Hotels for MotoGP Australian Grand Prix 2026

The MotoGP Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island Circuit is one of the most spectacular venues in motorcycle racing — a windswept lap of sweeping high-speed bends on a remote island 140 kilometres south of Melbourne, with Bass Strait visible from the grandstands and the back straight reaching speeds above 290 km/h in the open coastal air.

The 2026 weekend runs Friday 23 October to Sunday 25 October. The island's accommodation in Cowes is limited and books immediately; Melbourne is the practical main base, with a drive or bus south on race days. October brings early Australian spring to Phillip Island, with penguin parades at dusk and rugged coastline at its most dramatic. The Australian round is among the most beloved on the calendar — make a proper trip of it with days either side.

Few circuits stir affection quite like Phillip Island, the fast, flowing ribbon of tarmac laid across a windswept island off Victoria's southern coast, around 140 kilometres from Melbourne. Motor racing has taken place on the island since the 1920s, but the modern circuit as riders know it opened in 1989 and hosted its first Grand Prix that same year.

Sweeping through long, committed bends with Bass Strait glittering beyond the barriers, it rewards bravery and flowing rhythm, and the sea breezes and fast-changing coastal weather add an extra dimension to every session. The venue has hosted some of MotoGP's finest racing, and it belongs to Australia's own Casey Stoner, who reeled off six consecutive premier-class wins here between 2007 and 2012.

Away from the track, the island is famous for its nightly penguin parade and rugged scenery. Consistently named among the riders' favourite circuits, the Australian round is a cherished fixture of the calendar.

Phillip Island Circuit is one of motorcycle racing's most spectacular venues, a windswept lap of sweeping high-speed bends beside Bass Strait on a remote island 140 kilometres south of Melbourne. The long back straight and fast corners test rider commitment at speeds above 290 km/h. The island has limited accommodation, so book the guesthouses in Cowes very early or use Melbourne as your main base with a drive down on race days.

The MotoGP Australian round in late October draws the whole local motorcycle community, and the island's wildlife, rugged coastline and relaxed pace make it well worth the journey.