Dakar Rally 2027 moves to Portugal and Morocco: the rally returns to Africa for the first time in 20 years
The 49th Dakar Rally will be held in Portugal and Morocco from 9 to 23 January 2027, the FIA confirmed on Friday 30 October 2026 in its own announcement, read directly in this run — exceptionally relocated from Saudi Arabia following recent developments in the region, with the event returning to Saudi Arabia in 2028 for its 50th edition. The rally starts in Loulé-Faro, Portugal, with a prologue on 9 January and a first special stage on 10 January, then crosses the Mediterranean overnight to Nador, Morocco, and runs south and back north through Bouarfa, Zagora, Agadir (rest day), Smara and Dakhla to finish in Marrakech on 23 January. In total it covers 7,824 km, including 4,341 km of competitive special stages, with a prologue followed by 12 stages and six bivouacs. The dates remain subject to approval by the FIA World Motor Sport Council. Reuters, reporting the organisers Amaury Sport Organisation's (ASO) statement the same day, adds that the Algarve will host the prologue and the first special stage and Morocco will host 11 stages and the rest day in Agadir, and that the move is described by ASO as exceptional and one-off.