The MotoGP Italian Grand Prix returns to the Mugello Circuit in Tuscany from 29 to 31 May 2026. Round 7 of the 2026 MotoGP World Championship, the Italian GP is one of the most atmospheric weekends on the calendar, drawing over 100,000 fans to the rolling hills of Scarperia e San Piero near Florence. With the championship battle heating up between Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin, this promises to be one of the standout rounds of the season.
What is the MotoGP Italian Grand Prix?
The Italian Grand Prix is a flagship round of the MotoGP World Championship, the premier class of motorcycle road racing. Held annually at the Mugello Circuit since 1994, it is one of the most prestigious events on the calendar and a highlight for Italian fans, manufacturers, and riders alike. The race weekend features MotoGP, Moto2, and Moto3 classes, alongside the Red Bull Rookies Cup. For 2026, the weekend also includes the debut of the Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup, a new world series for high-performance Harley-Davidson bagger motorcycles integrated into the official MotoGP programme.
The MotoGP race itself takes place over 23 laps of the 5.245 km circuit, with a Sprint race held on Saturday and the main Grand Prix on Sunday. Championship points are awarded for both the Sprint and the full-distance race, making every session count in the title fight.
When is the MotoGP Italian Grand Prix?
The 2026 Italian Grand Prix takes place from Friday 29 May to Sunday 31 May. Free practice and qualifying sessions run across Friday and Saturday, with the Sprint race scheduled for Saturday afternoon and the main MotoGP race on Sunday. Track action typically begins around 09:00 CEST (Central European Summer Time) each day, with the premier class race starting in the early afternoon.
Where is the MotoGP Italian Grand Prix?
The Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello is located in Scarperia e San Piero, roughly 30 km north of Florence in the Tuscan hills. The circuit is 5.245 km long with 15 turns, a 1.141 km main straight, and significant elevation changes that make it one of the most demanding and spectacular tracks in world motorsport. Owned by Ferrari since 1988, Mugello has a permanent grandstand capacity of around 50,000, but the natural hillside amphitheatre allows total race-day attendance to exceed 100,000. The circuit regularly records the highest top speeds on the MotoGP calendar, with riders exceeding 360 km/h on the main straight.
Key Contenders
After three rounds of the 2026 season, Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi leads the championship with 81 points following a dominant run that includes five consecutive Grand Prix victories. His teammate Jorge Martin sits just four points behind on 77, making Aprilia the dominant force so far. KTM’s Pedro Acosta occupies third on 60 points, while Fabio Di Giannantonio and Marc Marquez round out the top five. Marquez, the defending Italian GP winner after his commanding 2025 Mugello victory, will be looking to repeat his success at a circuit where he has historically performed well. Italian riders and the Ducati team always receive strong support from the passionate home crowd, adding an extra dimension to the racing.
How to Watch
In the United Kingdom, TNT Sports holds the exclusive live broadcast rights for MotoGP in 2026, with streaming available via HBO Max (which replaced discovery+ as the TNT Sports streaming platform from March 2026). A TNT Sports subscription costs £30.99 per month. Free highlights are available on Quest.
In the United States, live coverage is available on truTV, with streaming through the Max platform via the B/R Sports add-on. Cable-free viewers can access truTV through YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, or Sling TV.
Globally, MotoGP’s own VideoPass subscription offers live and on-demand coverage of every session for €199.99 per year, available worldwide at motogp.com. Servus TV provides free-to-air coverage in Austria and Germany for selected races.
History and Records
The Italian motorcycle Grand Prix has been held at Mugello since 1994, making it one of the longest-standing fixtures on the modern MotoGP calendar. Valentino Rossi holds the record for the most premier-class victories at Mugello with seven wins, a record that reflects his extraordinary dominance at his home circuit. Jorge Lorenzo is second on the all-time list with six MotoGP victories. More recently, Francesco Bagnaia won three consecutive Italian Grands Prix from 2022 to 2024 before Marc Marquez took the 2025 edition with a 1.9-second winning margin. Bagnaia also holds the current lap record at 1:45.770, set during the 2024 race on a Ducati Desmosedici GP24. Mugello is the fastest circuit on the MotoGP calendar by top speed, with Brad Binder recording 366.1 km/h in 2023.
Tickets and Attendance
Tickets for the 2026 Italian Grand Prix are on sale through the official Mugello Circuit website and TicketOne. General admission tickets start from €24 for single-day access, with grandstand seats from €40 and three-day weekend passes from €135. Premium hospitality packages, including Platinum and Gold options with exclusive terrace access and catering, are also available through MotoGP Premier. The Italian GP is one of the best-attended races on the calendar and tickets for popular grandstands sell out well in advance. Fans with general admission or camping tickets can camp inside the circuit park from Thursday 28 May to Tuesday 2 June at no extra cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the MotoGP Italian Grand Prix start?
The 2026 Italian Grand Prix weekend runs from Friday 29 May to Sunday 31 May, with the main race on Sunday afternoon (CEST).
Where is the MotoGP Italian Grand Prix held?
The race is held at the Mugello Circuit in Scarperia e San Piero, Tuscany, approximately 30 km north of Florence, Italy.
How can I watch the MotoGP Italian Grand Prix?
In the UK, live coverage is on TNT Sports and HBO Max. In the US, watch on truTV or stream via Max with the B/R Sports add-on. MotoGP VideoPass offers worldwide streaming.
Who won the MotoGP Italian Grand Prix last year?
Marc Marquez won the 2025 Italian Grand Prix at Mugello, beating Alex Marquez by 1.9 seconds to claim his 93rd career Grand Prix victory.