Ott Tanak during Rally Saudi Arabia in 2025. Image: Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool
Saudi Arabia was to host the season finale on November 12-15 but has been scratched from the calendar amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Instead, the season will conclude with the 13th round at Rally Italia Sardegna on October 1-4.
Rally Saudi Arabia will continue as planned but will instead be solely run for the FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC).
WRC Promoter CEO Eric Boullier cited “ongoing regional developments and the resulting logistical challenges” for the move.
“The FIA and WRC Promoter have worked extensively in recent months with the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF), the local organising team and championship stakeholders to explore every possible avenue to enable the WRC event to take place as planned,” the FIA said in a statement.
“Despite these efforts, ongoing uncertainty in the region and its effect on logistical arrangements, requires the WRC element of Rally Saudi Arabia not to proceed in 2026.
“Saudi Arabia remained ready to host the event safely and successfully. The Kingdom continues to operate normally with national systems fully functional and sports and entertainment events continuing as planned as part of a busy year-round calendar.”
The decision to omit Rally Saudi Arabia from the FIA World Rally Championship has long been mooted.
The decision will no doubt further fuel speculation relating to F1 and its planned events in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates in late November and early December.
“Ongoing regional developments mean that the WRC element of Rally Saudi Arabia will not proceed this year,” said FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
“These are never easy decisions, particularly after the significant work undertaken by everyone involved in preparing for the event.
“While the WRC element of the event will not take place this year, our confidence in the organisers and in the long-term future of the rally remains unchanged.
“The FIA Middle East Rally Championship event will continue as planned in November, and we will continue to work closely with SAMF, SMC and the organising team to support the successful delivery of the event in November.
“Our focus now is firmly on the future. We will continue working together with our partners in Saudi Arabia and WRC Promoter towards bringing the FIA World Rally Championship back in 2027.”
The cancellation means just one round remains in the 2026 season. Elfyn Evans leads Toyota teammate Sami Pajari by 17 points. Oliver Solberg is mathematically in contention for the title in third, 21 points in arrears.