MotoGP will continue to race in Portugal through at least 2029 after agreeing a new deal for the Portuguese Grand Prix at the Algarve International Circuit in Portimao. The announcement comes two months before the 2026 event, which is scheduled to run as the championship’s penultimate round ahead of the Valencia finale.

Portimao entered MotoGP during the pandemic-disrupted 2020 season. Its debut came as the campaign finale, following a Valencia double-header, and the circuit hosted two races in 2021. It has appeared once in every subsequent season, giving Portugal a regular place on the championship calendar rather than a one-off pandemic-era role.

The track’s position has shifted from year to year. Portimao opened the 2023 season and was the championship’s first European stop in 2022 and 2024. It has also been used toward the end of seasons, a scheduling pattern that fits Algarve Tourism’s stated aim of holding the event outside the region’s peak tourism period.

The 2027 slot remains open

The contract extension did not specify a date for the 2027 Portuguese Grand Prix. MotoGP had scheduled the full 2027 calendar announcement for 25 September, with Valencia already confirmed as the season’s final round. The eventual placement of Portimao will therefore determine whether it again sits near the opening or closing part of the campaign.

Andre Gomes, president of Algarve Tourism, said the race gives the region international exposure, attracts visitors and generates business activity. He also linked it to the Algarve’s effort to strengthen its appeal as a year-round destination. Carlos Ezpeleta, MotoGP’s deputy chief executive, highlighted the circuit’s demanding layout and its quick rise to popularity with riders and fans.

Jaime Costa, chief executive of the Algarve International Circuit, described the three-year extension as a vote of confidence in the venue and in the people and organisations involved in staging the race. The circuit opened in 2009. Costa said the renewed agreement would reinforce Portugal and the Algarve’s place among major international sporting destinations. Crash.net reported the deal and the officials’ statements.