2026 RED BULL RING MOTOGP SCHEDULE CONFIRMED WITH FP1, QUALIFYING, SPRINT AND RACE TIMES

The 2026 Austrian MotoGP at the Red Bull Ring gets underway on 18-20 September (round 15 of the championship), with the weekend’s schedule and viewing options already set for fans. The headline storyline heading into Austria is the title fight at the top, where Marc Marquez arrives at the circuit on the back of a perfect double at Misano last weekend.

Marquez, Ducati’s reigning world champion, is tied on points with Jorge Martin, but sits officially ahead thanks to winning five Grands Prix this season to Martin’s one. The Misano weekend also underlined how quickly momentum can swing: Martin briefly got the better of Marquez during the race, only to fade badly due to arm pump problems. The report notes that if the issue returns in Austria, Martin could be forced to consider surgery.

For Ducati, there is also a reminder that the championship is not just about the leaders. Marco Bezzecchi, Martin’s teammate, lost out most at Misano after crashing from the lead and dropping 33 points from the top of the standings. That setback leaves both Ducati riders and their rivals looking for a reset at a track where the past has largely belonged to Ducati.

Still, the Red Bull Ring is not expected to be a straightforward continuation of Ducati dominance. The report points to Aprilia’s potential, highlighting that the RS-GP has shown strong performance at the start of the season with the special stiffer rear tyre construction. That early-season advantage suggests Aprilia could be in position to challenge for a first Red Bull Ring win.

Pedro Acosta is also flagged as a possible factor. He has been on the podium in Aragon and Misano, and the Austrian appearance is described as his final one for the home KTM team. With KTM’s riders already capable of mixing into the front group, Acosta’s recent results make him a name to watch as the championship heads into its later stages.

The Red Bull Ring has also featured other riders with recent history at the venue. The report notes that Gresini riders Alex Marquez and Fermin Aldeguer were on the rostrum at the circuit a year ago—Alex Marquez in the Sprint and Aldeguer in the Grand Prix.

Weather is expected to be cool and autumnal, with Friday beginning around 12°C for FP1 and rising to about 18°C for the afternoon timed session. Saturday’s FP2 is forecast to start around 14°C with minimal wind, while qualifying is expected to peak around 17°C. The Sprint race should arrive under partly sunny skies with temperatures near 19°C. Sunday warm-up is projected at roughly 13°C before the Austrian Grand Prix itself, expected to be bright and partly sunny, with highs around 23°C.

Beyond the main race weekend, there is additional track activity scheduled: a private Pirelli/850cc test will take place at the Red Bull Ring on Monday, described as the second such race-rider test of the year.

As for the on-track timetable, two free practice sessions are scheduled for Friday 18 September, followed by final practice, qualifying and the Sprint on Saturday 19 September. Sunday 20 September features warm-up and the Grand Prix race. The listed start times are:

Friday 18 September: 10:45am local / 9:45am UK for MotoGP FP1, and 3:00pm local / 2:00pm UK for MotoGP Practice. Saturday 19 September: 10:10am local / 9:10am UK for MotoGP FP2, 10:50am local / 9:50am UK for MotoGP Qualifying, and 3:00pm local / 2:00pm UK for MotoGP Sprint. Sunday 20 September: 9:40am local / 8:40am UK for MotoGP Warm-up, and 2:00pm local / 1:00pm UK for the MotoGP Race.

For viewing, MotoGP’s official Video Pass will stream all sessions live. The report lists pricing for the full season at €148.99 (including Timing Pass) or €139.99 (without live data), with a monthly pass available for €29.99. In the UK, TNT Sports (via HBO Max) is set to show every session of the Austrian MotoGP, with the report citing subscriptions starting from £27.99 per month. Moto2 and Moto3 sessions are also covered live by TNT Sports.

Crash.net will provide live text updates during all MotoGP track sessions, with the exception of warm-up. In addition, TNT Sports will broadcast its normal live coverage in the UK, with Quest set to replay the Sprint Race shortly after the chequered flag. Free highlights of qualifying, the Sprint and the Austrian Grand Prix are also available via the official MotoGP and TNT Sports YouTube channels after the relevant sessions.

Finally, the Red Bull Ring’s recent history adds extra context: Marquez won the 2025 Austrian GP, taking his first career victory at Spielberg and ending a long-standing jinx at the venue. Since Austria returned to the calendar in 2016, only Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati, 2022-2024) and Brad Binder (KTM, 2021) have also won at the Red Bull Ring in the premier class.