Seven all-action rounds will decide 2026 FIA European Rally Championship.
The eagerly anticipated 2026 FIA European Rally Championship will begin with the 43rd Andalusia Rally – Sierra Morena – Córdoba World Heritage Site from 17 – 19 April.
Using all-asphalt stages, the spectacular event in southern Spain, an ERC newcomer in 2025, replaces Rally Hungary as the first of what will now be a seven-round calendar.
It follows notice being given by MNASZ, Hungary’s national motorsport federation, that Rally Hungary, which joined the ERC roster in 2019, won’t take place in 2026 due to internal issues affecting its operation.
While Rally Five Cities North of Portugal will continue as the season-deciding event, it will now run from 23 – 25 October having initially been scheduled to take place from 9 – 11 October.
The revised calendar for the 2026 FIA European Rally Championship, which has been approved by an FIA World Motor Sport Council e-vote, is therefore as follows:
43rd Andalusia Rally – Sierra Morena – Córdoba World Heritage Site, 17 – 19 April (asphalt)BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia, 22 -24 May (gravel)Rally di Roma Capitale, 3 – 5 July (asphalt)82nd Rally Poland, 24 – 26 July (asphalt)Barum Czech Rally Zlín, 14 – 16 August (asphalt)JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion, 4 – 6 September (asphalt)Rally Five Cities North of Portugal, 23 – 25 October (gravel)
ERC championship manager Iain Campbell said: “Starting the 73rd ERC season in the city of Córdoba, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with fantastic stages a short distance away, is an exciting prospect and a great platform for the championship, the competitors and partners.
“Although we were looking forward to Rally Hungary hosting the ERC for the seventh time and had been working closely with the organisers to make that happen, Rally Hungary’s inclusion on the planned 2026 ERC schedule had always been subject to the event promoter agreement being signed. Unfortunately, we were informed that would not be possible due to internal issues affecting the event.
“We very quickly initiated contact with several rallies interested in joining the ERC and we thank the FIA, the respective event organisers and ASNs for their support during this process.
“For 2026 the decision has been taken to focus on our super seven with the aim of following an eight-event schedule once again in 2027.”
Competitors contesting the ERC1, ERC3, ERC4, Master ERC, Teams’ and Tyre Supplier championships will now count their best six scores out of seven. Junior ERC competitors will continue to count their best five scores out of six.
Registrations for the 2026 FIA European Rally Championship – the 73rd since its formation back in 1953 and the fifth promoted by WRC Promoter – are due to open soon via the FIA’s online registration portal available at https://registrations.fia.com/rally
Meanwhile, the ERC Fiesta Rally3 Trophy calendar has been adjusted for 2026 with Barum Czech Rally Zlín taking Rally Hungary’s place on the five-event schedule, which also includes 43rd Andalusia Rally – Sierra Morena – Córdoba World Heritage Site, BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia, Rally di Roma Capitale and 82nd Rally Poland.