A street-style track beside the sea
Mandalika is a racetrack built into a beach resort zone. The Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit loops through the Mandalika special economic zone on Lombok’s south coast, with green hills on one side and the bays around Kuta on the other. The 2026 Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia runs October 9-11 and draws big international crowds.
The circuit is a little over 4 km long with 17 corners, and it was designed in a street-circuit style. It hosted its first MotoGP race in 2022, a rain-delayed afternoon that ended with Miguel Oliveira winning in standing water. Since then the race has moved to the dry-season end of the calendar, so heat is usually a bigger factor than storms.
How the race weekend runs
MotoGP weekends follow a standard shape. Friday is practice. Saturday brings qualifying and the shorter Sprint race. Sunday has the full Grand Prix, normally with Moto2 and Moto3 races on the same programme.
- Friday: the quietest day in the stands and the easiest for walking around the paddock area.
- Saturday: qualifying sets the grid, and the Sprint gives you a race result the same day.
- Sunday: the main event, with the heaviest traffic on the access roads.
Session times and ticket types differ from year to year. Confirm timing and tickets on the official MotoGP site and the Mandalika circuit’s own channels, and avoid resellers you can’t verify.
Getting to Mandalika
Most visitors fly into Lombok International Airport (Zainuddin Abdul Madjid) at Praya. It is the closest airport to the circuit, roughly a half-hour drive south on a good road. Bali has more flights, and from there you can take a short connecting flight or the slow ferry from Padangbai to Lembar.
Where to base yourself:
- Kuta Mandalika: walking or short-ride distance to the gates, with surf cafés and guesthouses. It fills up first.
- Praya: near the airport, with fewer visitors and a longer drive to the track.
- Senggigi or the Gili Islands: more rooms to choose from, but expect a long road transfer each day.
Race days on Sasak ground
Lombok is mostly Muslim, and the Sasak people make up most of the island’s population. Away from the grandstands, people dress modestly. Cover your shoulders and knees in villages such as Sade near Kuta. On Fridays, many people and businesses pause for midday prayers, so expect some shops and warungs to close for a while.
- Paying: small warungs and roadside sellers usually want rupiah in cash. Hotels and larger restaurants take cards. Ride-hailing apps work in parts of Lombok but are patchy around Kuta, so arrange a driver or scooter in advance.
- Heat: shade is limited in the general-admission areas. Bring a hat, sunscreen and water for the whole session.
- Leaving: everyone leaves at once after Sunday’s race. Locals who know the area wait it out at a beach warung at Tanjung Aan or Seger Beach instead of joining the queue on the road.
Add a free morning to your trip. The coast east of the circuit has Tanjung Aan’s two bays and the walk up Bukit Merese hill, which looks down over the area where the track sits.
Frequently asked questions
When is MotoGP Indonesia 2026?
The Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia is scheduled for October 9-11, 2026. Confirm session timing on the official MotoGP site.
Where is the Mandalika circuit?
The Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit is in the Mandalika zone next to Kuta, on Lombok's south coast in Central Lombok. Lombok International Airport at Praya is about a half-hour drive away.
Where should I stay for the race?
Kuta Mandalika is closest and books up first. Praya is near the airport and has more availability. Senggigi and the Gili Islands have plenty of rooms, but you'll face long transfers each day.
Which day should I attend?
Friday practice is the quietest day. Saturday has qualifying and the Sprint. Sunday has the main Grand Prix, along with the biggest crowds and the most traffic.
Where can I buy tickets safely?
Buy through the official MotoGP and Mandalika circuit channels, which list the current ticket types and prices. Avoid resellers you can't verify.
Plan your trip to Lombok
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