Malaysian GP 2026 Records 196,542 Attendances 

Sepang International Circuit continues to target a 200,000-spectator turnout while simultaneously cracking down on fake VIP passes and evaluating upcoming track resurfacing options.

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The PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia 2026 attracted a record 196,542 fans over three days at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC), marking the fourth consecutive year of attendance growth. However, the figure remained slightly below the circuit’s target of 200,000 spectators.

The total attendance comfortably surpassed the 190,997 fans recorded during the 2025 Malaysian GP. Sunday’s race day attracted the largest crowd, with 92,107 spectators, while 68,468 attended on Saturday and another 35,967 on Friday.

SIC chief executive officer Azhan Shafriman Hanif described the attendance figures as a proud achievement, noting that ticket sales had reached their highest level since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In terms of hitting the (200,000 fans) target, we are almost there. Hopefully next year we will be able to achieve it. Of course, we will conduct a post-mortem to see how we can continue improving the event,” said Shafriman.

Despite the strong turnout, the event was also affected by the sale of counterfeit VIP passes, which resulted in the arrest of two temporary staff members hired for the race weekend.

Demand for Malaysian GP tickets has remained strong over the years, but the popularity of the event has also attracted scammers and ticket touts looking to profit from the black market.

“We received reports of (ticket, pass) sales on the black market in previous years. But this year we were able to catch the suspects and will leave it to the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) for further action.”

“From my understanding, two suspects have been arrested. They are still under remand and the investigation is ongoing, so I cannot comment too much on this. “

“What I can say is that the passes were produced internally and were sold on the black market. That should not have happened. We will implement stricter controls in the future,” he said.

Shafriman also revealed that SIC had considered resurfacing the circuit earlier this year. However, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East had driven up material costs, particularly bitumen, making the work more expensive.

As an alternative, the circuit underwent milling, a process that removes the damaged top layer of the track surface as a temporary measure. Resurfacing work had also previously been carried out on sections between Turns 7 and 12.

Any further resurfacing plans will need to consider the circuit’s existing booking schedule, with SIC already committed to hosting events in December and January.

The MotoGP paddock is scheduled to return to Sepang for the 2027 pre-season preparations, beginning with the MotoGP Shakedown on January 29 and 30, followed by the official pre-season test from January 31 to February 1.