Here are the latest publicly reported items about Race Across the World in 2026.
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Route and schedule: The 2026 series features an east-to-west route including Italy, Greece, Türkiye, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Mongolia, with the race kicking off in April 2026 and continuing weekly episodes through May 2026. This route is described as the “toughest yet” by coverage around the series launch [Radio Times citation: route details; April 2026 preview].[2]
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Start date and episode lineup: BBC’s Race Across the World Series 6 began its new run in early April 2026, with episodes scheduled weekly in the UK on BBC One; episode airings listed through May 2026 are noted by multiple outlets [Tech Advisor summary of Episode dates], [TV Guide article on start date and air schedule].[3][9]
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Contestants: The 2026 series features five teams (Jo & Kush; Katie & Harrison; Molly & Andrew; Puja & Roshni; Mark & Margo) competing for the series cash prize, reflecting the familiar two-person team format used in prior seasons [Tech Advisor and TV Guide team announcements].[6][3]
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Casting and audition context: Applications and auditions for Race Across the World 2026 followed prior years’ process, including in-person London auditions and producer assessments; news outlets highlight the demanding nature of the casting process and common rejection reasons [Yahoo UK application overview].[8]
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Related coverage and context: Multiple entertainment outlets and TV-focused sites have published previews and “what to expect” guides for the 2026 series, including route checkpoints and anticipated episode timings; these sources align on the core facts above [Radio Times route piece], [Digital Spy / TV Guide previews].[4][9][2]
Illustration of route highlights:
- Palermo (Sicily) to Hatgal (Mongolia) with checkpoints across southern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and Mongolia; this emphasizes diverse climates and languages as contestants navigate without smartphones in many legs [Tech Advisor route summary].[3]
If you’d like, I can compile a concise day-by-day episode guide for the 2026 run or pull direct quotes from these outlets. I can also add a simple visual map of the route or a quick table comparing start dates, episode counts, and contestant pairs. Citations: route details and start dates are reported by Radio Times, Tech Advisor, and TV Guide previews, with contestant info echoed by TV-focused coverage.[9][2][6][3]