MotoGP confirmed two long-term hosting agreements on 24 September. Mugello signed a new five-year deal to host the Italian Grand Prix through the end of the 2031 season. The Algarve International Circuit, also known as Portimao, extended its agreement by three years to keep the Portuguese Grand Prix through 2029. The long-term venues are settled, while their specific 2027 dates await the full calendar announcement on 25 September.
Circuit history and attendance records
Mugello first hosted a motorcycle Grand Prix in 1976 and has been a permanent calendar venue since 1991. Located in a valley in Italy’s Tuscany region, the circuit has an official length of 5.25 kilometres and a longest straight of 1.141 kilometres, combining fast and slow corners with elevation changes. The new agreement extends its long association with the Italian Grand Prix.
Portimao first joined the MotoGP calendar in 2020, returning the Portuguese Grand Prix to the schedule for the first time since 2012. It hosted again in 2021 and secured a longer-term calendar position from 2023. The circuit in southern Portugal is 4.59 kilometres long with 15 corners, its pronounced elevation changes a defining feature.
Both rounds recently set their own MotoGP attendance records, but the figures refer to different years. Mugello reported 178,723 spectators over the 2026 race weekend, while Portimao reported more than 166,000 over the 2025 weekend. Both totals cover the entire weekend, not a single day, and do not provide a direct same-year comparison of the rounds’ popularity.
Organisers emphasise long-term development and off-season tourism
Mugello Circuit CEO and director Paolo Poli said the renewal provided a stable foundation for the circuit’s continued development. Algarve International Circuit CEO Jaime Costa described the three-year extension as recognition of the circuit and its organising team’s work. MotoGP deputy CEO Carlos Ezpeleta praised Mugello’s history and fan atmosphere, and the racing appeal of Portimao’s demanding layout.
The 2026 Portuguese Grand Prix is scheduled for 20–22 November. Algarve tourism chief Andre Gomes noted that the event falls outside the local peak tourism season, helping attract visitors, generate business and support the region’s development as a year-round destination. The renewal announcement also mentioned demand for accommodation, restaurants and transport. These are the organisers’ and tourism body’s assessments of the event’s role.
INKA SPORTS analysis: contract duration and race dates serve different purposes
The agreements first resolve where the races will be held over the coming years. The development foundation emphasised by Poli and the organisational work highlighted by Costa both depend on continuity at the venue. Portugal’s off-season tourism interest also depends on the specific date. The November slot in 2026 can align with that goal, but a long-term renewal does not mean the race will take place on the same weekend every year. Separating contract duration from annual scheduling shows that one decision provides hosting continuity, while the other determines where the event falls in the local year.
Summary
Mugello and Portimao have secured hosting certainty through 2031 and 2029 respectively, with different emphases in their expectations. Mugello stresses continued circuit development, while Portimao also values the event’s role outside the peak tourism season. For fans planning a trip, the contracts confirm that MotoGP will remain at both venues, but travel arrangements still require checking the dates for the relevant season. The specific 2027 weekends will become clear when the full calendar is announced on 25 September.
