9 Automotive & Motorsports Events In Malaysia To Rev Up The Rest Of 2026

Automotive and motorsports events in Malaysia in 2026

Some weekends call for a leisurely drive with a good playlist. Others call for watching cars slide around corners, cheering on racers at Sepang, or seeing childhood Hot Wheels favourites arrive in life-sized proportions. Around Malaysia, the upcoming automotive calendar gives car enthusiasts and casual fans plenty of reasons to head out, with events ranging from race weekends to custom-car showcases.

From big ones such as the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix to lowkey underground drifting events, here are some automotive and motorsports events in Malaysia to catch in the second half of 2026:

1. Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix

2nd to 4th October 2026

Image credit: BBC via Website

For Malaysian F1 fans, race weekends have largely meant setting alarms and watching from the sofa. This October, the action returns much closer to home: Sepang International Circuit will host Formula 1 for the first time since 2017.

Despite its name, the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia 2026 takes place at Sepang, with Malaysia hosting the relocated Bahrain race. Fans can catch the championship’s drivers and teams across three days of practice, qualifying and racing.

Friday kicks off with two practice sessions, followed by a final practice and qualifying on Saturday. The main event takes place on 4th October at 3pm, when the lights go out for the Grand Prix. For those who have only heard an F1 car through their television speakers, this is a chance to experience the race from the grandstands.

Venue: Sepang International Circuit
Date: 2nd to 4th October 2026
Time: 12.30pm to 5pm

2. Tokyo Auto Salon

2nd to 4th October 2026

Image credit: Tokyo Auto Salon Malaysia via Website

Anyone whose saved posts are filled with modified cars will have plenty to admire at Tokyo Auto Salon Malaysia 2026. Taking over MAEPS in Serdang, the three-day event brings Japan’s custom-car culture to Malaysia, with tuned vehicles, show cars and automotive brands sharing the exhibition floor.

Visitors can browse builds and explore the details behind them, from wheels to aerodynamic upgrades. It is a chance to get a closer look at the styling and modifications that turn an everyday vehicle into something worth stopping for.

The entertainment extends beyond the cars, too. A-class, Tokyo Auto Salon’s official promotional group, will appear across all three days for live stage performances, meet-and-greets and photo opportunities.

Venue: MAEPS, Serdang
Date: 2nd to 4th October 2026
Time: 10am to 10pm

3. Common Market Food & Drinks Carnival

4th October 2026

Image credit: Corner Inc. via Website

Race-day plans can include a food crawl, too. The Common Market Food & Drinks Carnival at XOX Arena brings together a live Formula 1 screening, and food and drinks on 4th October.

Visitors can follow the Grand Prix alongside fellow fans, with supercar and race car displays adding more automotive attractions to the outing. Racing simulators give attendees a chance to take a virtual turn behind the wheel.

With interactive activities, community spaces and fan zones also on the programme, the carnival offers something for friends tagging along for the food as well as those keeping a close eye on the race.

Venue: XOX Arena, The Arch Galeries
Date: 4th October 2026
Time: 1pm onwards

4. Citrawarna Speed Festival 2026

23rd September to 4th October 2026

Image credit: Citra Warna

Citrawarna Speed Festival 2026 brings motorsport activities and Malaysian arts and culture to IOI City Mall Putrajaya, KLIA Terminal 1 and Sama-Sama Hotel KLIA. Running until 4th October, the festival includes racing simulators, automotive exhibitions and cultural performances.

At IOI City Mall’s Lower Ground East Court, visitors can take part in a simulator competition for a chance to win prizes. Over at Symphony East, 14 interactive stations showcase traditional arts and crafts alongside live cultural performances.

Two highlights are scheduled for the final weekend, includes The Colours of Parade featuring 1,500 cultural dancers and performers, as well as a closing Lamborghini activation, which will gather approximately 100 high-performance supercars.

Visitors at KLIA Terminal 1 and Sama-Sama Hotel can also catch automotive exhibitions and cultural dance performances, try traditional games such as gasing and congkak, and take a turn on racing simulators.

Venue: IOI City Mall Putrajaya, KLIA Terminal 1 and Sama-Sama Hotel
Date: 23rd September to 4th October 2026
Time: 10am to 10pm

5. Lights Out Kuala Lumpur Pop-Up by adidas Malaysia

1st to 4th October 2026

Image credit: @joseyoona via Instagram Threads

Race-weekend dressing gets its own pit stop at the Lights Out Kuala Lumpur Pop-Up by adidas Malaysia. The activation brings the brand’s motorsport collection beyond the circuit, with The Exchange TRX listed among its stops

Visitors can browse race-inspired apparel and motorsport gear, whether they are putting together an outfit for Sepang or adding a sporty piece to their everyday wardrobe.

The wider activation also includes Gateway@KLIA2 and Mitsui Outlet Park KLIA Sepang, with dates varying between locations. For those already planning a trip to TRX, the pop-up adds a motorsport stop to a day of shopping.

Venue: The Exchange TRX
Date: 1st to 4th October 2026
Time: 10am to 10pm

6. Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live: Glow-N-Fire

16th to 18th October 2026

Image credit: Klook via Website

The Hot Wheels cars once parked on bedroom floors are getting a considerable upgrade. Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live: Glow-N-Fire brings full-sized versions of familiar favourites to Unifi Arena in Bukit Jalil, including Mega Wrex, Tiger Shark, Bone Shaker and Bigfoot.

The show pairs monster truck action with freestyle motocross performances, adding airborne stunts to the arena spectacle. The programme also features freestyle motocross performances and a fire-breathing, car-crushing robot dinosaur.

Shows run from 16th to 18th October, with an evening performance on Friday, as well as afternoon and evening performances over the weekend. Families and longtime collectors can trade miniature wheels for a much louder outing.

Venue: Unifi Arena, Bukit Jalil
Date: 16th to 18th October 2026
Time: 1pm and 8pm

7. Malaysia International Automotive & Parts Expo 2026

23rd to 25th October 2026

Image credit: Ticket2u via Website

There is plenty happening behind the scenes of a finished car build. Malaysia International Automotive & Parts Expo 2026, or MIAPEX, puts that side of the automotive world on display at Malaysia International Exhibition & Convention Centre in Seri Kembangan.

The expo brings together automotive manufacturers, suppliers and industry professionals, with exhibits covering vehicle parts, accessories and automotive technology. Enthusiasts can browse products and learn more about the components that keep vehicles running or give them an upgrade.

Venue: Malaysia International Exhibition & Convention Centre, Seri Kembangan
Date: 23rd to 25th October 2026
Time: 10am to 6pm

8. Drift Underground 2026

23rd to 25th October 2026

Image credit: @driftunderground via Instagram

A basement car park usually means circling for an empty bay. At Drift Underground 2026, the B2 car park at Malaysia International Exhibition & Convention Centre becomes the setting for an indoor drifting event.

The event spotlights Malaysia’s drifting community, with drivers navigating the space in controlled slides. Spectators can watch the action from outside the cars, while drift-taxi rides offer a passenger-seat experience for those keen to feel it themselves.

Running across the same weekend as MIAPEX, Drift Underground gives automotive enthusiasts another reason to head to Seri Kembangan. The event is scheduled from 23rd to 25th October, with sessions running from morning until night.

Venue: B2 Car Park, Malaysia International Exhibition & Convention Centre, Seri Kembangan
Date: 23rd to 25th October 2026
Time: 10am to 10pm

9. PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia 2026

30th October to 1st November 2026

Image credit: MotoGP via Website

Sepang’s racing calendar continues later in the month with the PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia 2026, bringing motorcycle racing fans back to the circuit from the 30th October to 1st November.

The weekend features MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3, giving spectators several categories of racing to follow. Practice sessions and qualifying build towards the sprint and main races, with riders battling for position around the circuit.

Venue: Sepang International Circuit
Date: 30th October to 1st November 2026
Time: 11.15am to 3pm

Upcoming automotive events in Klang Valley

From the grandstands at Sepang to an underground drifting arena in Seri Kembangan, these events offer plenty of ways to spend a weekend around cars and motorcycles. Friends can gather for a race screening, families can catch monster trucks in action, and enthusiasts can get a closer look at builds usually saved to their camera rolls.

Also read: Ultimate F1 Guide & All You Need To Know About The Bahrain GP & How To Navigate Sepang International Circuit

Cover image adapted from: @driftunderground via Instagram, @joseyoona via Instagram Threads & Citra Warna