Superbike Portimão 2026: TV times, full programme and circuit analysis

The 2026 Superbike World Championship lands in Europe for the Portuguese Grand Prix, scheduled from 27 to 29 March 2026 at the Portimão circuit. After the Australian opener, the second round of the season is already a key stage for understanding the championship balance.

The Algarve track, one of the most technical and spectacular on the calendar, tests riders and bikes with a unique mix of elevation changes, blind corners and high-speed sections.

Superbike Portimão 2026: schedule and dates

The Portuguese round is the second round of the 2026 SBK World Championship, after the season opener held on the weekend of 21 and 22 February in Australia.

The format remains unchanged:

Friday: free practice

Saturday: Superpole and Race 1

Sunday: Superpole Race and Race 2

Superbike Portimão 2026 times: full programme and TV

Below is the weekend schedule (local times, one hour behind Italy):

Friday 27 March

10:35 – SBK Free Practice 1

15:00 – SBK Free Practice 2

Saturday 28 March

09:00 – Free Practice 3

11:00 – Superpole

14:00 – Race 1

Sunday 29 March

09:00 – warm up

11:00 – Superpole Race

14:00 – Race 2

For Italy:

Race 1: 15:00

Race 2: 15:00

Live TV coverage will be available on Sky Sport, with the main races shown free-to-air on TV8.

SBK 2026: what happened in the opening round in Australia

The 2026 Superbike World Championship opened at Phillip Island, a traditionally unusual and highly selective circuit. The conditions at the Australian track provided interesting but not definitive indications.

From the races of 21 and 22 February, several key points emerged:

great balance between the top teams

clear evolution of the bikes, especially aerodynamically

central role of tyre management

Pre-season testing had already shown small gaps, later confirmed in the race. Portimão, however, will offer a far more reliable picture of the true pecking order.

Portimão circuit: technical analysis and characteristics

The Portimão circuit is one of the most demanding on the Superbike calendar and represents a complete challenge from every point of view.

Technical data

Length: 4,592 km

Corners: 15

Straight: about 970 metres

Why it is one of the most difficult circuits

The Portuguese track is characterised by:

major changes in elevation

blind corners

downhill braking zones

rapid changes of direction

These features make Portimão extremely technical and selective, both for riders and for teams.

Setup and decisive technical aspects

The teams will have to find a compromise between:

stability in the fast sections

agility in changes of direction

traction management

Electronics will have a fundamental role, as will tyre management on a track that puts the technical package under heavy stress.

Superbike Portimão 2026: what to expect

The Portuguese GP represents a crucial stage of the season. After the Australian opener, it is the first real European litmus test.

Portimão will be decisive for:

assessing the teams' true competitiveness

confirming or overturning the values seen in Australia

starting to outline the title fight

The circuit's characteristics and the possible weather variables make the weekend highly unpredictable, with races that promise to be spectacular.