2026 WRC calendar with 14 rallies

The FIA and WRC Promoter have released the official 2026 calendar for the World Rally Championship with 14 rounds across four continents. The season will kick off with the Rallye Monte-Carlo from January 22-25 and conclude with Rally Saudi Arabia from November 11-14.

Japan and Italy swap dates in 2026 calendar

The most significant change in the 2026 calendar concerns Rally Japan, which moves from its November date to late May. The seventh round will take place from May 28-31, breaking up the extended sequence of gravel rallies that had sparked debate among teams and drivers.

"We've carefully considered how the event sequence might impact the sporting competition," explained Jona Siebel, managing director of WRC Promoter. The road position rules penalize championship leaders by making them clear the stage first on gravel rallies, losing valuable time as they sweep the surface clean for the rest of the field.

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United States absent until at least 2027

Plans for the WRC's return to the United States, absent since the 1988 Olympus Rally, have been postponed to 2027 after two consecutive years of delays. The project included a multi-year contract for an event in Tennessee that appeared in the initial 2026 calendar proposal, while several promotional events have been held in North America.

Emilia Abel, FIA Road Sport Director, confirmed the mutual decision between the federation, WRC Promoter and ACCUS. "It needs another year of preparation. When we enter a new continent, we want to be 100% sure they meet exactly the same FIA requirements," Abel stated during Rally Finland. The official expressed full confidence in the US appearance in 2027: "We've seen very good progress in the last month. There's a dedicated team, so it's on the right track."

Croatia returns and Central European disappears

Croatia Rally returns to the WRC in April as the fourth round of the calendar, scheduled for April 9-12. The asphalt event rejoins the world championship after competing in the European Rally Championship during 2025. Croatia's return led to the departure of the Central European Rally, whose organizers cited economic conditions as the reason for withdrawing from the WRC calendar.

Italy moves from June to October with undefined location

Rally Italia has shifted from its traditional June date to October, becoming the penultimate round from October 1-4. The official announcement doesn't specify the event location, though the gravel roads of Sardinia have hosted the WRC every year except 2009 since moving from Sanremo in 2004. The Rally di Roma Capitale is reportedly pushing to upgrade its asphalt event from European Championship level to WRC status, according to paddock sources.

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Paraguay and Canary Islands consolidate their presence

Rally Paraguay maintains its position as the eleventh round from August 27-30, while Rally Islas Canarias takes the fifth spot from April 23-26. Both events debuted in 2025 and have successfully established themselves in the championship.

The 2026 calendar doesn't include other Latin American countries like Argentina or Mexico, which previously hosted WRC rounds. Argentina was home to Rally Argentina until 2019, while Mexico hosted Rally México between 2004 and 2022. Latin American representation in 2026 is limited to Chile and Paraguay.

The technical regulations from 2025 will continue in 2026 with the addition of two homologation jokers available for chassis development, approved by the WRC Commission and World Motor Sport Council.

"The 2026 WRC calendar powerfully reflects the championship's global strength and appeal. It combines the heritage of historic rallies with the return of newer events in regions where rally participation and interest continue to grow," commented Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA President.

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2026 WRC Calendar