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Rally Saudi Arabia will not be part of the 2026 World Rally Championship (WRC) calendar and will not be replaced by another event. The competition will proceed solely as a regional event amidst the Middle East conflict, with no suitable replacement found for the season finale.
With Rally Saudi Arabia removed from the 2026 WRC schedule, the upcoming Rally Italia Sardegna now serves as the final round of this year's World Rally Championship.
The prospect of the final round being held in Jeddah had been diminishing due to the ongoing conflict in Iran, but the definitive decision was only confirmed today.
In a statement, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said: “Over recent months, we have worked closely with our partners in Saudi Arabia, with our member club – the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, with the WRC Promoter, and with all stakeholders in the championship to explore every possible alternative that would allow Rally Saudi Arabia to proceed as planned."
"However, the ongoing developments in the region mean that the WRC element of Rally Saudi Arabia will not take place this year. These are never easy decisions, especially after the significant work undertaken by all involved in preparing the event."
"While the event will not run this year as a WRC round, our confidence in the organizers and in the long-term future of the rally remains unchanged. The FIA Middle East Rally Championship event will proceed as planned in November, and we will continue to work closely with SAMF, SMC, and the organizing team to support the successful running of the event in November," he added.
"Our focus is now firmly on the future. We will continue to work together with our partners in Saudi Arabia and with the WRC Promoter for the return of the FIA World Rally Championship in 2027."
Hyundai and Toyota teams had already clearly stated their intention not to travel to the event due to instability in the Middle East. Missile attacks on the Aramco oil facility in Yanbu on Wednesday further solidified the decision to remove Saudi Arabia from the 2026 calendar.
Hopes of relocating the final round to the all-gravel Rally Catalunya were reportedly dashed late last week when the deadline presented by the Spanish event's organizers expired.
WRC Executive Director Eric Boullier confirmed that Saudi Arabia would remain part of the calendar next year, despite its removal from the 2026 schedule.
"This was a difficult decision," Boullier said. "Especially given the significant work and commitment from our partners in Saudi Arabia in preparing this year's event. However, the ongoing developments in the region and the resulting logistical challenges mean we must ensure certainty and clarity for the remainder of the 2026 season."
The 2026 WRC season will now conclude on October 4th, the final day of Rally Italia Sardegna. Elfyn Evans leads his Toyota teammate Sami Pajari by 17 points and Oliver Solberg by 21 points, with a maximum of 35 points available at the finale.
Rally Saudi Arabia will still take place, but it will only count towards the FIA Middle East Rally Championship.
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