- The sixth season of the FIA-FIM World Rally-Raid Championship will retain its five-round format, bringing together the discipline’s iconic events and more recent rallies that have progressively established themselves on the rally-raid scene.
- The championship’s five major events fall into place in a calendar that sees the Dakar open the season, the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge return to its position as the second round, the South African Safari Rally make its comeback and the bp Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal continue to build on its momentum, ahead of the Moroccan finale.
- A brand-new scheduling rhythm has been introduced for these five well-established events, carefully designed to create more breathing room between rounds.
THE ESTABLISHED EVENTS RETURN TO THEIR TRADITIONAL SLOTS
The 49th edition of the Dakar, the championship’s traditional curtain-raiser since 2022, will once again set the tone from 9 to 23 January. Exceptionally, the rally will not take place in Saudi Arabia this year, with Portugal and Morocco hosting the opening event comprising a prologue and twelve stages.
The Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge regains its place as the second round of the season. Its 36th edition will take place in the United Arab Emirates from 21 to 26 March.
The Rallye OLA Energy du Maroc will once again serve as the championship finale, from 24 to 29 October, marking its 28th edition.
SOUTH AFRICA AND PORTUGAL AT THE HEART OF THE SEASON
The South African Safari Rally (South Africa – Botswana) takes over after giving way to the Desafío Ruta 40 YPF in Argentina in 2026, continuing the alternation between the two events. The second edition of the South African rally returns to the heart of the calendar, taking place from 14 to 19 June.
The bp Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal, now firmly established in the championship after three consecutive editions, secures its place on the calendar for a fourth year running. The European round (Portugal – Spain) will be held as the fourth event of the season, from 21 to 26 September.
A SENSE OF TIMING
By returning after the Dakar, but slightly later than in the championship’s first four seasons, the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge provides an eight-week break following the finish of the Dakar. A welcome recovery period after the most demanding event of the year.
The South African Safari Rally, held seven weeks after the conclusion of the second round, sits naturally on the maritime route to Europe, where the bp Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal will take place three months after the South African event.
Four weeks separate the European round from the championship finale in Morocco—more than double the gap in 2025. Finally, by concluding at the end of October, the championship leaves two full months before the next major appointment: the 2028 Dakar, which will celebrate its 50th edition in Saudi Arabia.
