Five rounds on asphalt and three more on gravel will provide the challenge and spectacle following confirmation of a refreshed FIA European Rally Championship calendar for 2026.
The excitement-filled schedule includes new opening and deciding events, the return of two favorites from the recent and not-so-recent past, plus established and emerging rallies.
It all kicks off with Rally Hungary (March 20-22) when drivers take on rough and tough gravel stages close to host city Veszprém.
Spain is next for the 43rd Andalusia Rally – Sierra Morena – Córdoba World Heritage Site (April 17-19), a popular all-asphalt addition to the ERC schedule in 2025 based in the southern city of Córdoba.
From Spain, the chase for ERC success heads north to Sweden where the city of Karlstad hosts the fourth running of BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia (May 22-24). While it’s now a Friday-Sunday contest rather than a Thursday-Saturday affair, the high-speed, smooth gravel roads are fast becoming part of ERC folklore.
BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia also forms the first of six FIA Junior ERC Championship rounds.
Rally di Roma Capitale makes its 10th and final appearance on the ERC title trail before it joins the FIA World Rally Championship roster from 2027, subject to FIA World Motor Sport Council approval. The sealed-surface showpiece is due to run from July 3-5 with an all-new route being readied by the event organisers as they build up to the WRC’s first planned visit.
For the first time since 2004, Rally Poland will use asphalt-only stages when the 82nd edition takes place from July 24-26. The change of surface from gravel to asphalt also coincides with a move back down south as Katowice, which hosted Rally Silesia – Poland’s ERC counter in 2024, takes over from Mikołajki as the event hub.
The ERC stays on Tarmac for round six of the season when it ventures 200 kilometres southwest for the 55th Barum Czech Rally Zlín (August 14-16). The event hosted the ERC for the first time in 1984 and has enjoyed an almost unbroken stay on the calendar since.
JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion is up next from Sept. 4-5 with the spectacular landscape of West Wales providing not only a stunning backdrop, but sensational asphalt stages as well.
Rally Five Cities North of Portugal is essentially the new name for Rally Serras de Fafe, which is back as an ERC round for the first time since 2023. Based out of the town of Fafe, 70 kilometres northeast of Porto, the gravel-based season showdown runs from Oct. 9-11 and will include the iconic and spectacular Pedra Sentada jump.
All rounds count for the 2026 FIA European Rally Championship for Drivers, Co-Drivers, Teams and Tyre Suppliers, plus the FIA ERC3 Championship for Drivers and Co-Drivers, the FIA ERC4 Championship for Drivers and Co-Drivers and the driver-only FIA Master ERC Championship, although competitors must drop their worst score out of a possible eight.
The FIA Junior ERC Championship begins on BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia and includes the five rounds scheduled thereafter – Rally di Roma Capitale, 82nd Rally Poland, Barum Czech Rally Zlín, JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion and Rally Five Cities North of Portugal – for a total of four events on asphalt and two on gravel. Drivers count their best five results.
FIA European Rally Championship Schedule
March 20-22 Rally Hungary
April 17-19 43rd Andalusia Rally – Sierra Morena
May 22-24 BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia
July 3-5 Rally di Roma Capitale
July 24-26 82nd Rally Poland
Aug. 14-16 Barum Czech Rally Zlín
Sept. 4-6 JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion
Oct. 9-11 Rally Five Cities North of Portugal
