What is the Race Across the World 2026 route?

Race Across the World is back for its sixth season tonight (2 April), as a new group of five pairs embark on the journey of a lifetime.

Comprised of best friends, siblings, a father and daughter, cousins and in-laws, each team will be tested both physically and emotionally, as they are pushed to their absolute limits.

In the most extreme race to date, the teams will experience conditions from 30 degree Mediterranean heat to subarctic temperatures of minus 20 degrees - and they have to do it all on a budget of less than £26 per day.

So, just where will this year's race take the teams? Read on to learn more about the Race Across the World 2026 route.

What is the Race Across the World 2026 route?

The five duos will begin their adventure in Palermo, on the island of Sicily.

From there, they will travel 12,000km to reach the finish line on the shores of lake Hövsgöl, in northern Mongolia.

To get there, the pairs will retrace parts of the ancient Silk Road, following in the footsteps of traders who once connected the east and west. As ever, only when they reach one checkpoint will they learn where the race will take them next.

The route will take the pairs through Italy, Greece, Türkiye, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia – each bringing its own language, culture and climate.

"You live and breathe it," series producer Michael Perry told Radio Times of being on the ground for this year's race. "You don’t leave their side. You do whatever they do. But you can’t interfere. I’ve seen people leave notepads, or you might notice out of the corner of your eye that there’s a better option. You have to bite your lip."

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Race Across the World returns on Thursday 2 April at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer. Seasons 1-5 are available to watch on iPlayer.

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