Marco Bezzecchi
MotoGP is back for the 2026 season, with the championship kicking off in Thailand for the opening round of the year. Here’s everything you need to know, including the full schedule and how to watch.
The new campaign follows a dramatic 2025 season, in which Marc Marquez dominated the standings with 11 wins from 18 grands prix. However, his 2025 ruling was cut short by injury at the Indonesian Grand Prix.
The seven-time MotoGP champion missed the final four rounds after undergoing shoulder surgery and has since admitted he “hasn’t recovered” as expected following a testing crash in Buriram.
As the championship resets for 2026, the grid remains largely unchanged. The only notable moves see Toprak Razgatlioglu join Prima Pramac, while Diogo Moreira replaces Somkiat Chantra at LCR Honda.
What’s your podium prediction for the Thailand Grand Prix?
When is the 2026 MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix?
The opening round of the 2026 MotoGP season, the Thailand Grand Prix, will take place from Friday 27 February to Sunday 1 March.
The main race at the Buriram International Circuit is scheduled to start at 3pm local time on Sunday and will run for 26 laps.
| Session | Date | Track time | Start time (GMT) | Start time (ACST) |
| Free Practice 1 | Friday 27 February 2026 | 10:45am – 11:30am | 3:45am – 4:30am | 1:15pm – 2pm |
| Free Practice 2 | Friday 27 February 2026 | 3pm – 4pm | 8am – 9am | 5:30pm – 6:30pm |
| Free Practice 3 | Saturday 28 February 2026 | 10:10am – 10:40am | 3:10am – 3:40am | 12:40pm – 1:10pm |
| Qualifying 1 | Saturday 28 February 2026 | 10:50am – 11:05am | 3:50am – 4:05am | 1:20pm – 1:35pm |
| Qualifying 2 | Saturday 28 February 2026 | 11:15am – 11:30am | 4:15am – 4:30am | 1:45pm – 2pm |
| Sprint Race (13 laps) | Saturday 28 February 2026 | 3pm | 8am | 5:30pm |
| Race (26 laps) | Sunday 1 March 2026 | 3pm | 8am | 5:30pm |
How to watch the 2026 MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix
The 2026 MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix can be streamed via MotoGP’s Videopass. A subscription to the basic Videopass costs £26.13 (€29.99) a month or £174.27 (€199.99) a year, which gives fans access to live and on-demand races.
A small price upgrade to £28.74 (€32.99) monthly and £182.97 (€209.99) unlocks TimingPass, which gives subscribers access to real-time live data.
UK viewers can watch the MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix via a subscription to TNT Sports and Quest. A subscription to the streaming service, through Discovery+ costs £30.99 a month and gives viewers access to four live TV channels and a number of other streamed live sports.
Fans in Australia can watch MotoGP live on FoxSports via Kayo. The streaming platform, which also has broadcast rights to a number of motorsport series, including Formula 1, starts at $29.99 a month, and allows viewers access to over 50 sports live and on demand.
Free highlights of the 2026 MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix will be available on the MotoGP website and its YouTube channel after the race.
What is the weather forecast for the 2026 MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix?
The 2026 MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix is set to take place in typically hot and humid conditions, with warm temperatures and partial cloud cover expected across all three days. Sunday’s race day is forecast to be the hottest, with temperatures reaching a peak of 37°C.
There is a 55% chance of rain on both Friday and Saturday, with the potential for thunderstorms amid the muggy conditions.
However, the outlook improves for Sunday’s grand prix, as cloud cover is expected to thin and the probability of rain drops to just 6%.
Where is the 2026 MotoGP Grand Prix of Thailand being held?
The 2026 MotoGP Grand Prix of Thailand will be staged at the Buriram International Circuit, also known as the Chang International Circuit. Located in Buriram, around 300km (190 miles) north-east of Bangkok, the track takes its name from the province in which it sits.
The 4.554km (2.830-mile) circuit was designed by renowned architect Hermann Tilke, whose portfolio also includes Sepang International Circuit, MotorLand Aragon and the Circuit of the Americas.
Officially opened in 2014, the venue joined the MotoGP calendar four years later, with the inaugural premier-class race won by Marc Marquez. The 2026 event marks only the second time the Thailand Grand Prix has opened the season, after being handed the curtain-raiser slot last year.
| Fastest Lap | Marc Marquez (2025 -1:30.637) |
| Most wins (Rider – MotoGP) | x3 Marc Marquez (2018, 2019, 2025) |
| Most wins (Manufacturer – MotoGP) | x5 Kalex (2018, 2019, 2022, 2024, 2025) |
What happened at the 2025 MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix?
After joining the Ducati Lenovo Team from Gresini Racing at the start of 2025, Marc Marquez began life with the factory outfit in spectacular style.
Although he started from pole position, Marquez spent much of the race tucked in behind his brother Alex in second, biding his time before making a decisive move with just four laps remaining.
Earlier, Alex Marquez had been locked in a fierce battle for second with Francesco Bagnaia into Turn 1. The pair appeared to make slight contact later in the lap, dropping the Gresini rider to fourth. He responded immediately, reclaiming the position from Bagnaia and Ai Ogura before seizing the lead from his slowing brother on lap seven.
The Marquez brothers went on to secure their first 1-2 finish of the season, with Bagnaia completing the podium for Ducati.
Receive racing news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
