The Portuguese Grand Prix will remain on elite motorcycling’s MotoGP calendar until at least 2029 after a new contract was agreed with the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve (AIA) circuit in the southern city of Portimão.
The deal was struck with series promoter MotoGP Sports Entertainment (MSEG), formerly known as Dorna Sport, and cements the Portuguese GP's place on next year’s calendar, the first year that will feature new 850cc Pirelli machines, as well as the 2028 and 2029 seasons.
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The current contract was due to expire at the end of the 2026 season.
Jaime Costa, chief executive of the Algarve International Circuit, said: “This contract renewal comes as a sign of confidence from everyone in the work carried out by the Algarve International Circuit and by all the people and organizations that contribute to the staging of the Portuguese Grand Prix.
“The three-year extension of the MotoGP contract ensures that Portugal and the Algarve will consolidate their place on the map of the major global sporting events and confirms the excellence of our circuit and event.”
The circuit is now also home to the Portuguese Grand Prix from motor racing’s elite Formula 1 series as part of a deal covering the 2027 and 2028 F1 seasons.
The Portuguese GP first returned to the MotoGP calendar in 2020 and 2021 after an eight-year hiatus before striking a multi-year contract from the 2023 season.
The last edition in 2025 saw a record 16,000 fans attend across the weekend, while this year’s event is scheduled to take place between November 20 and 22.
Carlos Ezpeleta, MotoGP’s deputy chief executive, said: “The return of the Portuguese Grand Prix at the Algarve International Circuit brought a new dimension to the championship from the moment it joined the calendar. Its demanding layout has produced some unforgettable racing and quickly made it a favorite among riders and fans alike.
“We are excited to continue building on that momentum, growing the event into an even bigger celebration of MotoGP and delivering unforgettable experiences for fans across Portugal.”
In July, MotoGP announced that international sports streaming platform DAZN will replace Sport TV, MotoGP’s longstanding rights holder in Portugal, whose five-year contract ends at the conclusion of the 2026 season.
Sport TV has held rights to MotoGP in Portugal for over 15 years, with the last renewal signed ahead of the 2021 season.
DAZN’s new five-year contract in Portugal will see it provide coverage of all practices, qualifying sessions, sprints, and Grand Prix races for the top-tier MotoGP, second-tier Moto2, and third-tier Moto3 live and on demand via its platform through 2031.
The hosting deal, meanwhile, comes as MotoGP looks to consolidate its calendar, having most recently confirmed its host circuits in Spain for the coming years, striking a deal to renew the Aragon Grand Prix race to take place at the MotorLand Aragon circuit next year.
The hosting agreement cements the Aragon Grand Prix’s place on next year’s MotoGP calendar, but the venue will then become an ‘official reserve circuit’ from 2028 to 2031.
Spain currently has four Grands Prix on the MotoGP calendar in Jerez (Spanish Grand Prix), Barcelona (Catalan Grand Prix), and Valencia (Valencian Community Grand Prix), with the organizer of the series, Dorna Sports, previously announcing a rotation system for its Spanish events to allow for new venues to join.
A round in Argentina is due to be added to the schedule next year, with a race to be held at the upgraded Autódromo Oscar y Juan Gálvez in Buenos Aires.
Another change to the MotoGP calendar is the relocation of the annual Australian Grand Prix from the Philip Island circuit to a street circuit in Adelaide, South Australia, in a deal spanning the 2027 to 2032 seasons.
The last edition of the Australian Grand Prix at Philip Island will be held on October 25, having hosted a stage in every edition since 1997, excluding 2020 and 2021 when the race was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
