Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative joint disease that is caused by a combination of factors such as aging, mechanical damage and obesity. Autophagy is a fundamental cellular process that involves the degradation and recycling of cellular components and plays a critical role in chondrocyte homeostasis and survival under stress. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are a diverse class of RNA molecules without protein-coding ability and affect gene expression through post-transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms. Growing evidence shows a fundamental interplay between ncRNAs, autophagy, and OA pathogenesis. This review summarizes the multifaceted role of autophagy in chondrocytes in OA and describes the regulatory mechanisms of ncRNAs on OA-associated autophagy. The aim is to elucidate the complex pathological network underlying the development of OA and to identify new therapeutic targets.