The 2026 Australian MotoGP will run at Phillip Island from 23 to 25 October, forming round 18 of the World Championship. It is also the premier class’s last visit to the circuit for the foreseeable future: from 2027, the event moves to a new street circuit in Adelaide. Phillip Island staged its first Australian Grand Prix in 1989 and, apart from the Covid-related cancellations in 2020 and 2021, has hosted the event continuously since 1997.

The championship situation adds another layer to the weekend. Jorge Martin and Marc Marquez are separated by only two points at the top of the standings. Marquez has four Phillip Island victories to his name, including his most recent success there, in 2024 during his previous Ducati appearance with Gresini. Both title contenders missed last year’s race through injury, as Marco Bezzecchi won the Sprint and Raul Fernandez took the Grand Prix.

Raul Fernandez, Johann Zarco and Alex Rins are the other riders on this year’s grid with a Phillip Island win, one apiece. Jack Miller is also set for his final Australian MotoGP appearance before switching to WorldSBK next season. Friday practice is expected to be sunny, although changing conditions can still have a major influence around Phillip Island.

Schedule and start times

The weekend opens with two free-practice sessions on Friday 23 October. Saturday 24 October features final practice, qualifying and the Sprint, followed by warm-up and the Grand Prix on Sunday 25 October.

  • Friday 23 October: FP1 at 10:45 and Practice at 15:00 local time — 00:45 and 05:00 in the UK.
  • Saturday 24 October: FP2 at 10:10, Qualifying at 10:50 and Sprint at 15:00 local time — 00:10, 00:50 and 05:00 in the UK.
  • Sunday 25 October: warm-up at 08:40 and Grand Prix at 14:00 local time.

MotoGP’s official Video Pass streams every session live. The full-season option costs €148.99 with Timing Pass or €139.99 without live data, while a monthly subscription is €29.99. In the UK, TNT Sports covers every MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 session live, with access through HBO Max from £27.99 per month depending on the package.