- The 2026 WRC Safari Rally Kenya will take place from 12 to 15 March.
- It will be the final contract year for the WRC Safari Rally.
- The 2025 event registered its highest attendance since rejoining the WRC calendar in 2021 as over 400,000 spectators turned out.
The World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally Kenya 2026 will be staged from 12 to 15 March as drivers return to test their mettle in one of the toughest terrains on the calendar.
The governing body FIA and WRC Promoter unveiled the 2026 WRC calendar that will see action in 14 rounds across four continents.
The 2026 edition will be the final event under the current 6-year contract between Kenya and the WRC Promoter signed in 2021, although talks are ongoing to extend the agreement.
2026 WRC Safari Rally Kenya
The 2026 WRC Safari Rally is expected to be even bigger compared to the 2025 edition held from 20 to 23 March.
The 2025 event registered its highest attendance since rejoining the WRC calendar in 2021 as over 400,000 spectators turned out, underscoring growing public interest and international appeal.
The event included innovations such as relocating the ceremonial start to City Hall and the prize-giving to Hell’s Gate, both of which drew substantial crowds. There was also the introduction of two new stages (Moran Camp Stage and Mzabibu Stage).
Welsh driver Elfyn Evans of Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT secured victory, followed by Ott Tänak and reigning champion Thierry Neuville of Hyundai Motorsport.
2026 WRC Calendar
The season begins at Rallye Monte-Carlo from 22 – 25 January, with crews tackling France’s icy alpine roads in one of rallying’s most iconic settings.
A spectacular street stage in downtown Monte Carlo on Saturday evening adds extra drama and glamour to an already demanding weekend.
It’s the start of a calendar that blends snow, gravel and asphalt events – including returning rounds in the Canary Islands and Paraguay following their introductions in 2025 – before culminating in the desert terrain of Saudi Arabia from 11 – 14 November.
Notably, the opening half of the year brings a welcome mix of surfaces. Asphalt rallies in Croatia, the Canary Islands and Japan complement the snow of Sweden and gravel outings in Kenya and Portugal, ensuring variety from the very start of the season.
Crucially, the decision to reposition Rally Japan into a May slot adds a meaningful sporting benefit. By interrupting what would otherwise be a long sequence of gravel rallies, the move helps to limit the impact of road sweeping for early championship leaders – reinforcing WRC’s commitment to fairer, more competitive conditions.
“This is a calendar built with purpose,” said WRC Promoter Managing Director Jona Siebel. “It’s diverse, it flows well, and it reflects the feedback we’ve had from teams, drivers and stakeholders. We’ve put real thought into how the sequence of events can impact the sporting fight.”
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said: “The 2026 WRC calendar is a powerful reflection of the championship’s global strength and appeal. It combines the heritage of iconic rallies with the return of newer events in regions where participation and interest in rallying continues to grow.”
The full 2026 FIA World Rally Championship calendar is listed below:
2026 WRC Calendar
