- Qatar GP moved from April 12 to November 8
- Portugal and Valencia each shift one week later
- Australia, Malaysia, and Qatar form a triple-header in the season run-in
The Qatar Grand Prix at the Lusail International Circuit will not take place as scheduled in April during the 2026 MotoGP season. Due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, MotoGP officially announced on March 15 that the race weekend would be moved from April 10–12 to November 6–8. the decision was made jointly by the FIM, promoter MotoGP Sports Entertainment (formerly Dorna), and the local authorities in Qatar in response to a security situation that makes holding the event in spring impossible.
War in the Gulf Region Makes April Date Impossible
The postponement stems from the military conflict that escalated in late February through coordinated airstrikes by the US and Israel on Iran. Iran responded with retaliatory strikes on several countries in the region. Hostilities have continued since then, air travel is significantly disrupted, and the situation remains unpredictable. Hosting international large-scale events in the Gulf region is currently out of the question under these circumstances.
Formula 1 had canceled its two Middle East races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia planned for April just hours before the MotoGP announcement. The 2026 Formula 1 calendar now includes only 22 instead of the originally planned 24 Grands Prix. The World Endurance Championship (WEC) also had to postpone its season opener at the Lusail International Circuit. The 1,812 Kilometers of Qatar, originally scheduled for late March, will now take place in late October as the penultimate round of the WEC calendar.
MotoGP Chooses Postponement Over Cancellation
Unlike Formula 1, MotoGP deliberately opted for a postponement rather than a complete cancellation. The 2026 MotoGP calendar thus still includes all 22 originally planned Grands Prix, only in a different order. November 8 was the only previously free weekend in the season run-in and therefore the only realistic option for fitting the race in.
MotoGP CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta stated: “This decision was made with great care and in close coordination with our partners in Qatar and across the paddock. Our priority is always the safety and well-being of everyone involved in MotoGP, as well as ensuring that every Grand Prix is held at the highest level.”
Ezpeleta also emphasized that ticket holders who have already purchased tickets for the April date will be given the opportunity to transfer their tickets to the rescheduled event.
Season-Ending Triple-Header: Australia, Malaysia, Qatar
The rescheduling creates a non-European triple-header in the final part of the season. The Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island (October 23–25) kicks things off, followed by the Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang (October 30 – November 1) and the now-rescheduled Qatar GP on November 6–8. Three consecutive overseas race weekends mean a significant logistical burden for teams and personnel. The original 2026 calendar had deliberately avoided triple-headers to reduce the strain on everyone involved.
Qatar was originally planned as the fourth round of the season and would have served as a link between the three overseas races at the start of the season (Thailand, Brazil, USA) and the beginning of the European season in late April in Spain. Its removal now creates a four-week gap after the US GP in Austin (March 27–29) before the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez (April 24–26) opens the European season.
Season Finale in Valencia Not Until November 29
To avoid subjecting the paddock to five consecutive race weekends, the final two rounds have also been shifted. The Portuguese Grand Prix in Portimão will now take place on November 20–22, with the season finale at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia on November 27–29. These dates were originally set one week earlier. The 2026 MotoGP season is thereby extended by one week overall.
The traditional post-season test in Valencia, which serves as preparation for the 2027 season and is expected to feature the public debut of the new 850cc machines, will likely also be postponed. The most probable date is December 1.
FIM and Qatar Stand Behind the Decision
FIM President Jorge Viegas expressly supported the rescheduling: “Given the current geopolitical situation, the safety of our riders, teams, officials, and fans must always come first. We are confident that the updated calendar ensures that the event in Qatar can be held under the safest and most professional conditions.”
Qatar also voiced its approval. Abdulrahman bin Abdullatif Al Mannai, President of the Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation and the Lusail International Circuit, said his organization respects and supports the decision by MotoGP Sport Entertainment Group. He thanked fans, teams, and partners for their understanding and expressed his hope to welcome everyone back at the Lusail International Circuit in November.
A Blueprint for Formula 1?
The contrasting approaches of the two major racing series under the Liberty Media umbrella are noteworthy. While MotoGP reschedules its Qatar GP to November and thus retains all 22 planned season races, Formula 1 has dropped its Middle East races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia from the calendar entirely. However, the MotoGP solution could serve as a template. The Formula 1 calendar is similarly packed in autumn. Shifting the season finale in Abu Dhabi by one week could theoretically create space to make up at least one of the two canceled races.
Whether the Qatar GP will actually take place in November as planned ultimately depends on how the conflict in the region develops. By opting for a postponement, MotoGP has at least kept the door open to staging the race this season.
The Updated 2026 MotoGP Calendar
The full race calendar following the postponement still comprises 22 Grands Prix. The season began in late February in Thailand and now ends on November 29 in Valencia. The order: Thailand (Buriram, February 27 – March 1), Brazil (Goiânia, March 20–22), USA (Texas, March 27–29), Spain (Jerez, April 24–26), France (Le Mans, May 8–10), Spain (Barcelona, May 15–17), Italy (Mugello, May 29–31), Hungary (Balaton, June 5–7), Czech Republic (Brno, June 19–21), Netherlands (Assen, June 26–28), Germany (Sachsenring, July 10–12), Great Britain (Silverstone, August 7–9), Spain (Aragón, August 28–30), Italy (Misano, September 11–13), Austria (Spielberg, September 18–20), Japan (Motegi, October 2–4), Indonesia (Mandalika, October 9–11), Australia (Phillip Island, October 23–25), Malaysia (Sepang, October 30 – November 1), Qatar (Doha, November 6–8), Portugal (Portimão, November 20–22), and Spain (Valencia, November 27–29).
➜ This article is part of our comprehensive overview: 2026 MotoGP Season: The Complete Overview – Teams, Riders, Calendar & Championship Standings. Find all key information on this topic in one place.
