When is BBC's Race Across the World 2026 on and what is this year's route?
Let the race begin!Race Across the World 2026 is just days away now – but when exactly is it on?
The beloved BBC show is set to air its sixth series and viewers will see a brand new batch of contestants traverse a route more than 12,000km across Europe and Asia.
So, when can returning fans and newcomers to Race Across the World tune in for this year’s trek? And what is the route they have to go on?
Here’s everything you need to know!
How does Race Across the World work?
Race Across the World viewers will follow five teams as they embark on a long and tiring trek, usually across several countries and even sometimes continents. Added into this, they start on a budget of less than £26 per person per day.
Unable to fly, the contestants have to cross multiple checkpoints without the help of their phones. They get handed in before they start! They can only use public transport and land and sea travel.
What’s more, their arrival times at the checkpoints determine not only when they can start the next leg of the journey, but also their place in the rankings.
The Teams can also earn extra money by taking on local jobs along their journey. This is often crucial, as if they run out of their budget, they will be eliminated from the competition.
Don't miss a single story! Add us as a Preferred Source in Google for all your television news
Race Across the World 2026 route
This year, the Race Across the World 2026 route carves through eight distinctive countries: Italy, Greece, Türkiye, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia.
Starting at Palermo on the island of Sicily, the teams will have to race all the way to the remote village of Hatgal on the shores of lake Hövsgöl, in northern Mongolia.
Previous seasons have seen teams travel from London to Singapore, from Mexico to South America. In the 2025 series, the race started at the Great Wall of China and ended in Kanyakumari, in southern India.
What do Race Across the World winners get?
The end goal for the teams on Race Across the World is an eye-watering cash prize. And of course, the title of Race Across The World 2026 champions!
This year, the winners will walk away with £20,000. This is the same amount as last year’s cash prize.
2025 winners, mother and son duo Caroline and Tom Bridge, had worthy plans for their money. Caroline later told The Mirror: “I’ve had to pay off some debts, and Thomas has started a business. It’s called Rugga Rural.”
Tom added: “I’ve started a business selling handmade Indian rugs.” The pair wanted to ‘pay back’ the help they received from strangers while travelling through India on the show.
How is Race Across the World filmed?
Each team has an individual crew with them, including camera and sound people and also a medic, as Saga reports. The contestants must also have one member of crew with them at all times.
Series four finalist Stephen Redding said in 2025: “There always has to be room for at least one member of crew. So if there are only two spaces left on a bus or train, you have to wait for the next available one with at least three places on.
“The same with hotels. We lost a good hotel because there was only one room available for me and Viv and nothing else. So we had to look elsewhere.”
The crew isn’t allowed to intervene at any point either. Whether that’s by giving them food or drink or helping with directions.
When does Race Across the World 2026 start? How many episodes?
You’ve really not got long to wait now, folks. The sixth series of Race Across the World starts on Thursday April 2, 2026 at 8pm on BBC One. The series consists of nine episodes.
After the first instalment, the show will air each Thursday until the final. This takes place on Thursday 28 May, 2026. Viewers can also catch up on BBC iPlayer.
Let the race commence!
Read more: Celebrity Race Across The World fans cry ‘fix’ after final ep that saw Roman and Harleymoon Kemp win
