The World Rally Championship is planning to add a second Asia/Pacific round to the 2026 calendar, leading to a reshuffle in the schedule of events.
Among the changes for 2026, Rally USA and the Central European Rally will no longer feature, with Japan and Italy switching slots in the calendar.
Japan will move to late May, while Italy will host the penultimate round in October, providing a better balance between gravel and asphalt events.
Discussions are underway with Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, and China for the addition of a second event in the Asia/Pacific region, potentially expanding the calendar to 15 rounds in the future.
Plans for the 2027 calendar include bringing back Indonesia, New Zealand, and Australia as potential hosts, with an announcement expected in the coming months.
The location for Italy’s round in 2026 is yet to be finalized, with talks ongoing for the best venue to host the event.
