US Navy’s 5th Fleet base at Juffair, in the suburbs of Manama, located just a few kilometres from the Sakhir circuit paddock.

With missile impacts in such close proximity, the FIA and Formula One Management had no choice but to cancel the race. No replacement circuit has been found to fill this gap in the calendar.

The Bahrain GP, which had traditionally opened the season for several years, represents a major symbolic and financial loss. F1 loses one of its most lucrative events — the hosting contract reportedly represents over $60 million per year for the kingdom.

• Race cancelled — no possibility of rescheduling in 2026
• No replacement — F1 calendar reduced to 22 races
• 5-week gap between the Japanese GP (27-29 March) and the Miami GP (1-3 May)

Jeddah in turmoil

One week after Bahrain, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix falls too. Scheduled for 17-19 April on the Jeddah Corniche street circuit, the race is also cancelled, with no replacement.

The Jeddah circuit had already experienced security tensions in 2022, when an Aramco oil facility was struck by the Houthis during the race weekend. In 2026, the situation is of an entirely different magnitude: Saudi territory is directly hit by Iranian retaliation.

With this double cancellation, Formula 1 loses two consecutive Middle Eastern races and is left with a gaping hole in its spring calendar. F2 has responded by adding Miami and Canada as replacement rounds to compensate for the lost races.

Lusail, hope at the end of the season

Relatively good news: the Qatar Grand Prix, scheduled for 27-29 November at the Lusail Circuit, is provisionally maintained. F1 leaders are cautiously optimistic, counting on the regional situation stabilising by the end of the year.

Qatar, which has invested heavily in its sports infrastructure since the 2022 World Cup, has an advanced anti-missile defence system and a relatively neutral diplomatic position in the conflict. The country is also hosting international mediations.

The final decision should be made in the autumn, depending on the evolution of the ceasefire and the security guarantees provided by the Qatari authorities.

• Calendar maintained — but a final decision is expected in autumn
• Infrastructure intact — the Lusail circuit has not been damaged
• Exit clause — the FIA reserves the right to cancel if the situation deteriorates

The season finale in the balance

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the traditional season finale of F1 (4-6 December), is also provisionally maintained. The Yas Marina Circuit, fully renovated in 2021, remains one of the jewels of the calendar.

The United Arab Emirates, although affected by the fallout from the conflict, has the most sophisticated air defence system in the region. Abu Dhabi also benefits from its geographical position, further from the main theatre of operations than Bahrain or Jeddah.

For travellers considering a trip to Abu Dhabi in December, caution remains advisable. Flexible tickets and cancellation insurance are strongly recommended.

• F1 finale maintained — maximum sporting stakes for the world title
• Flexible tickets recommended — opt for refundable bookings
• Cancellation insurance essential — check for « geopolitical event » coverage

From the court to chaos in a matter of hours

Tennis narrowly escaped disaster. The ATP/WTA Dubai Championships (15-28 February), won by Daniil Medvedev, were completed just in time before the outbreak of hostilities. The same scenario for the WTA Doha (10-22 February) — the competition had only just concluded.

But 41 people — players, coaches, staff members — found themselves stranded in the Middle East after the tournaments. Among them, Holger Rune, recovering from an injury, who had been unable to leave the region in time. The ATP had to organise an emergency charter flight to evacuate its players.

The ATP Fujairah Challenger was outright cancelled after a drone attack caused a fire at an oil facility near the competition venue.

From the Dubai Desert Classic to LIV Golf: the situation

Golf has been luckier than other disciplines — at least for the first part of the season. The Dubai Desert Classic (22-25 January), won by Patrick Reed, and the LIV Golf Riyadh (5-7 February) took place without incident, well before the start of hostilities.

It is autumn that raises questions. The Abu Dhabi Championship (5-8 November) and the DP World Tour Championship (12-15 November, Dubai) are currently on the calendar, but whether they go ahead will depend entirely on the security situation in the region.

On the other hand, the Clutch Pro Tour MENA Series, a regional circuit that sustains dozens of professionals between Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other Gulf cities, is suspended indefinitely. Players on the tour have dispersed to Europe and Southeast Asia.

• Dubai Desert Classic — completed 25 January, Patrick Reed winner
• LIV Golf Riyadh — completed 7 February, no incidents
• Abu Dhabi Championship (5-8 Nov.) — uncertain status, awaiting confirmation
• DP World Tour Championship (12-15 Nov., Dubai) — uncertain status
• Clutch Pro Tour MENA — suspended indefinitely

A completely reshuffled calendar

Unlike F1, MotoGP has chosen to postpone rather than cancel. The Qatar Grand Prix, originally scheduled for 10-12 April at the Losail Circuit, has been rescheduled to 6-8 November 2026.

This move has triggered a domino effect on the end of the season: the Portuguese GP is pushed back to 22 November, and the Valencia GP (the traditional finale) is postponed to 29 November. Dorna Sports, the championship organiser, has prioritised keeping all rounds rather than reducing the calendar.

The final decision on whether the race will actually take place in Qatar in November will depend, as with F1, on the state of the ceasefire and security conditions.

• Qatar MotoGP — postponed from 10-12 April to 6-8 November
• Portugal MotoGP — pushed back to 22 November (domino effect)
• Valencia MotoGP — postponed to 29 November (finale)

World sport reorganises its calendars

WEC — 1812 km of Qatar

The endurance race of the World Endurance Championship (WEC), the 1812 km of Qatar, scheduled for 26-28 March, has been postponed to 22-24 October 2026. The Imola round has taken the opening round slot for the season. The ACO (Automobile Club de l’Ouest) is monitoring the situation closely and does not rule out a further postponement if necessary.

Finalissima — Spain vs Argentina

The Finalissima, a match between the European champions (Spain) and the South American champions (Argentina), was due to be held in Qatar. The event has been outright cancelled: the two federations failed to agree on a relocation venue. The match’s prestige was not enough to overcome the logistical constraints of a last-minute transfer.

Overall economic impact

Beyond sport, the conflict is weighing on the entire event tourism industry in the Middle East. With oil above $100 per barrel and the Strait of Hormuz partially blocked, airfares to the region have surged. Many organisers of corporate events, conferences and trade fairs have postponed or cancelled their Middle East engagements.

• WEC Qatar 1812 km — from 26-28 March to 22-24 October
• Finalissima (Spain vs Argentina) — cancelled, no relocation

Summary table as of 12 April 2026

Three scenarios based on the evolution of the conflict

Optimistic scenario: lasting peace

If negotiations resume and result in a stable agreement in the coming weeks, the provisionally maintained events (F1 Qatar and Abu Dhabi, MotoGP Qatar, golf Abu Dhabi and DP World Tour) will go ahead as planned. The Strait of Hormuz would gradually reopen, airfares would normalise, and the end-of-year sporting season in the Middle East would be saved.

Intermediate scenario: status quo

The ceasefire holds but no peace agreement is signed. Sports federations make decisions on a case-by-case basis, depending on security guarantees. Some events are maintained (Abu Dhabi, most likely), while others are postponed again or cancelled (Qatar, more vulnerable). Insurers maintain high premiums.

Pessimistic scenario: resumption of hostilities

If the ceasefire collapses — the naval blockade mentioned by Washington would be a strong signal — all sporting events scheduled in the Middle East for the end of the year would be cancelled. F1 would then lose four Grand Prix in a single season, unprecedented in the modern era of the championship.