The 47th Dakar Rally is set to commence on January 3, marking the introduction of the 2026 motorsport season.
Continuing the trend established since 2020, the rally will be held entirely in Saudi Arabia, following its departure from South America. This will make Saudi Arabia the exclusive host for the world’s premier cross-country rally for the seventh year in a row.
While the location remains unchanged, organizer ASO has substantially revised the 2026 route, providing competitors with a new challenge across the vast expanses of Saudi Arabia’s deserts.
This year’s rally will include 13 full stages, in addition to the customary Prologue, which will set the starting order for the first full competitive day. A rest day in Riyadh will serve as a crucial recovery period for teams before the pivotal second week.
Competitors in the car category will navigate a total distance of 7,994 kilometers over a two-week span, with 4,880 kilometers consisting of competitive special stages and the remaining distance dedicated to transportation. This makes the 2026 event one of the longest Dakars in terms of competitive distance, potentially marking it as one of the most challenging in recent history.
A key amendment for 2026 is the elimination of the 48-hour chrono stage, which was first introduced in 2024 and modified for last year’s event. This change follows a crash-laden 2025 rally where numerous top contenders were eliminated early, including during the tough 48-hour stage.
In lieu of the 48-hour stage, the traditional two-day marathon format will return twice during the race. Each marathon stage will not allow any external support from crews at the overnight bivouac. The first marathon will take place on stages 4 and 5, moving through Al Ula and Hail, while the second will cover stages 9 and 10 through Wadi Ad Dawasir and Bisha.
