After weeks of uncertainty surrounding the MotoGP race in Qatar - originally supposed to be held on April 10-12 - the FIM and race co-ordinators have decided to postpone the race due to the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict. The new dates for the Qatar MotoGP round are November 6-8, which has resulted in the Portimao and Valencia Grand Prix also seeing a date change.
- Original dates for 2026 Qatar MotoGP race were April 10-12
- Portimao and Valencia GPs also see date reshuffle
- Cancellation leaves a three-week gap between COTA and Jerez rounds
MotoGP reschedules 2026 Qatar round to November
Revised dates mean Qatar MotoGP will now be one of the last races on the calendar.
Following other renowned global motorsport series - like World Endurance Championship (WEC) and Formula 1 - cancelling their races in the Middle Eastern region due to the ongoing US-Israel war with Iran, MotoGP has instead decided to postpone the Qatar race. Originally supposed to be held on April 10-12, following the race at Circuit Of The Americas (COTA) at the end of March, it will now be held in early November.
This will cause a domino effect which will result in the Portuguese GP now taking place on 22 November, and the season finale in Valencia will move to 29 November. All other rounds of the 2026 MotoGP World Championship remain unaffected and will proceed on their originally decided dates.
Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of MotoGP, said: “This decision was taken with great care and in full coordination with our partners in Qatar and across the paddock. Our priority is always the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved in MotoGP, as well as ensuring that every Grand Prix is delivered to the highest possible standard. We also recognise the importance of providing clarity for our fans as early as possible and ticket holders will be given the opportunity to rollover their tickets to the next event."
“I would also like to thank our partners in Portimão and Valencia for their collaboration and flexibility in helping us deliver a smooth transition to the revised calendar. We are confident that the updated schedule will allow us to preserve the quality of the championship while offering fans an exceptional season of racing.”
Jorge Viegas, President of the FIM, added: “The FIM fully supports the decision to reschedule the Qatar Grand Prix. Considering the current geopolitical situation, safeguarding 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 delivered in the safest and most professional conditions.”
Unnatee Gidithuri
