From Jakarta to Perth, fans are flying in for the Grand Prix in Sepang, Malaysia
The return of the Grand Prix to Sepang is weeks away, and fans across the region are finalising their journey to Kuala Lumpur.
New booking data from AirAsia MOVE shows that the announcement of the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2026 in Malaysia triggered an immediate uptick in international flight bookings to Kuala Lumpur, offering an early glimpse of how a major sporting event can influence where people travel.
Between 26 July and 3 August, international flight bookings to Kuala Lumpur rose with an additional 1,000 seats booked within the post announcement period compared to the previous week, suggesting that the interest in the race is turning into travel plans quickly.
From regional neighbours to long-haul markets, fans are flying in
Notably, the data points to a strongly regional audience, with travellers from Asean markets accounting for the majority of international flight bookings to Kuala Lumpur during the race weekend.
Indonesia led bookings, followed by China, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines, highlighting the Grand Prix's growing appeal as a regional travel event and its ability to attract fans from across the region to the host destination.
The trend reflects how major sporting events can extend beyond the event itself, the appeal is easy to imagine: fly in, catch the race, explore the city and fly home, all within a single weekend.
While the strongest demand is coming from within Asean, the booking data also points to interest from further afield. Australia stands out as the strongest growth market, with bookings to Kuala Lumpur from major cities in Australia picking up after the official announcement was made on the 26 July.
The increases across these markets point to a wider international audience beginning to factor Kuala Lumpur into their travel plans around the Grand Prix.
More than just race day
For regional travellers, the Grand Prix offers an opportunity to turn a major sporting event into a short Kuala Lumpur getaway. That could mean arriving a day early for a night out in Bukit Bintang, spending Saturday exploring the city before heading to Sepang, or extending the trip beyond race weekend.
Because ultimately, the appeal of travelling for a Grand Prix is not only about the few hours spent watching the race. It is about the entire weekend: the anticipation, the atmosphere, the city, the food, the people and being part of something bigger than the race itself.
The early booking trends underline the growing connection between live events and travel, with the Grand Prix's return to Sepang already showing signs of bringing fans from across Asean and beyond.
Grandstand tickets to the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2026 in Malaysia, including sought-after main grandstand seats, are available through MOVETIX by AirAsia MOVE, with prices starting from MYR1,490.
AirAsia MOVE also brings the rest of the getaway together, from flights and hotels to airport transfers, making it easier to turn a weekend at Sepang into a Kuala Lumpur escape all in one platform.
