DOHA, Qatar, November 4, 2026 — The MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix 2026 takes place November 6–8 at Lusail International Circuit, with Sunday’s main race starting at 11:00 AM ET in the US and Canada, 4:00 PM GMT in the UK, and early Monday morning in Australia and New Zealand. Marc Marquez enters the weekend with a chance to secure the world championship, while Yamaha has withdrawn over Middle East security concerns.
Round 20 of the 22-race championship features Friday practice, Saturday qualifying and Sprint racing, followed by Sunday’s 22-lap Grand Prix.
MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix 2026 Start Times
The main race begins Sunday, November 8, at 7:00 PM Qatar time. Saturday’s 11-lap Sprint starts at the same local time.
| Country / Region | Sprint | Grand Prix |
|---|---|---|
| US / Canada Eastern | 11 AM Sat | 11 AM Sun |
| US / Canada Pacific | 8 AM Sat | 8 AM Sun |
| UK (GMT) | 4 PM Sat | 4 PM Sun |
| Australia – Sydney (AEDT) | 3 AM Sun | 3 AM Mon |
| Australia – Brisbane (AEST) | 2 AM Sun | 2 AM Mon |
| Australia – Perth (AWST) | 12 AM Sun | 12 AM Mon |
| New Zealand (NZDT) | 5 AM Sun | 5 AM Mon |
Qatar MotoGP 2026 Full Race Schedule
All times below are for the United Kingdom (GMT) and US/Canada Eastern (EST). Sydney times use AEDT.
| Session | Date | UK | US/Canada ET | Sydney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FP1 | Nov 6 | 11:45 AM | 6:45 AM | 10:45 PM Fri |
| Practice | Nov 6 | 4 PM | 11 AM | 3 AM Sat |
| FP2 | Nov 7 | 11 AM | 6 AM | 10 PM Sat |
| Q1 | Nov 7 | 11:40 AM | 6:40 AM | 10:40 PM Sat |
| Q2 | Nov 7 | 12:05 PM | 7:05 AM | 11:05 PM Sat |
| Sprint | Nov 7 | 4 PM | 11 AM | 3 AM Sun |
| Moto3 | Nov 8 | 1 PM | 8 AM | 12 AM Mon |
| Moto2 | Nov 8 | 2:15 PM | 9:15 AM | 1:15 AM Mon |
| MotoGP Race | Nov 8 | 4 PM | 11 AM | 3 AM Mon |
Times are subject to change. Check the official MotoGP calendar for updates.
How to Watch Qatar MotoGP 2026 Live
United States: FOX Sports holds MotoGP broadcast rights. Check local listings for the race and Sprint.
United Kingdom: TNT Sports 2 is scheduled to broadcast the Grand Prix live. Quest will show selected free-to-air highlights.
Canada: Sportsnet carries MotoGP coverage. Confirm the Qatar broadcast through local listings.
Australia: Fox Sports and Kayo Sports provide live coverage of the race weekend.
New Zealand: Check local broadcasters or MotoGP VideoPass for available coverage.
Subscribers can also watch eligible sessions through MotoGP VideoPass, subject to regional restrictions.
Why Was the Qatar Grand Prix 2026 Postponed?
Originally scheduled for April 10–12, the Qatar Grand Prix was moved to November 6–8 because of the geopolitical situation in the Middle East. MotoGP announced the postponement in March following discussions with the FIM and Qatari authorities.
The race has not been cancelled. MotoGP says its security assessments support proceeding with the event at Lusail.
Yamaha Withdraws From Qatar MotoGP
Yamaha withdrew its factory and Pramac satellite teams on November 1, citing company-wide Middle East travel restrictions. Fabio Quartararo, Alex Rins, Jack Miller and Augusto Fernandez will miss the event.
Yamaha said it had “not identified sufficient grounds to change its existing company-wide travel restrictions.” MotoGP expressed disappointment and indicated that sporting or contractual consequences could follow.
The official statements explain both organisations’ positions.
Marc Marquez’s Championship Chances and Rider Injuries
Marc Marquez leads the championship with 399 points, ahead of Jorge Martin (355) and Marco Bezzecchi (332). He could secure the title in Qatar if results across the Sprint and Grand Prix give him an unassailable lead before Portugal and Valencia.
Alex Marquez is expected to miss Qatar following surgery, while Joan Mir is also unavailable. Fermin Aldeguer is set to return, and Jorge Martin and Raul Fernandez have faced injury concerns.
Alex Marquez previously suffered injuries in his Catalan Grand Prix crash.
Lusail International Circuit measures 5.38 kilometres, with Sunday’s race covering 118.36 kilometres over 22 laps. Marc Marquez won the 2025 Qatar Grand Prix. The next championship rounds are Portugal on November 20–22 and Valencia on November 27–29.
Make Swikblog your go-to source on Google for reliable updates, smart insights, and daily trends.
