The 2026 Africa Eco Race will start in Tangier and go through Bousaïd, Tagounite, Assa, Khnifiss, Dakhla, Chami, Aidzidine, Ouad Naga, Mpal, and finish in Dakar. In total, it will span 12 stages.

Unlike in previous years, technical inspection will begin in Africa, particularly at the Moroccan port city of Tangier. Usually, the AER conducted scrutineering in Europe; Marseille will still function as a ferry location for teams, departing for Tangier on January 20.

After a Prologue on January 25, the race begins the next day. The first half of the race is entirely in Morocco before crossing into Dakhla, which is claimed by both Morocco and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. The latter, also known as Western Sahara, frequently issues warnings to the AER against racing in its territory especially in recent times due to the ongoing conflict.

Still, the race has proceeded through the region without much issue in recent years while the Polisario Front’s warnings typically boil down to stressing it is not liable should competitors get dragged into the fighting. In fact, the AER will hold its rest day in Dakhla.

The second half of the AER takes the race into Mauritania. It will stay there until February 6 when Stage 11 goes from Ouad Naga to the Senegalese city of Mpal.

Finally, the 12th and last leg on February 7 goes to Dakar and the finish on Lac Rose. The final stage is not timed.

2026 Africa Eco Race route

Stage	Start	Finish	Selective Sections	Liaison	Date
Prologue	Tangier	Tangier	N/A	N/A	January 25
Stage 1	Tangier	Bousaïd	89 km	695 km	January 26
Stage 2	Bousaïd	Tagounite	381 km	44 km	January 27
Stage 3	Tagounite	Assa	440 km	74 km	January 28
Stage 4	Assa	Khnifiss	483 km	5 km	January 29
Stage 5	Khnifiss	Dakhla	396 km	373 km	January 30
Rest Day	Dakhla	Dakhla	N/A	N/A	January 31
Stage 6	Dakhla	Chami	152 km	438 km	February 1
Stage 7	Chami	Aidzidine	462 km	0 km	February 2
Stage 8	Aidzidine	Aidzidine	415 km	14 km	February 3
Stage 9	Aidzidine	Ouad Naga	426 km	64 km	February 4
Stage 10	Ouad Naga	Ouad Naga	445 km	25 km	February 5
Stage 11	Ouad Naga	Mpal	131 km	344 km	February 6
Stage 12	Mpal	Dakar	22 km	246 km	February 7

UPDATE (December 10): Article has been updated with stage lengths for the timed legs.

Featured image credit: Alessio Corradini