Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia (MotoGP Mandalika): Dates, Tickets & Venue (Mandalika)

Why this race weekend is different

MotoGP in most countries feels like a domestic sporting event with foreign riders passing through. In Mandalika, it feels like the whole region has been rebuilt around three days in October. The Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit sits on Lombok’s southern coast, carved into the Kuta Mandalika tourism zone, with the Indian Ocean visible from parts of the grandstand. You come for the racing, but the setting — volcanic hills inland, turquoise bays outside the gates — is what stays with you.

This is round 18 of the 2026 MotoGP World Championship, run October 9-11. It’s one of the calendar’s newer fixtures, added in 2022, and it has quickly become one of the best-attended rounds on the tour.

Getting to the circuit

Fly into Lombok International Airport (LOP), roughly 30-40 minutes from the circuit by road depending on traffic. Most fans base themselves in Kuta Lombok or the Mandalika resort strip itself, both within a short drive or shuttle ride of the paddock.

• Nearest airport: Lombok International Airport (LOP)
• Typical transfer time: 30-40 minutes to the circuit
• Alternative route: fly into Bali (Denpasur/DPS) then connect via a short domestic flight or ferry plus road transfer

Traffic converges hard on race mornings, since the road network into the circuit is limited. Locals and repeat visitors leave far earlier than they think they need to, especially for Sunday’s main race.

What race weekend actually looks like

Friday and Saturday bring free practice and qualifying sessions across the Moto3, Moto2, and MotoGP classes, plus support races that keep the grandstands busy from morning through late afternoon. Sunday is race day, with the feature MotoGP race typically run in the afternoon to avoid the worst of the midday heat.

Expect tropical heat and humidity even in October — this is the dry season on Lombok, but the sun over an open grandstand is intense by midday. Covered grandstand sections sell out fastest for exactly this reason.

Beyond the track, the surrounding Mandalika zone has beach clubs, surf breaks at Kuta Beach, and food stalls that ramp up specifically for the race crowd. Many fans treat the weekend as a beach holiday with a race attached rather than the other way around.

Tickets and where to sit

Ticket categories generally range from general admission areas to grandstand seating with views of specific corners, plus VIP hospitality packages. Grandstands near the main straight and the tighter infield corners tend to offer the clearest views of overtaking.

Prices and exact seating maps shift year to year, so don’t rely on old screenshots or resale listings. Confirm timing and tickets on the official MotoGP and Pertamina Mandalika Circuit websites, and buy only through official ticketing partners.

How to visit like a local

Indonesian race fans and circuit staff treat this as a long weekend, not a single-day errand — plan the same way.

• Arrive at the circuit gates well before your session starts; security lines and the limited road access both slow entry, especially Sunday morning.
• Base yourself in Kuta Lombok if you want food and nightlife options within walking distance of your hotel, or closer to the circuit gates if you prioritize a short commute.
• Carry cash in Indonesian rupiah for food stalls and small vendors around the circuit perimeter, even though larger ticket and hospitality purchases go through card or online payment.
• Wear light, breathable clothing and bring your own water or an empty bottle to refill — the heat is the biggest factor fans underestimate.
• Book accommodation as early as you can. Rooms across Kuta Mandalika fill up fast given how far attendance climbed in recent years.

The mistake most first-time visitors make is treating this like a one-day trip from Bali. Between the transfer, the heat, and the scale of the crowd, giving yourself the full weekend — and a buffer day either side — makes the whole trip far less stressful.