'No available dates towards the end of the season': MotoGP to return to India only in 2026

With conflicts in scheduling the tournament, the Indian Grand Prix will return to the MotoGP calendar only in 2026, organisers said on Wednesday, less than two months after confirming it would be held at the Buddh International circuit for the next three seasons.

MotoGP said in July that a new agreement was signed with the government of Uttar Pradesh, the northern state where the Buddh circuit is located.

The race will now be a reserve event for the 2025 season. This year's Indian Grand Prix was cancelled because of operational considerations.




"Operational circumstances have obliged the event to be delayed from its initial slot near the start of the 2025 calendar," MotoGP said in a statement.

"With no available dates towards the end of the season, MotoGP will therefore return to India in the early stages of 2026."

Over 50,000 fans had turned up for the inaugural edition of the Indian Grand Prix at the Buddh International Circuit in 2023. It was the biggest motorsports event held in the country since the last Formula 1 race that took place in 2013. Formula 1 could only last three years in India due to financial and taxation issues.

Rights holders Dorna, Uttar Pradesh government and co-promoters Fairstreet Sports were the stakeholders when the race was moved to March 2025, but in July this year, Dorna signed a new contract with InvestUP, the Uttar Pradesh government's agency, to have the Indian GP on the calendar for three years from 2025 to 2027.

"Both MotoGP and InvestUP are working hard to bring MotoGP back to Buddh International Circuit with a world-class event, and are committed to confirming India as a destination for global sporting events.

"Our collaboration with InvestUP to bring MotoGP back to India continues to lay fantastic foundations for the future and MotoGP looks forward to racing in front of our incredible Indian fans as soon as possible."

The UP government has issued a fresh tender to rope in a new co-promoter who will be tasked to execute the mega event, which is expected to cost around 160 crores with approximately100 crores reserved only for rights holders Dorna.