MotoGP Calendar 2026: Race Dates, Circuits and UK Times
Quick Answer
The 2026 MotoGP season runs across 22 rounds from 27 February to 22 November, opening in Thailand and closing at Valencia. Brazil returns to the calendar for the first time since 2004, Hungary debuts at Balaton Park, and the British Grand Prix moves back to its traditional August slot at Silverstone, running from 7 to 9 August. TNT Sports holds exclusive UK broadcast rights for every session of every round in 2026.
MotoGP's 2026 season matches the record 22-round calendar set in 2025, running from late February through to late November. The biggest talking point is Brazil's return after a 22-year absence, alongside a first-ever Hungarian round and Silverstone going back to its usual summer date. This guide covers every confirmed race weekend, how the Sprint format works, and where to watch each session live in the UK.
Full 2026 MotoGP calendar
Here's the complete 22-round schedule for the season, in date order. Each entry covers the full Friday-to-Sunday weekend.
| Grand Prix | Circuit | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Thailand | Chang International Circuit | 27 Feb – 1 Mar |
| Brazil | Ayrton Senna Circuit, Goiânia | 20-22 Mar |
| Americas | Circuit of the Americas, Austin | 27-29 Mar |
| Qatar | Lusail International Circuit | 10-12 Apr |
| Spain | Circuito de Jerez | 24-26 Apr |
| France | Bugatti Circuit, Le Mans | 8-10 May |
| Catalunya | Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya | 15-17 May |
| Italy | Mugello | 29-31 May |
| Hungary | Balaton Park Circuit | 5-7 Jun |
| Czechia | Automotodrom Brno | 19-21 Jun |
| Netherlands | TT Circuit Assen | 26-28 Jun |
| Germany | Sachsenring | 10-12 Jul |
| Great Britain | Silverstone | 7-9 Aug |
| Aragón | MotorLand Aragón | 28-30 Aug |
| San Marino | Misano World Circuit | 11-13 Sep |
| Austria | Red Bull Ring, Spielberg | 18-20 Sep |
| Japan | Mobility Resort Motegi | 2-4 Oct |
| Indonesia | Pertamina Mandalika Circuit | 9-11 Oct |
| Australia | Phillip Island | 23-25 Oct |
| Malaysia | Petronas Sepang Circuit | 30 Oct-1 Nov |
| Portugal | Autódromo do Algarve, Portimão | 13-15 Nov |
| Valencia | Circuit Ricardo Tormo | 20-22 Nov |
Qatar keeps its usual night race under the Lusail floodlights, a fixture on the calendar since 2008. There are eight back-to-back weekends spread across the year, but no triple-headers, since MotoGP dropped those after 2024 to ease pressure on riders and mechanics.
What's changed from 2025
Brazil is the standout addition, returning to the world championship after 22 years away. The Ayrton Senna Circuit in Goiânia hosts an early-season round in March, named after Brazil's most famous racing driver.
Hungary also debuts on the calendar with a new venue at Balaton Park in June. The Czech round at Brno, which rejoined the calendar in 2025, moves earlier in the year and now follows straight after Hungary. Austria shifts later too, moving from its usual midsummer date to September. Argentina drops off the 2026 schedule entirely but is expected to return in 2027 at a new venue in Buenos Aires.
How a MotoGP race weekend works
Every round follows the same three-day structure, whichever circuit it's at. Understanding this helps explain why Saturday matters just as much as Sunday.
Friday and Saturday: practice, qualifying and the Sprint
Friday is free practice, split into two sessions that set the initial pace and decide who goes straight into Qualifying 2. Saturday morning brings a final practice session, followed by qualifying, which sets the grid for both the Sprint and the main race.
Saturday afternoon is Sprint day. Riders complete roughly half the full race distance, and the top nine finishers score points, from 12 for the win down to 1 for ninth.
Sunday: the Grand Prix
Sunday is the main event. Riders complete the full race distance, usually 20 to 27 laps depending on the circuit, and points go to the top 15 finishers, with 25 for the win.
Sprint results don't set Sunday's grid directly, since that comes from Saturday's qualifying, but a strong Sprint gives riders tyre data and confidence heading into the bigger points haul on Sunday.
British Grand Prix 2026 at Silverstone
The British Grand Prix returns to Silverstone from 7 to 9 August 2026, moving back to its traditional summer date after running in May in 2025. It falls straight after MotoGP's summer break, marking the unofficial start of the second half of the championship.
Silverstone is a 5.9km circuit with 10 right-hand corners and eight left-hand corners, and a 770-metre back straight that rewards strong top speed. The mix of fast, flowing sections and hard-braking zones in the Arena complex has produced some close finishes in recent years, and the changeable British weather often adds another layer of unpredictability.
Sunday's Grand Prix covers 20 laps, with the Sprint held on Saturday over roughly half that distance.
How to watch MotoGP in the UK in 2026
TNT Sports is the exclusive UK and Ireland broadcaster for MotoGP in 2026, covering every session of every round, including practice, qualifying, the Sprint and the full Grand Prix, live and on demand. You can add TNT Sports to an existing Sky, Virgin Media or EE TV package, or take out an HBO Max plan, which replaced Discovery+ as TNT Sports' UK streaming platform.
For fans without a full TNT Sports subscription, Quest shows free-to-air coverage of every Sprint race across the season, plus two full Grands Prix a year on terrestrial television. For the British round specifically, TalkSPORT2 also carries live radio commentary using the same TNT Sports broadcasting team.
If you're planning a weekend around a specific round, it's worth double-checking session times close to race day, since practice and qualifying slots can shift slightly by circuit and local time zone.
FAQ
How many rounds are in the 2026 MotoGP season? There are 22 rounds, matching the record set in 2025, running from 27 February to 22 November.
When does the 2026 MotoGP season start and finish? The season opens in Thailand from 27 February to 1 March and finishes at Valencia from 20 to 22 November.
When is the British Grand Prix in 2026? The British Grand Prix is at Silverstone from 7 to 9 August 2026, moving back to its usual August slot.
Which channel shows MotoGP in the UK in 2026? TNT Sports holds exclusive UK rights to every session, with Quest showing free-to-air Sprint races and two full Grands Prix a year.
Is Argentina on the 2026 MotoGP calendar? No. Argentina has dropped off the 2026 calendar but is expected to return in 2027 at a new venue in Buenos Aires.
Is there a new circuit on the 2026 calendar? Yes. Hungary makes its MotoGP debut at the new Balaton Park Circuit in June, alongside Brazil's return at the Ayrton Senna Circuit in Goiânia.
