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Rally de Portugal has been dropped from the World Rally Championship (WRC) calendar for 2027, leading to the cancellation of next year's edition. The Automóvel Club de Portugal (ACP) attributed the decision to a last-minute shake-up by the championship promoter, ruling out any link to incidents that occurred during the 2026 event.
"Rally de Portugal will not take place in 2027," confirmed the ACP, which expects the rally to return to the schedule in 2028. The organisers also stressed that the exclusion is unrelated to financial concerns or the planned move of the rally base from Matosinhos to Viseu.
According to the ACP, the calendar reshuffle aimed to make the WRC "as geographically diverse and intercontinental as possible," ultimately affecting Rally de Portugal, which had originally been scheduled for May 13–16.
The organisation also ruled out any compensation, explaining that despite existing contracts, the calendars are subject to annual ratification by the promoter and the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA).
This marks only the second time since its inception in 1967 that Rally de Portugal will not run, following the 2020 cancellation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The event has featured in the WRC since 1973, with a few sporadic absences, before returning to the fold on a regular basis in 2007.
The ACP voiced regret over the broader impact on the country, pointing to a 2025 study showing Rally de Portugal generated an economic return of over €193 million for the national economy.
In the 2027 calendar released today by the FIA, Rally de Portugal is the sole event dropped compared to this year, with the United States and Scotland joining the roster.
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