Race Across the World's Jo and Kush have won the 2026 series after a nail-biting final sprint through snowy Mongolia
They have scooped a huge cash prize for getting to the last checkpoint firstJo and Kush have won Race Across the World 2026 following a very tense final leg through the snowy climes of Mongolia.
The best friends made it to the eighth and final checkpoint first, opening the guest book to find it empty.
In a show first, the checkpoint was located in dense snow surrounded by a freezing lake.
Getting to the check point, the boys shouted: “We did it. We won!”
Kush said to his pal: “I can’t put it into words bro!” Jo screamed with joy, adding: “That’s how I feel bro.”
Jo continued: “The dream from the start was opening the final book and seeing it empty, so that actually happening… it’s hard to get my head around it.
“I hope we did Liverpool proud. Big up scousers!” Kush declared.
Hot on their heels were two other teams, Harrison and Katie, and Molly and Andrew.
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All three teams had found themselves going head-to-head in the final sprint following several dramatic setbacks along the way.
Against the odds, Mark and his sister-in-law Margo also completed the race.
By the end, they were a staggering 400km behind the other three teams. But managed to eke out all of their budget just to get to the checkpoint.
Race Across the World 2026 final
Tonight, the teams were seen travelling from Kharkhorin in Mongolia to Hatgal. And they were faced with two options.
The first was a paved route, with the choice of taxis, buses and trains. But this would add a detour of 500km onto their journey.
Choosing the more direct route would see them faced with mountains and dirt tracks. They would also need to rely solely on hitchhiking in exchange for cash.
Childhood friends Jo and Kush were first to set off, having finished leg seven in first place. They opted for the direct route and hitchhiked to the coldest capital city in the world – Ulaanbaatar – to get a train.
But when they got there, there were no trains until the following evening. Jo admitted: “We may have made a really bad decision.”
Andrew and Molly, father and daughter, were next to set off. They picked the shorter route, using their healthy remaining budget to pay for private taxis.
One taxi set them back £155, but Molly said of their remaining budget: “I only let [Andrew] eat crisp sandwiches for six weeks!”
Siblings Harrison and Katie were third to leave Kharkhorin. They also chose the direct route. They managed to travel 250km in exchange for just £4, thanks to a local woman.
Despite setting off 23hrs and 7mins behind Jo and Kush, they also made up for lost time with a free 220km ride.
Mark and Margo, who had just 9 per cent of their original budget remaining, headed off to Hatgal last. They also picked the direct route, with the aim of hitchhiking to the finish.
Molly and Andrew hit disaster
While all four teams faced hurdles, Molly and Andrew were hit with the biggest disaster in their final leg.
It became apparent that Mongola has many towns with the same name. During the race, Molly and Andrew arrived in Jargalant to meet their next driver. However, they were in the wrong Jargalant.
The father and daughter were convinced they had pointed to the right Jargalant on the map when their guest house host had arranged their cars the night before. But when they phoned him, he said otherwise.
The mix-up meant Molly and Andrew were faced with a 400km detour, travelling back the way they had come.
Molly was left in tears, but she thought on her feet. They picked a town and chose a home-stay from the ‘jobs directory’, herding cattle for cash, before getting back on the right path.
Despite the hold-up, they were still just ahead of Katie and Harrison and not too far behind Jo and Kush.
Jo and Kush win Race Across the World 2026
Before the final sprint, the teams reflected on their Race Across the World experience. Kush is now brimming with confidence, telling Jo he will be ‘taking his little brothers out for burgers and milkshakes’.
Kush also said he is going to treat his mum to “the finest food”, before helping her to get on the property ladder. Best pal Jo has been so inspired that he intends to travel more.
Mark says RATW has made him want to be “more spontaneous”. Margo, who is the sister of Mark’s late wife Julia, reflected on their closer friendship, which was once in a bad spot.
“Julia wouldn’t be able to believe it,” she laughed.
Meanwhile, Molly’s dad has finally accepted that she can hold her own. “Now you’re fit for the world,” he told his daughter. He also wants to do more travelling.
Harrison has decided he needs to “enjoy life more”, while Katie has realised just how resilient she really is.
But it was Jo and Kush who made it to the final checkpoint first. In second place was Molly and Andrew, with Harrison and Katie finishing in third.
Mark and Margo eventually reached the checkpoint 25 hours after Jo and Kush.
How much prize money have they won?
All four teams travelled 12,000km and through eight countries in this year’s Race Across the World.
Winners Jo and Kush have now scooped a whopping £20,000 in prize money.
Congratulations to them both!
