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MotoGP 2026 Thailand Grand Prix: Full Weekend Schedule and How Fans Can Watch the Season Opener
Buriram’s Chang International Circuit hosts the opening round of the 2026 MotoGP season with three days of practice, qualifying, sprint action and the main race
The 2026 MotoGP season begins in Thailand as riders gather at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram for the championship’s opening round, a three-day weekend of practice sessions, qualifying battles and two races that will set the tone for the year ahead.
Track action starts on Friday with the first practice sessions across the Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP categories.
The premier class begins its opening free practice at 10:45am local time, followed by a longer afternoon practice session at 3:00pm that determines which riders advance directly to the second qualifying round.
Saturday’s schedule features the final practice session before qualifying determines the starting grid for both the sprint race and Sunday’s Grand Prix.
Qualifying begins at 10:50am local time, with riders competing for prime starting positions on the Buriram circuit.
Later in the afternoon, the short-format MotoGP Sprint race takes place at 3:00pm local time.
The sprint, introduced in recent seasons, offers championship points and provides an early indication of competitive form heading into the main event.
Sunday’s race day begins with the support classes before the headline MotoGP contest.
The Moto3 race opens proceedings at 12:00pm local time, followed by the Moto2 race at 1:15pm.
The main MotoGP Grand Prix starts at 3:00pm local time and is scheduled to run for 26 laps around the 4.554-kilometre circuit.
The Buriram race marks the first of more than twenty rounds scheduled across the 2026 MotoGP world championship calendar, making it a crucial early test for teams and riders chasing the title.
Fans around the world can watch the event through MotoGP’s official VideoPass streaming platform, which broadcasts every session live.
In several regions the races are also carried by major sports networks, while highlights and clips are typically released online shortly after each session.
With Thailand continuing to host one of the championship’s most popular events, the season opener once again places Southeast Asia at the center of the global motorcycle racing calendar.
Track action starts on Friday with the first practice sessions across the Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP categories.
The premier class begins its opening free practice at 10:45am local time, followed by a longer afternoon practice session at 3:00pm that determines which riders advance directly to the second qualifying round.
Saturday’s schedule features the final practice session before qualifying determines the starting grid for both the sprint race and Sunday’s Grand Prix.
Qualifying begins at 10:50am local time, with riders competing for prime starting positions on the Buriram circuit.
Later in the afternoon, the short-format MotoGP Sprint race takes place at 3:00pm local time.
The sprint, introduced in recent seasons, offers championship points and provides an early indication of competitive form heading into the main event.
Sunday’s race day begins with the support classes before the headline MotoGP contest.
The Moto3 race opens proceedings at 12:00pm local time, followed by the Moto2 race at 1:15pm.
The main MotoGP Grand Prix starts at 3:00pm local time and is scheduled to run for 26 laps around the 4.554-kilometre circuit.
The Buriram race marks the first of more than twenty rounds scheduled across the 2026 MotoGP world championship calendar, making it a crucial early test for teams and riders chasing the title.
Fans around the world can watch the event through MotoGP’s official VideoPass streaming platform, which broadcasts every session live.
In several regions the races are also carried by major sports networks, while highlights and clips are typically released online shortly after each session.
With Thailand continuing to host one of the championship’s most popular events, the season opener once again places Southeast Asia at the center of the global motorcycle racing calendar.
