Watch daily extended highlights from the 2026 edition of the Dakar Rally each morning via our hub in SBS On Demand - plus a daily 15-minute mini recap and more from January 3 to January 17.
What is the Dakar Rally?
The Dakar Rally is an annual rally raid organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation and is famous for its tough terrain and off-road endurance, where an expansive field must traverse sand, rocks, gravel, and tarmac as quick as possible.
First held in 1979, drivers were tasked with racing from Paris, France, to Dakar in Senegal. This would become the rally’s definitive route for over 20 years - barring brief stints in Lisbon, Granada and Cape Town - until the event moved to South America in 2009 and, later, Saudi Arabia in 2020.
The rally’s existence is a direct result of the life-changing experience of Thierry Sabine, the French adventurer who got lost in the Tenere desert during the Abidjan-Nice Rally a few years prior. After being saved from the sweltering heat and unforgiving sands of the Sahara, Sabine returned to France with a passion to create a race unlike any other. One he would coin “a challenge for those who go, a dream for those who stay behind”.
Part adventure, part marathon, the Dakar Rally pits hundreds of drivers against one another in various vehicle categories such as cars, bikes, trucks, quads, SSVs, light prototypes, and classics.
Drivers are required to navigate a course and its unpredictable obstacles at speed, all while reaching each checkpoint en route to the finish line. GPS systems and the use of a roadbook are permitted, with mechanical knowledge essential for all competitors in case of punctures, breakdowns and other problems that could pose a threat to their respective times.
Where does the 2026 Dakar Rally take place?
The rally will take place in Saudi Arabia, with drivers both beginning their journey and finishing in Yanbu.
How long is the Dakar Rally?
The 2026 edition will begin with a prologue on January 3 and conclude on January 17 (January 18 AEDT) following 13 gruelling stages and one rest day. Drivers will cover a total distance of almost 8,000 kilometres, with 5,000km worth of special sections.
Unlike previous editions, the Marathon and 48-hour Chrono will not return, with two Marathon-Refuge stages taking their place. These stages will strip the competition back to the bare essentials, with participants only allowed to receive assistance from their fellow competitors.
Is every stage of the Dakar Rally the same?
Every stage of the Dakar is different, with the prologue's shorter route designed to help determine the starting order of the race proper.
Stages:
- Prologue on January 3: Yanbu > Yanbu
- Individual stage details still TBC
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Dakar Rally 2025
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How many drivers are involved in Dakar Rally 2026?
Over 600 drivers and teams will contest the 2026 Dakar Rally across seven categories: bike, car, Classic, challenger, M1000, SSV, and truck.
Though bikes (including Rally 2), cars and trucks have formed part of the rally since its inception, the challenger (T3) and SSV (T4) categories were added in 2017 and were designed for off-road racing buggies.
Meanwhile, the M1000 category is for vehicles that use innovative technology, and the classics pertain to the vintage vehicles used in previous editions of the race.
How do you win the Dakar Rally?
The Dakar Rally is a marathon, not a sprint, with consistency the key to achieving victory.
Completing stages as quickly as possible will contribute to a driver’s overall time, with the general classification winner of each category determined at the end of Stage 13. As a result, securing stage wins are of particular interest to the field, though they do come with drawbacks as leaders can often veer in the wrong direction.
Drivers have GPS systems and a roadbook at their disposal, but they can also follow the wheel treads of their rivals to reach each waypoint.
Who are the most successful teams?
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing have led the way in recent years, with Australians Toby Price and Daniel Sanders among those to have won the bikes category, while Peugeot, Mini and Volkswagen have all enjoyed time at the top.
Mitsubishi is the most successful out of the cars, however, with 12 victories since 1985.
Are there any Australians competing?
At the time of writing, Toby Price has been confirmed to contest the T1 cars category at the 2026 edition, while Daniel Sanders is expected to return and defend his title in the bikes.
How can Australians watch the 2026 Dakar Rally?
SBS On Demand will have hour-long highlights of each stage available earlier each morning for the duration of the Dakar Rally, before SBS replay the program at 5pm (AEDT).
On Demand will also house a special Dakar Rally Hub for the 2026 edition, complete with extended highlights, must-see moments, interviews and more.
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