Full route, schedule and marathon stage details

The forty seventh version of the Dakar Rally will start on 3 January and mark the beginning of the 2026 motorsport season.

As has been the case yearly since 2020, the occasion will run totally in Saudi Arabia, having moved from its former base in South America. This implies the Gulf nation would be the sole host of the world’s most prestigious cross-country rally for the seventh consecutive 12 months

However whereas the placement stays the identical, organiser ASO has considerably reworked the route for 2026, providing opponents a contemporary problem throughout Saudi Arabia’s huge deserts.

The 2026 Dakar Rally will function 13 full levels, plus the standard Prologue that can assist decide the beginning order for the primary full day of motion. The rally can be cut up by a relaxation day within the capital Riyadh, permitting crews some important restoration time earlier than the decisive second week.

Opponents within the automobiles class will cowl 7,994 kilometres over two weeks, together with 4,880km within the type of aggressive particular levels, with the rest made up of transport sections.

With almost 5,000km of timed operating, the 2026 version can be one of many longest Dakars when it comes to aggressive distance, making it doubtlessly one of many hardest occasions within the rally’s current historical past.

One of many greatest modifications for 2026 is the removing of the 48-hour chrono stage, which was launched in 2024 and revised for final 12 months’s occasion.

The choice was made within the wake of a crash-heavy 2025 occasion by which a number of main contenders have been knocked out within the opening week, together with on the brutal 48-hour stage early within the rally.

“That is not the case as a result of final 12 months we had a small drawback, particularly with the automobiles, but in addition with the bikes,” Dakar director David Castera defined. 

“It was primarily about technique, beginning order, and so forth. A 48-hour stage does not actually assist in that regard, so I scrapped it. We’ll see if we will discover one other resolution later. 

“However final 12 months we already noticed that many opponents intentionally stopped on the finish of the levels so they may begin later the subsequent day. So that they intentionally misplaced time.”

Rather than the 48-hour stage, the outdated two-day marathon format returns in 2026 and can seem twice on the route. As per marathon guidelines, opponents won’t be allowed any exterior help from their assist crews on the in a single day bivouac.

The primary marathon will happen levels on 4 and 5 by way of Al Ula and Hail, whereas the second will comprise levels 9 and 10 when opponents traverse by way of Wadi Advert Dawasir and Bisha.

Additional, Dakar won’t enterprise into the unforgiving Empty Quarters desert in Saudi Arabia as a part of the brand new route. Nevertheless, there can be no scarcity of sand dunes this 12 months, notably within the second week when drivers and riders deal with the barren areas round Wadi Advert Dawasir.

“The problem is completely different from final 12 months or the 12 months earlier than, as a result of now the variety of kilometres is an important issue,” stated Castera.

“We now have virtually 5,000 kilometres of timed levels, and that is so much. It has been a very long time since we have had that many kilometres. I believe this is among the longest Dakars ever.”

Dakar Rally: Full 2026 route

*denotes marathon levels

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– The Motorsport.com Group