For the second time since moving to Saudi Arabia, the Dakar Rally will use a loop layout in 2026. Stretching roughly 8,000 kilometers with 5,000 km in timed sections, the race begins on January 3 in Yanbu and finishes there on January 17 after a Prologue and 13 stages.

Located along the Red Sea, Yanbu is a port city that hosted the 2024 Dakar’s final stage and finish. It is the first of seven bivouacs planned, with another major one being in Riyadh for the rest day. Riyadh is the capital of Saudi Arabia and often entrusted with rest duties.

Like the larger route, four stages will be a loop. Four is also the number of legs where the FIA and FIM classes will run their own courses, a format introduced with the 2024 Chrono Stage before expanding to five stages in 2025 to promote safety.

Two marathon stages are planned, though the two-day Chrono Stage has been dropped. Still, marathon rules remain generally the same as competitors will have limited resources during their overnight stay in the camp and cannot have crews to help them on their vehicles.

Concurrent with the Dakar Rally, the Dakar Classic will run its longest route to date of 4,500 kilometers. Mission 1000 is also back for 2026.

Yazeed Al-Rajhi and Daniel Sanders are the defending car and bike winners, respectively.