Record Attendance and Rp5.2 Trillion Economic Boost from 2026 Mandalika MotoGP
The 2026 Indonesian MotoGP at the Pertamina Mandalika Circuit drew 157,875 visitors and generated Rp5.2 trillion in economic impact, marking the highest attendance since the event's return to Indonesia in 2022.
MotoGP Mandalika 2026 Injects Rp5.2 Trillion into Economy
The 2026 MotoGP Indonesia, held at the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit in West Nusa Tenggara from October 9 to 11, delivered a record economic impact of Rp5.2 trillion, according to state-owned InJourney Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC).
The three-day racing event attracted 157,875 visitors, representing a 12.5 percent increase from the previous year's attendance of 140,324. This marks the highest spectator turnout since MotoGP returned to Indonesia in 2022 after a 25-year absence. The last Indonesian Grand Prix had been held at the Sentul International Circuit in 1996 and 1997 before being dropped from the 1998 calendar following the 1997 Asian financial crisis.
"The economic impact of Rp5.2 trillion and a record of 157,875 visitors mark the success of the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia 2026," said Acting President Director of ITDC Ahmad Fajar in a statement issued in Central Lombok on Thursday, October 15, 2026.
Fajar noted that the event's economic momentum began building well before race day, with domestic and international travelers arriving in The Mandalika and surrounding areas a full week ahead of the competition. Average visitor expenditure reached Rp8.56 million per person, calculated from the week preceding the race through the conclusion of the event.
The Rp5.2 trillion economic impact represents a 4.8 percent increase from 2025's figure of Rp4.96 trillion. The 4.301-kilometer circuit, which features 17 corners and can accommodate up to 195,700 spectators, has proven to be a significant draw for motorsport enthusiasts and tourists alike.
Independent Economic Assessment
The economic impact assessment was conducted by the Institute of Industrial Engineering and Management (LETMI) at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), an independent research body. The study employed field research spanning from the pre-event period through the Grand Prix's conclusion, utilizing both an input-output approach based on Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data and a Keynesian methodology to measure the economic multiplier effect.
"The economic impact study was prepared by LETMI–ITB using the BPS table-based Input-Output approach along with a Keynesian approach to estimate the economic impact of the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia 2026," Fajar explained.
BPS is scheduled to release its own independent assessment of the event's economic contribution in the near future, which will provide a comparative benchmark to validate the LETMI–ITB findings. A National Development Planning Agency study of the 2025 event estimated economic contributions ranging between Rp2.7 trillion and Rp4.7 trillion, with benefits distributed across hospitality, transportation, food services, and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Tourism Infrastructure Impact
The event's pull extended well beyond the circuit grounds. Hotel occupancy rates reached 100 percent in the Mandalika area itself, while Central Lombok and Mataram City recorded 90 percent occupancy during the race weekend, according to Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana.
Government reports indicate that the 2025 edition engaged over 600 MSMEs and created employment opportunities for approximately 3,000 local workers, demonstrating the event's broader socioeconomic impact on the West Nusa Tenggara region.
The Mandalika area, designated as a Special Economic Zone in 2017, has attracted USD 1.3 billion in investment. The circuit itself broke ground in October 2019 and was inaugurated on November 12, 2021, by Indonesian President Joko Widodo during the 2021 Mandalika Superbike Grand Prix.
ITDC, which has managed The Nusa Dua in Bali for 50 years and also oversees development at The Golo Mori in East Nusa Tenggara and Lake Toba in North Sumatra, continues to leverage the Mandalika facility as a cornerstone of Indonesia's motorsport tourism strategy.
The Mandalika circuit is the 65th venue to host a MotoGP round in seven decades of Grand Prix racing and is considered the remotest GP venue ever created, underscoring the logistical achievement of hosting world-class motorsport in this location.
"We look forward to the upcoming BPS release. That data will provide a comparative check against the LETMI-ITB research presented today, allowing for a more comprehensive review of the economic benefits of the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia 2026," Fajar concluded.