2026 will mark the 100th running of the legendary International Six Days Enduro. Ahead of the 2025 edition, the FIM announced the race will return to Portugal for a fourth time. It is scheduled for October 12–17, 2026.

Portugal previously hosted the ISDE in 1999, 2009, and 2019.

Officially the 6DAYS FIM Enduro of Nations, the ISDE is the FIM’s oldest off-road race. It was first held in Britain in 1913 as the International Six Day Trial. Although a centennial celebration was conducted during the 2013 ISDE, the World Wars and COVID-19 pandemic meant none took place in 1914–1919, 1939–1946, and 2020.

While this pushed race #100 back by a decade, the Federação de Motociclismo de Portugal was keen on stepping up once more. The country already hosts two rounds of teh FIM Enduro World Championship.

“For us, it’s a big, big event,” said FIM director of partnerships Fabio Muner. “FIM is putting a lot of pressure on ourselves, to itself in order to make it bigger and bigger. You already perceived this in the last edition of the 6DAYS. For us, the next edition in 2025 has to be even much bigger.

“We’re already working on the communication, on the logo design with the local organizer, with the also motorcycle manufacturers and partners in order to be ready with products, communication assets and with the race in this wonderful region of Portugal where enduro is really part of their DNA and their culture.”

Grândola, currently the primary bivouac host for the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal, will serve as the main hub. The first two days on October 12 and 13 will have three legs across 250 kilometers, followed by 300-km days on the 14th and 15th. October 16 and 17 will each have three tests at 300 km apiece.

The 1999 ISDE was mainly in Coimbra, while Figueira da Foz and Portimão respectively hosted the 2009 and 2019 enduros.

“We know they have nice wine, for sure. They have nice food, for sure. The people are mostly nice, and so we enjoy going there,” remarked John Collins, the director of the FIM Enduro Commission. “But they will put in a tremendous amount of work, as Italy have done. The Italian people, I’m sure, will tell you that you can’t run the Six Days without coming across problems which you would never have foreseen. That’s the nature of trying to run six days of endurance. We are exceptionally lucky, but Portugal are taking on the task.

“In the bar last night which was probably not the best place, a British guy asked me, ‘What will Portugal be like?’ I said, ‘I’ve never been to a bad event in Portugal.’ I’m confident.”

The 2025 race is being held in Bergamo, Italy.

Featured image credit: Future7Media