The European Rally Championship (ERC) will contest a reduced seven-round calendar in 2026 following the cancellation of Rally Hungary from the originally announced eight-event season.
Rally Hungary, except for 2022 a regular on the ERC calendar since 2019, will not take place this year after Hungary’s national motorsport federation, MNASZ, confirmed that ‘internal issues’ prevented the event from running.
Although the ERC championship organisers explored several replacement options, no suitable alternative could be secured in time, prompting the decision to proceed with one fewer round.
As a result, the 43rd Rally Sierra Morena will open the 73rd ERC season from 17–19 April, using all-asphalt stages in Andalusia, southern Spain. The event, an ERC newcomer in 2025, steps up to become the championship’s season opener.
The revised calendar means the ERC will run to seven events instead of the originally planned eight, with organisers confirming the focus will now be on delivering a strong “super seven” calendar in 2026, while aiming to return to an eight-round schedule in 2027.
Poland becomes asphalt rally, Portugal rescheduled
It is also worth noting that Rally Poland will not run on its traditional gravel roads around Mikołajki this year. Instead, the event moves to an all-asphalt format based around Katowice in the Silesia region, returning the ERC to an area it visited in 2024 under the Rally Silesia name.
After two decades in the Masurian Lake District, Poland’s longest-running ERC round makes a significant shift south, with the rally headquarters and service park located at the Silesian Stadium.
This means the 2026 schedule features five asphalt rallies: Sierra Morena, Rally Roma di Capitale, Rally Poland, Barum Czech Rally Zlín and Rally Ceredigion, alongside two gravel events: Royal Rally Scandinavia and the Rally Five Cities of Northern Portugal.
The Rally Five Cities of Northern Portugal will remain the season finale, although it has been rescheduled to 23–25 October. The Portuguese event was initially scheduled for 9–11 October. (Article continues after photo.)
One dropped score remains in place
With the shorter calendar, competitors in the ERC1, ERC3, ERC4, Master ERC, Teams’ and Tyre Supplier championships will count their best six results from seven rounds, while Junior ERC drivers will continue to count their best five scores from six events. This confirms that the championship retains one so-called dropped score.
The ERC Fiesta Rally3 Trophy calendar has also been revised, with Barum Czech Rally Zlín stepping in to replace Rally Hungary on the five-event schedule.
This means the 2026 Fiesta Rally3 Trophy calendar will now include Rally Sierra Morena (Spain), Royal Rally Scandinavia (Sweden), Rally Roma di Capitale (Italy), Rally Poland and Barum Czech Rally Zlín.
Take a look at the updated 2026 FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) Calendar here!
Photos: @World / Red Bull Content Pool
