News Summary
- The 2026 Austrian MotoGP takes place at the Red Bull Ring from September 18-20
- Sunday’s MotoGP race starts at 13:00 in the UK, 17:30 in India, 14:00 in South Africa and 22:00 in Sydney
- Marc Márquez and Jorge Martín arrive in Austria level on 274 points at the top of the championship
MotoGP heads to the Red Bull Ring this weekend for the Austrian GP, with the championship fight finely balanced after a dramatic weekend at Misano.
Marc Márquez took the championship lead after winning at Misano, completing a perfect weekend and drawing level with Jorge Martín on 274 points.
The Austrian GP takes place from Friday, September 18 to Sunday, September 20, with the Sprint on Saturday and the main race on Sunday.
What time does the 2026 Austrian MotoGP start?
The Austrian MotoGP starts at 14:00 local time at the Red Bull Ring on Sunday, September 20.
That means the race begins at:
| Country/region | MotoGP race |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 13:00 BST |
| India | 17:30 IST |
| South Africa | 14:00 SAST |
| Australia — Sydney | 22:00 AEST |
| New Zealand | 00:00 NZST, Monday |
| Malaysia | 20:00 MYT |
| Singapore | 20:00 SGT |
| Canada — Toronto | 08:00 EDT |
| United States — New York | 08:00 EDT |
2026 Austrian MotoGP weekend schedule
Friday, September 18
| Session | UK | India | South Africa | Sydney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Practice 1 | 09:45 | 14:15 | 10:45 | 18:45 |
| Practice | 14:00 | 18:30 | 15:00 | 23:00 |
Saturday, September 19
| Session | UK | India | South Africa | Sydney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Practice 2 | 09:10 | 13:40 | 10:10 | 18:10 |
| Qualifying 1 | 09:50 | 14:20 | 10:50 | 18:50 |
| Qualifying 2 | 10:15 | 14:45 | 11:15 | 19:15 |
| Sprint | 14:00 | 18:30 | 15:00 | 23:00 |
Sunday, September 20
| Session | UK | India | South Africa | Sydney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warm-up | 08:40 | 13:10 | 09:40 | 17:40 |
| MotoGP race | 13:00 | 17:30 | 14:00 | 22:00 |
Márquez and Martín arrive tied for MotoGP lead
Austria begins a crucial phase of the championship with Márquez and Martín separated by nothing at the top of the standings.
Márquez completed a Misano sweep to reach 274 points after recovering a deficit of more than 100 points during the second half of the season.
Martín is also on 274, while Marco Bezzecchi sits third, 33 points behind after crashing out of the Misano race.
Ducati expects the Márquez-Martín championship battle to continue “until the end”, making the Red Bull Ring the next major test in a title fight that has effectively restarted from zero.
Austria is also the final European round before MotoGP begins its Asian flyaway sequence.
How to watch the Austrian MotoGP
MotoGP coverage is available through the championship’s official broadcasters and MotoGP VideoPass, with availability depending on the country.
In the UK and Ireland, the 2026 MotoGP season is shown live through TNT Sports and HBO Max.
Viewers elsewhere should check their local MotoGP broadcaster or VideoPass availability, as broadcast rights and streaming options vary by market.
FAQ
What time is the Austrian MotoGP race in the UK?
The 2026 Austrian MotoGP starts at 13:00 BST on Sunday, September 20.
What time is the Austrian MotoGP in India?
The Austrian GP starts at 17:30 IST on Sunday. Saturday’s MotoGP Sprint begins at 18:30 IST.
When is the 2026 Austrian MotoGP?
The Austrian GP takes place at the Red Bull Ring from September 18-20. Practice begins Friday, qualifying and the Sprint take place Saturday, and the main MotoGP race is Sunday.
