The 2026 Formula 1 race at Sepang is scheduled for Sunday, 4 October at 3:00 PM Malaysia time. Havana Bar & Grill in Changkat Bukit Bintang has confirmed that it will show the race downstairs on its large screen, giving fans in central Kuala Lumpur a place to settle in before lights out, order food and drinks, and watch with a crowd.
The race-day answer: downstairs, large screen, 3:00 PM
The Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia takes place at Sepang International Circuit from 2-4 October 2026, with the race scheduled for Sunday at 3:00 PM Malaysia time. If you are not going to Sepang, Havana KL has confirmed a race-day screening downstairs on its large screen.
That confirmation matters. Instead of arriving at a bar and asking whether Formula 1 can be put on one television, the race is the plan. The downstairs setup gives fans a clear place to meet, settle in and follow the Grand Prix together.
Come early enough to make the afternoon easy
Havana currently opens at 1:00 PM on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. With lights out scheduled for 3:00 PM, race day gives you a useful two-hour window to arrive, find your table, order and get comfortable before the start.
For a live race, that buffer is better than walking in during the formation lap. Formula 1 weekends are full of pre-race build-up, grid stories and last-minute changes. Arriving earlier also gives groups time to meet without trying to coordinate while the screen already has everyone's attention.
Why a shared screening changes the race
Formula 1 works perfectly well on a laptop or at home, but a close Grand Prix is more fun when reactions happen around you. A pit-stop gamble, a safety car, a sudden rain shower at Sepang or a late pass feels different when the room responds at the same time.
Havana already runs selected live-sport viewings, so the F1 screening fits a familiar format: one match or race gives the room a shared focus, while the restaurant and bar setup means the afternoon does not need to revolve around standing in front of a television. For more on match nights, see the live sport in Bukit Bintang guide.
Make food part of the plan
A 3:00 PM race start sits neatly between lunch and dinner, which makes food useful rather than secondary. Havana's food menu includes wood-fire cooking, steaks, pizzas, burgers, pasta, seafood and shareable dishes, giving a table enough choice for a race that can run for close to two hours.
If you are coming with friends, ordering before lights out is the easiest move. You can settle the table first and avoid everyone trying to make decisions during the opening laps. Pair the afternoon with something from the drinks menu if you want the full race-day table.
If you went to Sepang earlier in the weekend
The screening can also work as the final city-side moment of an F1 weekend. If you want to plan your weekend between Sepang and Havana, that companion guide covers the city-side arc after the circuit. You may have attended Friday practice or Saturday qualifying at Sepang and decided not to return on Sunday. Or you may simply prefer to watch the race from central Kuala Lumpur rather than deal with race-day transport.
Either way, Bukit Bintang gives you a different kind of Sunday: the race on a large screen, food on the table, then the option to stay in Changkat after the chequered flag rather than joining the traffic leaving the circuit.
After the chequered flag
If the race runs to schedule, the early-afternoon start leaves plenty of Sunday evening ahead. You can stay at Havana, move into dinner, or let the day become a wider night in Changkat.
That is one of the useful differences between a screening in Bukit Bintang and watching from home: the Grand Prix can be the centre of the afternoon without being the end of the plan. If you want the night to continue later, see how Havana stays open late in Bukit Bintang.
How to plan your F1 race day at Havana
Check Havana's Events page and social channels for any final race-day notes, reservation guidance or screening details before you travel. For a group, book ahead rather than assuming a large table will be free just before lights out.
Arrive early, order before the start, and treat the 3:00 PM race as the reason everyone gets together. The rest of the afternoon can take care of itself. First visit? Read what to expect at Havana KL. Race weekend is over, but Oktoberfest at Havana continues throughout October.
Frequently asked questions
When is the 2026 F1 race at Sepang?
The race is scheduled for Sunday, 4 October 2026. The official Formula 1 timetable lists a 07:00 UTC start, which is 3:00 PM Malaysia time.
Is Havana KL showing the F1 Malaysia 2026 race?
Yes. Havana has confirmed that the race will be shown downstairs on the venue's large screen.
What time should I arrive at Havana for the F1 race?
Havana currently lists Sunday opening from 1:00 PM, while the race starts at 3:00 PM Malaysia time. Arriving well before lights out gives you time to get seated and order.
Can we eat while watching the race?
Yes. Havana is a full restaurant and bar, with food ranging from shareable dishes and pizza to steaks, burgers, pasta and seafood.
Do we need to book for the F1 screening?
Booking is recommended for groups and anyone who wants to secure a table with a comfortable view. Check Havana's current event listing before race day for any final booking instructions.
Where is Havana Bar & Grill?
Havana is at 2 & 4 Changkat Bukit Bintang, in central Kuala Lumpur.
