Based on the official announcement of October 30, 2026. The dates still need FIA approval.
Dakar 2027 will run from January 9 to 23, 2027, and for the first time in 20 years the rally is returning to Africa. After the organizers decided not to stage it in Saudi Arabia, the 49th Dakar Rally 2027 was moved to Portugal and Morocco. It starts in the Algarve, crosses the Mediterranean to Nador and finishes in Marrakech. This guide covers the Dakar 2027 dates, the full Dakar 2027 route with stage distances, what changed, and what to know if you plan to be in Morocco in January.
Dakar 2027 at a Glance
- Edition: the 49th Dakar and the opening round of the 2027 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship
- Dates: January 9 to 23, 2027, subject to approval by the FIA World Motor Sport Council
- Start: Loulé-Faro, in the Algarve, Portugal
- Finish: Marrakech, Morocco
- Distance: 7,824 km in total, including 4,341 km of timed special stages
- Format: a prologue, 12 stages, one rest day in Agadir and six bivouacs
- Host countries: Portugal for the prologue and Stage 1, Morocco for the other 11 stages
When Is Dakar 2027? Dates and Schedule
The original plan placed the rally in Saudi Arabia from January 1 to 15, 2027. The new Dakar 2027 dates begin eight days later. The service park opens in Loulé-Faro on January 5, and administrative and technical checks run from January 6 to 8. The FIA says the World Motor Sport Council must still approve the dates, so confirm them before you book flights or hotels.
Here is the day-by-day schedule with the timed kilometers for each day:
| Date (January 2027) | Stage | Where | Timed km |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Prologue | Algarve, Portugal | 29 |
| 10 | Stage 1 | Algarve, then overnight ferry | 100 |
| 11 | Transfer | Arrival in Morocco, on to Bouarfa | none |
| 12 | Stage 2 | Bouarfa loop | 390 |
| 13 | Stage 3 | Bouarfa loop | 410 |
| 14 | Stage 4 | Bouarfa to Zagora | 490 |
| 15 | Stage 5 | Zagora loop | 365 |
| 16 | Stage 6 | Zagora to Agadir | 365 |
| 17 | Rest day | Agadir | none |
| 18 | Stage 7 | Agadir to Smara | 500 |
| 19 | Stage 8 | Smara to the Refuge bivouac | 355 |
| 20 | Stage 9 | Refuge bivouac to Smara | 390 |
| 21 | Stage 10 | Smara loop | 470 |
| 22 | Stage 11 | Smara to Marrakech | 455 |
| 23 | Stage 12 | Marrakech | 22 |
The timed distances add up to the official 4,341 km. Road sections between the start, the special and the bivouac bring the full total to 7,824 km.
Dakar 2027 Route: From Portugal to Marrakech
The Dakar 2027 route crosses Morocco from the northeast to the far south, then returns north along the Atlantic coast to Marrakech. Most special stages run between 350 and 500 km. Race director David Castera said that, despite the short preparation time, his team designed a true Dakar, and that competitors will discover the kingdom from one end to the other.
Portugal: Prologue and Stage 1 (January 9 to 10)
The Algarve Stadium hosts the opening activities. The prologue is a 29 km timed test, and Stage 1 adds 100 km of special in the Algarve. After Stage 1 the convoy transfers to a port and crosses the Mediterranean overnight to Nador, in northeast Morocco, arriving in Africa on January 11. The route summaries published so far do not name the departure port.
Morocco, Week One: Bouarfa to Agadir (January 11 to 17)
- Bouarfa: the first Moroccan bivouac, in the Oriental region. Stages 2 and 3 are loops around it
- Merzouga dunes: Stage 4 runs from Bouarfa to Zagora and passes through the Erg Chebbi dunes
- Erg Chegaga: Stage 5 loops around Zagora and crosses the Erg Chegaga dunes, with no asphalt
- Agadir: Stage 6 ends here, and a 24-hour rest day follows on January 17
Morocco, Week Two: The Far South and the Atlantic Coast (January 18 to 23)
- Stage 7: Agadir to Smara, the longest special of the race at 500 km
- Stages 8 and 9: a marathon stage out to a remote Refuge bivouac in the far south, in the area around Dakhla, and back to Smara. Teams get no assistance from their service crews on the marathon stage
- Stage 10: a loop around Smara with 470 km of special
- Stage 11: Smara to Marrakech, the longest day at 1,035 km including road sections, with a fast sand descent of about 20 km to Playa Blanca near the Atlantic
- Stage 12: a short 22 km special in Marrakech, then the finish on January 23
ASO counts six bivouacs, but only Bouarfa has been named so far. The stage finishes suggest Zagora, Agadir, Smara, the Refuge camp and Marrakech as the others.
Dakar Rally 2027: Why It Left Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia hosted seven editions in a row from 2020 to 2026. The route presented in May 2026 for the kingdom ran from January 1 to 15, started and finished at King Abdullah Economic City, and had 5,320 km of special stages, the longest since the move to Saudi Arabia. On October 25, ASO and the Saudi Motorsport Company announced that Dakar Rally 2027 would not take place there, citing recent developments in the region and calling the decision exceptional and one-off. The new venue was confirmed on October 30, about ten weeks before the prologue. Saudi Arabia will host the 50th Dakar in 2028.
Both new hosts already stage rounds of the FIA-FIM World Rally-Raid Championship. Morocco holds the Rallye du Maroc, and Portugal has hosted a round for the past three seasons. The Royal Moroccan Automobile Sports Federation and Portugal’s FPAK and ACP are supporting the event, and ASO’s statement praised the quality of Morocco’s deserts.
This is the first Dakar on African soil since 2007, the last edition to run from Lisbon to Dakar. The 2008 edition was cancelled on January 4, 2008, over fears of attacks in Mauritania. The Dakar Rally then ran in South America from 2009 to 2019 and moved to Saudi Arabia in 2020.
Categories and Entries
The Dakar Classic and Dakar Future Mission 1000 programs move with the main race. The route announcement does not list the race categories. Recent editions have included motorcycles, cars, side-by-sides, light prototypes and trucks. Check ASO’s official entry lists for the relocated edition closer to the start.
Following Dakar 2027 in Morocco
- Where to look: the rally passes through the Oriental region around Bouarfa, then Zagora, Agadir, Smara and Marrakech. Agadir hosts the rest day on January 17 and Marrakech the finish on January 23
- Spectator access: the route announcement does not cover public access to bivouacs or stage viewpoints. Check the official Dakar website and local announcements closer to the date
- TV and streaming: broadcast partners differ by country, and none were named in the route announcement
- Weather: January days are mild in Marrakech, Agadir and the south, around 18 to 23 °C according to Rough Guides, but it can feel quite cold, so pack warm layers
- Far south: before traveling to Smara or Dakhla, check your government’s current travel advice
- Dunes without the race: the Erg Chebbi and Erg Chegaga dunes crossed in Stages 4 and 5 are regular destinations for desert trips on ordinary days
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Dakar 2027? Dakar 2027 runs from January 9 to 23, 2027, with the prologue on January 9 and the finish in Marrakech on January 23. The service park opens on January 5, and the FIA World Motor Sport Council still has to approve the dates.
Where is Dakar Rally 2027 taking place? In Portugal and Morocco. The prologue and Stage 1 are in the Algarve, then the convoy crosses to Nador and races through Morocco for 11 stages.
What is the Dakar 2027 route? It runs from Loulé-Faro to Marrakech via Bouarfa, Zagora, Agadir and Smara, reaches the far south near Dakhla, then follows the Atlantic coast north. The total is 7,824 km, of which 4,341 km are timed.
Does Dakar 2027 finish in Dakar? No. The finish is in Marrakech. The rally last reached the city of Dakar, in Senegal, in 2007.
Is Dakar 2027 still in Saudi Arabia? No. ASO and the Saudi Motorsport Company called the move exceptional and one-off. Saudi Arabia will host the 50th edition in 2028.
Is this the first Dakar in Africa since 2007? Yes. The 2008 edition was cancelled the day before its start, the rally then ran in South America and Saudi Arabia, and the FIA describes the 2027 edition as a return to Africa after 20 years.
Can I watch Dakar 2027 in person? The route announcement does not cover access to bivouacs or stage viewpoints. Follow the official Dakar website and local announcements for spectator information.
Conclusion
Dakar 2027 brings the rally back to Africa with a 7,824 km route from the Algarve to Marrakech, scheduled for January 9 to 23, 2027. Watch for the FIA’s approval of the dates, the entry lists and any public-access details. If you want to see the rally in Morocco, plan around Agadir on the rest day, January 17, and Marrakech on finish day, January 23.