The FIM, in conjunction with the FIA and series promoter ASO, has announced the calendar for the 2026 FIM World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC).
The fifth season of the W2RC, which launched in 2022, will feature five rounds across four continents, including a long-awaited return to South America.
As has become tradition, the Dakar Rally will once again open the season, with the 48th edition scheduled to run from 3 to 17 January in Saudi Arabia. The event remains one of the most iconic in the sport and will again challenge riders and teams across the demanding desert terrain. The season will conclude in a new location, with the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (ADDC) taking the final round slot for the first time.
Following the Dakar, the championship will head to Europe for the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal, from 17 to 22 March. Introduced to the W2RC in 2024, the Portuguese round has quickly earned its place as a core part of the calendar. Held across the Iberian Peninsula, it is the only European stop and will mark the beginning of spring in spectacular fashion.
In May, the series will shift to South America for the Desafío Ruta 40 in Argentina, running from 24 to 29 May. This return follows the successful debut of the South African Safari Rally in 2025, with the promoter committed to rotating between the two events. “The rotation we sketched out last year will come into play in 2026, as we head back to Argentina following a jaw-dropping edition of the South African Safari Rally,” said David Castera, Motor Sports Director at Amaury Sport Organisation. “It was a ringing success. We expect the race to return the season after that because we would like to alternate between these two fantastic events.”
The penultimate round will take place in Morocco from September 28 to October 3, featuring the Rallye du Maroc, a mainstay of the championship since its inception. From there, the season will head to Abu Dhabi, which has traditionally followed the Dakar but will move to a new date of 22 to 27 November due to the Ramadan period falling in February and March. With this change, the ADDC becomes the third event to serve as the season finale, following the Andalucía Rally in 2022 and Rallye du Maroc in 2023 through 2025.
According to Castera, the 2026 calendar brings together “the iconic Dakar, Rallye du Maroc and Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge” as the core foundation of the championship, joined by “the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal, created in 2024.” He also noted the anticipated impact of the new Stock category, which is expected to draw interest from major manufacturers such as Toyota and Defender.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem welcomed the return to Argentina, calling the W2RC “a remarkable test of speed, endurance and adaptability.” He added, “The challenge of returning to an event after two years away will be fascinating to see, and together with the addition of new FIA championships in the Stock category, the growth and success of this discipline continues.”
FIM President Jorge Viegas echoed that sentiment, saying, “There is no doubt in my mind that the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship is one of the most competitive championships under the FIM flag.” He highlighted the inclusion of the quad category at all rounds except the Dakar, and praised the global expansion of the series, stating, “Each year the series is attracting more teams, which is very positive for the future… the W2RC is becoming increasingly competitive, which I was able to witness first-hand at the Dakar Rally and the South African Safari Rally this season.”
While anticipation for the 2026 season is building, the 2025 championship is still in full swing. Fans can look forward to the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal from 22 to 28 September, followed by the final round of the current season at the Rallye du Maroc, running from 10 to 17 October.
2026 World Rally-Raid Championship Calendar
Round 1: January 03-17 Dakar Rally Saudi Arabia
Round 2: March 17-22 BP Ultimate Rally Raid Portugal
Round 3: May 24-29 Desafio Ruta 40 Argentina
Round 4: September 28 – October 03 Rallye du Maroc Morocco
Round 5: November 22-27 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge United Arab Emirates
