Confirmed: Adelaide street circuit to replace Phillip Island MotoGP in 2027

South Australia swoops on Australian MotoGP with November date on revived Adelaide GP layout

In a major sporting coup, South Australia has officially secured the MotoGP Australian Grand Prix from 2027, confirming the world championship will move from Phillip Island to an Adelaide street circuit after nearly 30 years of continuous running on the Island.

In a press release issued today, the Malinauskas Labor Government confirmed the global event will be held at the Adelaide Street Circuit from 2027, bringing top-level international motorcycle racing back to the original Adelaide Grand Prix Street Circuit.

Major modifications will be required to make the street circuit safe for MotoGP

The state says the event “will mark the first time a MotoGP-era event has ever been held in a downtown street circuit with uncompromised modern day safety measures,” with the full-length Formula 1-era layout set to return in modified form to meet the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme’s (FIM) requirements.

The first Australian MotoGP in Adelaide will be staged across three days in November 2027, timed “in the period before the bp Adelaide Grand Final to maximise utilisation of the circuit and minimise disruptions.”

A longer, faster Adelaide street track for MotoGP

The circuit is planned to be approximately 4.195km long with 18 turns, and South Australia is forecasting top speeds of more than 340km/h. That compares to the current Supercars version of the Adelaide Street Circuit, which is 3.22km with 14 turns.

The government said the Adelaide MotoGP will deliver significant economic benefits, pointing to MotoGP’s broader commercial impact worldwide. “In 2025, global exposure combined with tourism and hospitality of Grand Prix events delivered an average of €130m ($217m) in economic impact to local economies,” the release stated, adding: “Adelaide will benefit from that same powerful uplift.”

Adelaide last hosted Formula 1 in 1995 on a street circuit layout

The state also positioned the deal as an extension of its major events strategy, saying the arrival of MotoGP in 2027 “cements South Australia’s reputation as the nation’s premier destination for major events, building on the success of events such as LIV Golf and AFL Gather Round.”

MotoGP’s current global growth was also highlighted, with the release stating the category has a fanbase of more than 630 million people, drew a record 3.6 million attendees at races in 2025, and that TV audiences are up nine per cent over the past year.

‘A major coup for South Australia’

Premier Peter Malinauskas described the deal as a win not just for the sport, but for the state’s economy and international profile.

“This is a major coup for South Australia and yet more evidence our state has real momentum,” Malinauskas said.

“We are now competing with the rest of the nation for the world’s best events – and winning.”

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas

He said Adelaide’s point of difference would be central to the event’s appeal. “Hosting the world’s first MotoGP race on a street circuit will give Adelaide a truly unique offering that is sure to attract visitors from interstate and overseas,” he said.

Malinauskas also framed the deal in economic terms. “This is about so much more than a world-class motorsport event – it’s about generating economic activity for our state, supporting jobs, and putting South Australia on the global stage,” he said.

“We back major events that deliver a strong economic return and MotoGP does exactly that.”

“MotoGP is growing globally at record pace – and Adelaide will now be a key part of that growth story.”

Dorna: ‘Safety remained uncompromised’

MotoGP Chief Sporting Officer Carlos Ezpeleta said moving the Australian round to Adelaide represents a significant moment for the championship, and stressed the circuit has been engineered around modern MotoGP safety requirements.

“Bringing MotoGP to Adelaide marks a major milestone in the evolution of our championship. This city has a world-class reputation for hosting major events, and the opportunity to design a purpose-built circuit in the heart of the city is something truly unique in our sport,” Ezpeleta said.

“From the very beginning, we made sure that safety remained uncompromised – every element of the Adelaide City Circuit has been engineered to meet the highest standards of modern MotoGP, ensuring our riders can race at full intensity with complete confidence,” he said.

MotoGP Chief Sporting Officer Carlos Ezpeleta

Ezpeleta also pointed to the fan experience and the event’s broader positioning. “Adelaide’s passion, culture, and commitment to major events make it the perfect home for MotoGP’s next chapter in Australia. We’re incredibly excited to showcase a new style of Grand Prix racing here and to create a festival experience that brings fans even closer to the action,” he said.

“This partnership represents bold ambition from both MotoGP and Australia – and we couldn’t be prouder to begin this journey together.”

The announcement follows reporting that Victoria was poised to lose the event after failing to secure a new contract to keep MotoGP at Phillip Island, ending a modern era that has run annually at the Bass Coast circuit since 1997.