The 2026 Dakar Rally is set to take place from January 3 to January 17, 2026, in Saudi Arabia. This marks the 48th edition of the event, which is organized by the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO). It will be the seventh time the rally is hosted in Saudi Arabia.
The 2026 Dakar Rally—the ultimate test of human and machine endurance—is roaring through the vast Saudi Arabian desert right now, from January 3 to January 17! This 48th edition is an epic 8,000-kilometre battle starting and ending in Yanbu, packing nearly 5,000 km of brutal timed specials across towering dunes, treacherous canyons, razor-sharp rocks, and blistering high-speed tracks. With a prologue, 12 full stages, two unforgiving marathon legs where crews get minimal assistance, and a single rest day in Riyadh on January 10, the rally is pure chaos and glory. Today, January 9, the warriors are charging into Stage 6—the monster of the event at over 900 km total, including a savage 331 km special that’s already shaking up the leaderboard with navigation nightmares and dune climbs that separate the legends from the rest.
In the bikes, the fight is absolutely ferocious! Luciano Benavides on his Red Bull KTM has surged into the overall lead after a gripping battle, with Nacho Cornejo on Hero hot on his heels just minutes behind, and defending champion Daniel Sanders pushing hard to reclaim the top spot. Young talents and veterans alike are trading blows through the dunes, with every second a potential game-changer in this edge-of-your-seat racing where tyre management, navigation, and raw grit decide everything.
The cars category is pure drama: Toyota holds a slim overall lead through Henk Lategan after enduring punishing days, but the Ford Raptor armada is unleashing mayhem with blistering pace and relentless comebacks. Mitch Guthrie has already notched multiple stage wins, leading sensational 1-2-3 finishes that showcase the Raptor’s ferocious power and handling, while legends like Carlos Sainz Sr., Mattias Ekström, and Nani Roma charge forward in their V8 beasts. Ford’s factory and privateer entries are dominating stretches, proving their upgraded lighter, more aerodynamic machines are built to hunt down the leaders—one daring overtake or flawless dune crest and the entire order could flip in this unpredictable war!
And then there’s the sensational debut of the Defender Rally Team—Land Rover’s factory assault on the new Stock class with near-production beasts powered by the thunderous 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 from the Defender OCTA, retaining showroom-spec gearboxes, drivelines, bodywork, and chassis for ultimate real-world toughness. Featuring 14-time Dakar king Stéphane Peterhansel (aka Mr Dakar), rally-raid rocket Rokas Baciuška, and American trailblazer Sara Price, the Defenders have been untouchable, sweeping every single stage win so far—including four devastating 1-2-3 podium lockouts—and building a commanding class lead of over 44 minutes heading into the second week. Each driver has tasted victory multiple times, with flawless navigation, unbreakable reliability, and sheer team spirit turning this debut into a domination story that’s proving the iconic Defender is born to conquer the harshest environment on Earth!
Trucks, Challenger, SSV, and Classic categories are delivering their own heart-pounding battles, with high attrition already claiming big names. The Dakar never forgives, but it always rewards the brave. Follow the live action on dakar.com—because in this rally, legends are being forged right now, and anything can still happen before the podium in Yanbu on January 17!
The rally will start and finish in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. The course will cover various terrains, including sand, rocks, and gravel. The total distance for the rally is approximately 7,906 kilometers, with special stages totaling around 4,748 kilometers.
The event is open to both amateur and professional competitors. Categories include:
The 2026 Dakar Rally promises to be a challenging and exciting event for all participants.
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