Quick answer: The 2026 MotoGP Australian Grand Prix takes place from Friday, October 23, to Sunday, October 25, at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in Australia. The main race is scheduled for 2:00 pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) on Sunday, October 25, over 27 laps and 120.1 km. Jorge MartÃn leads Marc Márquez by two points, and this is the final scheduled Australian MotoGP race at Phillip Island before the move to Adelaide in 2027.
By Wasantha Kumara. Updated 22 October 2026.
Introduction
The 2026 MotoGP Australian Grand Prix brings the premier class of motorcycle racing to Phillip Island from October 23 to 25. The Australian round is Round 18 of the 22-round 2026 MotoGP World Championship.
Jorge MartÃn leads Marc Márquez by only two points after the Indonesian Grand Prix. Marco Bezzecchi remains in the title picture, while Raúl Fernández returns to the venue where he claimed his first MotoGP Grand Prix win in 2025. The weekend includes qualifying, Saturday's Sprint and Sunday's full Grand Prix, so riders can score important championship points on both race days.
The venue adds another major storyline. MotoGP has confirmed that the Australian Grand Prix will move to the Adelaide Street Circuit from 2027. That makes the 2026 race the final scheduled edition at Phillip Island, a circuit that has been a regular part of the championship for decades.
2026 Australian MotoGP schedule and start times
The on-track programme runs from Friday, October 23, through Sunday, October 25. Friday includes MotoGP Free Practice 1 and Practice. Saturday features Free Practice 2, qualifying and the Sprint. Sunday's programme includes warm-up and the main Grand Prix.
The session times below use the published Australian timetable and convert key MotoGP sessions to US Eastern and UK local time. UK clocks move from British Summer Time (BST) to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) on Sunday, October 25. Session times can change, so check the official Australian Grand Prix schedule before each session.
| MotoGP session | Australia (AEDT) | US Eastern (EDT) | UK local time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Practice 1, Friday 23 October | 10:45 am Friday | 7:45 pm Thursday, 22 October | 12:45 am Friday (BST) |
| Practice, Friday 23 October | 3:00 pm Friday | 12:00 am Friday | 5:00 am Friday (BST) |
| Free Practice 2, Saturday 24 October | 10:10 am Saturday | 7:10 pm Friday, 23 October | 12:10 am Saturday (BST) |
| Qualifying 1, Saturday 24 October | 10:50 am Saturday | 7:50 pm Friday, 23 October | 12:50 am Saturday (BST) |
| Qualifying 2, Saturday 24 October | 11:15 am Saturday | 8:15 pm Friday, 23 October | 1:15 am Saturday (BST) |
| MotoGP Sprint, Saturday 24 October | 3:00 pm Saturday | 12:00 am Saturday | 5:00 am Saturday (BST) |
| MotoGP warm-up, Sunday 25 October | 10:40 am Sunday | 7:40 pm Saturday, 24 October | 12:40 am Sunday (BST) |
| Grand Prix, Sunday 25 October | 2:00 pm Sunday | 11:00 pm Saturday, 24 October | 3:00 am Sunday (GMT) |
Time conversions are based on AEDT (UTC+11), US Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-4), and UK seasonal clock changes. Confirm the live timetable with the organiser before relying on a session time.
What happens each day?
Friday, October 23: Free Practice 1 gives riders their first MotoGP track session of the weekend. The afternoon Practice session is important because it helps determine which riders progress directly to Q2.
Saturday, October 24: Free Practice 2 is followed by Q1 and Q2. Qualifying sets the grid for the Sprint and the Grand Prix. The MotoGP Sprint is scheduled for 3:00 pm local time.
Sunday, October 25: Riders complete the warm-up before the support-class races and the main MotoGP Grand Prix. The 27-lap race is scheduled to start at 2:00 pm AEDT.
The championship battle at Phillip Island
The leading question is whether MartÃn can protect his narrow advantage over Márquez or whether Márquez can move back to the top of the standings. The gap is small enough that one Sprint and one Grand Prix can change the championship order.
Riders' standings before Australia
The standings below are the championship position entering the Australian round, after the Indonesian Grand Prix. Check the official MotoGP riders' standings for any later updates.
| Position | Rider | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jorge MartÃn | Aprilia Racing | 355 |
| 2 | Marc Márquez | Ducati Lenovo Team | 353 |
| 3 | Marco Bezzecchi | Aprilia Racing | 309 |
Jorge MartÃn: protecting a two-point lead
MartÃn enters the weekend with 355 points, two ahead of Márquez. That margin leaves little room for a low-scoring race. Qualifying position, the Sprint and Sunday's Grand Prix will all matter, especially if his closest rival scores consistently across both races.
Marc Márquez: a direct chance to take the lead
Márquez has 353 points and trails MartÃn by two. He can take the championship lead with a strong weekend, but he also needs to manage the risk of losing points to other riders. Phillip Island is a circuit where track position and changing conditions can influence race strategy.
Marco Bezzecchi: keeping the title fight open
Bezzecchi sits third with 309 points, 46 behind MartÃn. He won the Indonesian Grand Prix and therefore arrives after a strong result. The Indonesian MotoGP 2026 results show how Bezzecchi, Raúl Fernández and MartÃn finished in the latest completed round. Another win could help Bezzecchi reduce the gap, although the championship also depends on how the two riders ahead of him score.
Raúl Fernández: back to the venue of his first MotoGP win
Fernández won the 2025 Australian Grand Prix for Trackhouse MotoGP Team. Fabio Di Giannantonio finished second and Bezzecchi third. Fernández's victory was his first in the MotoGP premier class and the first win for Trackhouse in MotoGP. He also finished second at Mandalika in 2026, giving him another recent result to build on before returning to Phillip Island.
Phillip Island circuit and race format
The event takes place at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in Victoria, Australia. The MotoGP Grand Prix covers 27 laps and 120.1 km. The MotoGP Sprint is scheduled for 13 laps.
The circuit's fast corners and exposed coastal setting place a premium on stability, tyre management and confidence through long, high-speed turns. Wind and weather can also affect how riders approach the circuit, so practice and qualifying will offer an early indication of each team's pace. These factors matter, but the final competitive picture will only become clear as the sessions unfold.
The final scheduled Australian MotoGP race at Phillip Island
MotoGP has confirmed that the Australian Grand Prix will move to the Adelaide Street Circuit in 2027 under a six-year agreement running through 2032. The new circuit will bring the race into the centre of Adelaide, replacing Phillip Island as the host venue.
This change gives the 2026 edition added historical significance. The weekend is the final scheduled chance to see the MotoGP Australian Grand Prix held at Phillip Island before the series moves to Adelaide. It also means that future Australian Grand Prix results will need to be considered in the context of a different circuit layout and racing environment.
Event details
| Event | Red Bull Grand Prix of Australia 2026 |
|---|---|
| Championship | 2026 MotoGP World Championship |
| Round | 18 of 22 |
| Dates | 23 to 25 October 2026 |
| Venue | Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Victoria, Australia |
| Main race | Sunday, 25 October, scheduled for 2:00 pm AEDT |
| MotoGP race distance | 27 laps, 120.1 km |
| Sprint distance | 13 laps |
| 2025 race winner | Raúl Fernández |
| Next scheduled venue | Adelaide Street Circuit from 2027 |
| Prize money | Information is not currently available. |
Tickets and how to watch
Official tickets
Ticket and hospitality availability can change close to race day. Check the official Australian Grand Prix ticket portal for current options and entry conditions. For travel packages, use the official Australian Grand Prix travel site. Avoid assuming a ticket or package is available until the official seller confirms it.
Watching in the USA and UK
Broadcast rights and streaming services can vary by country and season. Viewers in the United States and United Kingdom should check the official MotoGP broadcaster directory and their local television schedules for the confirmed channel or streaming option. The main race begins at 11:00 pm US Eastern Daylight Time on Saturday, October 24, and 3:00 am UK time on Sunday, October 25.
Watching in Australia
The official event viewing guide lists Network 10 and Fox Sports for television coverage in Australia, with streaming options through 10Play and Kayo Sports. Check the organiser's Australian MotoGP start-time and viewing guide for the latest details.
Season so far and what comes next
The Indonesian Grand Prix at Mandalika was the most recent completed round before Australia. Bezzecchi won the main race, Fernández finished second and MartÃn took third. Márquez won the Sprint before finishing sixth in the Grand Prix. The official Indonesian Grand Prix race classification lists the confirmed finishing order.
Readers can also revisit LankaSport's 2026 Indonesian Grand Prix preview to compare the build-up to the previous round. Earlier in the season, the Austrian MotoGP results provide more context from another championship weekend.
After Australia, the 2026 calendar moves to the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang from October 30 to November 1. The Qatar, Portuguese and Valencia rounds follow in November. Australia is a key stage in the title fight, but it is not the final chance to score points.
| Next event | Dates | Circuit |
|---|---|---|
| Malaysian Grand Prix | 30 October to 1 November 2026 | Sepang International Circuit |
| Qatar Grand Prix | 6 to 8 November 2026 | Lusail International Circuit |
| Portuguese Grand Prix | 20 to 22 November 2026 | Algarve International Circuit |
| Valencia Grand Prix | 27 to 29 November 2026 | Circuit Ricardo Tormo |
What It Means
Analysis based on the confirmed standings, recent results and published calendar:
- The two-point gap leaves little margin. MartÃn and Márquez enter Australia almost level. The Sprint offers an additional points opportunity before Sunday's full-distance race, so both sessions can affect the championship order.
- Bezzecchi needs another high score. His Indonesian win shows he can challenge at the front, but he begins the weekend 46 points behind MartÃn. He needs strong results while the two leaders also drop points if he is to close the gap quickly.
- Fernández has both a past win and recent form. The 2025 Phillip Island winner finished second in Indonesia. That gives him a strong story heading into the weekend, but practice and qualifying will offer the clearest evidence of his current pace.
- The venue change adds historical weight. With the Australian round moving to Adelaide in 2027, this edition is the final scheduled MotoGP Grand Prix at Phillip Island. The result will close one chapter of the event's history, regardless of the championship outcome.
Frequently asked questions
When is the 2026 MotoGP Australian Grand Prix?
The event runs from Friday, October 23, to Sunday, October 25, 2026, at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in Victoria, Australia. The main MotoGP race is scheduled for Sunday.
What time does the Australian MotoGP race start?
The race is scheduled for 2:00 pm AEDT on Sunday, October 25. That is 11:00 pm EDT on Saturday, October 24, in US Eastern time and 3:00 am GMT on Sunday in the UK.
Who won the 2025 Australian MotoGP Grand Prix?
Raúl Fernández won the 2025 race for Trackhouse MotoGP Team. Fabio Di Giannantonio finished second and Marco Bezzecchi third. It was Fernández's first MotoGP Grand Prix victory.
How many laps is the Australian MotoGP race?
The main MotoGP Grand Prix is scheduled for 27 laps, covering 120.1 km. Saturday's MotoGP Sprint is scheduled for 13 laps.
Why is 2026 the last scheduled Australian MotoGP race at Phillip Island?
MotoGP has confirmed that the Australian Grand Prix will move to the Adelaide Street Circuit from 2027. The announced six-year agreement runs through 2032, making the 2026 event the final scheduled edition at Phillip Island for now.
Sources
- Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix official schedule
- Australian Grand Prix start times and viewing details
- MotoGP 2026 riders' standings
- Official Indonesian Grand Prix race results
- Official report on Raúl Fernández's 2025 Australian Grand Prix win
- MotoGP announcement: Australian Grand Prix moves to Adelaide from 2027
- Official MotoGP broadcaster directory
- Official Australian Grand Prix ticket portal