MotoGP Provisional 2026 Calendar Revealed, Indian GP Dropped
MotoGP's provisional 2026 calendar does not mention the Indian GP, despite earlier assurances of its return, leaving the event's future in doubt.
By Divyam Dubey
The provisional calendar for the 2026 MotoGP season is out, and many fans were quick to notice that the Indian Grand Prix is missing. This has come as a surprise, especially since Dorna, MotoGP’s commercial rights holder, had previously confirmed the race would return in 2026. With no mention of India in the latest schedule, fans are now left uncertain about its future. The 2026 MotoGP season will feature 22 rounds. It is set to begin with the Thai Grand Prix from 27 February to 1 March and wrap up with the Valencia Grand Prix from 20 to 22 November.
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One of the key additions to the calendar is the Brazilian Grand Prix, marking MotoGP’s return to South America and standing out as the headline new event.
About MotoGP Indian GP
India made its MotoGP debut in 2023 at the Buddh International Circuit. Despite facing tough weather and logistical hurdles, riders praised the track’s layout. That first race raised hopes that India could become a regular stop in the championship. But the continued delays and now the missing 2026 slot have left many disappointed.
| Round | Race | Date |
| 1 | Thai GP | 27-Feb |
| 2 | Brazilian GP | 20-Mar |
| 3 | Americas GP | 27-Mar |
| 4 | Qatar GP | 10-Apr |
| 5 | Spanish GP | 24-Apr |
| 6 | French GP | 08-May |
| 7 | Catalan GP | 15-May |
| 8 | Italian GP | 29-May |
| 9 | Hungarian GP | 05-Jun |
| 10 | Czech GP | 19-Jun |
| 11 | Dutch GP | 26-Jun |
| 12 | German GP | 10-Jul |
| 13 | British GP | 07-Aug |
| 14 | Aragon GP | 28-Aug |
| 15 | San Marino GP | 11-Sep |
| 16 | Austrian GP | 18-Sep |
| 17 | Japanese GP | 02-Oct |
| 18 | Indonesian GP | 09-Oct |
| 19 | Australian GP | 23-Oct |
| 20 | Malaysian GP | 30-Oct |
| 21 | Portuguese GP | 13-Nov |
| 22 | Valencia GP | 20-Nov |
Originally planned for 2024, the Indian GP was pushed to 2025 due to weather concerns. Later, reports claimed that the local promoter, Fairstreet Sports, had delayed payments to Dorna. Fairstreet denied this and blamed the election season for the hold-up. Things got more complicated when Dorna signed a deal directly with the Uttar Pradesh government, leaving the event’s future unclear.
In August 2024, the Uttar Pradesh government floated a tender for a new promoter, but later reissued it in September. Dorna then confirmed that India wouldn’t host a race in 2025 but assured it would return in 2026. Now, with no sign of the race in the 2026 calendar, many are questioning whether it will happen at all.
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India has had a tough time keeping global motorsport events alive. Both Formula 1 and Formula E came and left. MotoGP was seen as a fresh chance to bring world-class racing back to India. But with no official explanation and another year without the race, fans are left waiting again with more questions than answers.
