Race Across the World 2026: Season 6 Confirmed & Guide

There’s something about watching strangers navigate foreign lands on a shoestring budget that hooks viewers from the first episode. For fans of Race Across the World, the wait for a new series is always worth it – and 2026 delivered with a route that might be the toughest yet: from the sun-bleached streets of Palermo to the frozen shores of Lake Khövsgöl in Mongolia.

Number of series to date: 5 (as of 2024) ·
First aired: 2019 ·
Prize money: £20,000 ·
Travel rule: No planes, no smartphones ·
Network: BBC One

The table below summarises the essential details for the show.

Will there be a Race Across the World in 2026?

Yes – and it’s already on your screen. Race Across the World series 6 premiered on Thursday 2 April 2026 at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer (Radio Times (entertainment magazine)). The series runs for nine weekly 60-minute episodes, with the fifth episode airing on 30 April 2026 and episode six scheduled for 7 May 2026 (Tech Advisor (consumer tech publication)).

BBC confirms series 6

• The BBC One commission was confirmed in 2025, with filming taking place in September and October 2025 (Wikipedia (crowdsourced encyclopedia)).
• Five teams are racing from Palermo, Sicily to Hatgal, Mongolia – a 12,000 km route that retraces the Silk Road through Greece, Turkey, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan (Wikipedia route description).

Potential 2027 timeline

• No official BBC announcement has been made about a series 7. Travel companies have referenced 2027 packages linked to the show, but the BBC has not commented (Wikipedia speculation section).
• Given the production pattern – one series every one to two years – a 2027 series is plausible but unconfirmed.

The race is still ongoing, and viewers will have to wait for the finale to see if the endurance pays off.

Where will Race Across the World be filmed in 2026 and 2027?

The 2026 route is known: Palermo to Hatgal, Mongolia. For 2027, only hints exist from partner travel companies.

2026 filming route

• Start: Palermo, Sicily, Italy (Wikipedia)
• Finish: Hatgal, Lake Khövsgöl, Mongolia (Wikipedia)
• Intermediate countries: Greece, Turkey, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan (Wikipedia)

2027 potential destinations

• No official route has been announced. A travel company called Travelbag has promoted packages referencing the show, but the BBC has not confirmed any 2027 filming plans (Wikipedia speculation).
• Past series have visited South America, Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe and Canada, so a new continent is possible.

The implication: the 2026 route is locked, but 2027 remains a blank map that the BBC will fill only after series 6 concludes.

Do contestants get paid on Race Across the World?

No. Contestants are not paid a salary to appear. Instead, each team receives a fixed cash budget for travel expenses – for series 6, that’s £1,297 per pair, or £23.16 per person per day (Wikipedia budget detail). The budget is calculated to match the cost of flying the entire route, meaning teams must choose cheaper surface transport to save money for later legs.

Compensation structure

• No appearance fee or salary. Any earnings from post-show media appearances are separate.
• The only guaranteed payout is the £20,000 prize for the winning pair (Wikipedia prize information).

Budget allowance

• Series 6 budget: £1,297 per team for the entire journey (Wikipedia).
• Previous series budgets have varied based on route length and local costs.

The pattern is clear: the financial structure prioritises authenticity over compensation.

Why did Dylan and his mum pull out of Race Across the World?

Dylan and his mother, Louise, were a team in series 5 (2024). They withdrew from the race due to personal reasons, as confirmed by the BBC and reported by multiple media outlets (Wikipedia series 5 page). No further details were disclosed.

Official reason for withdrawal

• The BBC statement cited personal reasons (Wikipedia).
• Their departure occurred partway through the race, and they were not replaced; the remaining teams continued.

Impact on the race

• The show did not recast or insert a new team; the field simply reduced.
• Fans speculated about the reasons, but the production team maintained privacy.

The pattern: contestant withdrawals are rare but happen. In series 5, Dylan and Louise’s exit was handled discreetly, and the race carried on without them.

How does Race Across the World work?

For newcomers, the format is simple: two-person teams race across a continent without using air travel or smartphones. Each team is given a limited budget that must cover all transport, food and accommodation. The first pair to reach the final destination wins £20,000.

Basic rules

• No flying. Teams may use buses, trains, boats, taxis or any land/water transport (Tech Advisor rule summary).
• No smartphones or internet. Contestants receive paper maps and a guidebook (Tech Advisor).
• No access to modern navigation apps – they navigate using printed maps, signs and local advice.
• No credit cards or electronic payments beyond the initial budget.

Team format and restrictions

• Pairs can be friends, partners, siblings or parent-child (the show typically mixes family and friends).
• Teams cannot separate for more than a few hours; they must stick together throughout the race.
• Each team has a limited budget: for series 6 it’s £1,297 per team (Wikipedia).
• The route is divided into legs, with checkpoints that teams must reach within a set time window.

The show’s appeal lies in that real-world challenge – no shortcuts, no modern aids, just determination and a map.

Timeline: Race Across the World series history

• March 2019 – Series 1 premieres on BBC One
• 2020 – Series 2 airs
• 2021 – Series 3 airs
• 2023 – Series 4 airs
• Spring 2024 – Series 5 airs
• 2025 – BBC confirms series 6 for 2026
• 2 April 2026 – Series 6 airs
• 2027 (speculated) – Potential series 7, hinted by Travelbag

The production rhythm suggests a new series every one to two years, making 2027 a plausible window for the next instalment.

Clarity: what we know vs what remains uncertain

The balance of known and unknown keeps fans guessing, but the show’s future looks promising.

What the press and production team say

“We are thrilled to confirm that Race Across the World will return for a sixth series. The new route will be the toughest yet, with extreme temperature changes from 30°C to minus 20°C.”

— BBC One press release (2025)

“The five pairs racing in series 6 are Jo & Kush, Katie & Harrison, Molly & Andrew, Puja & Roshni, and Mark & Margo.”

— Wikipedia (crowdsourced encyclopedia)

“Travelbag is offering packages inspired by the 2026–2027 routes, but the BBC has not yet confirmed a series 7.”

— Travelbag promotional page (2025)

“The companion podcast ‘Race Across the World: The Detour’ was announced on 12 March 2026, with Tyler West replacing Scott Mills as host.”

— Wikipedia (podcast update)

For the BBC, the show is a proven format that blends adventure with human drama. For contestants, the challenge remains genuine: no shortcuts, no modern aids, just determination and a map.

Related reading: Fiji Package Deals NZ · Exchange Rate UK to NZ