Everything You Need to Know About Rallye Monte-Carlo 2026

IARLA BYRNE3 January, 20262 Mins read348

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The 94th Rallye Monte-Carlo, organised and run by the Automobile Club de Monaco, takes place from 22 to 25 January 2026.

Held under the High Patronage of Their Serene Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Monaco, the 94th edition of the Rallye Monte-Carlo will launch the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship season. As one of motorsport’s most iconic events, it draws the world’s elite drivers and teams to its demanding alpine stages.

The event programme begins with official reconnaissance runs from Sunday, 18th January, to Tuesday, 20th January. These are followed by the Shakedown on Wednesday, 21st January, at 14:01. This 4.80 km test session, first introduced in 2017 and extended for 2026, will be held on a modified route in Gap.

^{Video via Automobile Club de Monaco on YouTube}

Event Preview

Day 1 – Thursday, 22^nd January, 2026

The ceremonial start will take place at 14:30 from the Quai Albert 1er podium in Monaco, with the opening leg covering three special stages (61.58 km) across the Alpes-Maritimes and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence.

Toudon / Saint-Antonin (SS 1 – 22,90 km – 16h05)
Esclangon / Seyne-les-Alpes (SS 2 – 23,48 km – 18h38)
Vaumeilh / Claret (SS 3 – 15,20 km – 20h35)

Day 2 – Friday, 23^rd January, 2026

The rally’s longest and most demanding leg occurs today, featuring a gruelling 129.38 km across six stages in the Drôme and Hautes-Alpes departments. This leg comprises a three-stage loop repeated twice.

Laborel / Chauvac-Laux-Montaux (SS 4/7 – 17,84 km – 08h54/15h16)
Saint-Nazaire-le-Désert / La Motte-Chalancon (SS 5/8 – 29,00 km – 10h22/16h44)
La Bâtie-des-Fonts / Aspremont (SS 6/9 – 17,85 km – 11h40/18h05)

^{Courtesy Automobile Club de Monaco}

Day 3 – Saturday, 24^th January, 2026

A major highlight awaits today. Following stages in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, the action returns to Monaco for a Super Special Stage on a modified version of the legendary Monaco Circuit – the first such stage in the Principality since 2008. This 2.82 km spectacle begins at 18:35 and is free for all spectators.

La Bréole / Bellaffaire via the Garcinets pass run twice (SS 10/12 – 30,10 km – 08h31/12h31)
Vaumeilh / Claret (SS 11 – 15,20 km – 09h45)
Monaco Circuit Super Special stage (SS 13 – 2,82 km – 18h35)

Day 4 – Sunday, 25^th January, 2026

The rally concludes today with the classic mountain tests, including the Wolf Power Stage on the legendary La Bollène-Vésubie / Moulinet route, where extra championship points will be awarded.