Nine-round 2026 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship (HEWC) calendar reveals a double dose of Italy, The Roof moved earlier, a revisit to Silver Kings, the return of Extreme Lagares and Alestrem as season opener in April.

Moving into their second season under new promoters and direction, the HEWC arrives with a positive look to it for 2026 and spreads neatly across the main enduro months of the year, in the northern hemisphere at least.

Three new races are added to the series including the French classic Alestrem to kick things off, a trip to Sweden in August for a new Forza Orza event, and the double visit to Italy includes the Wild Woods near Genoa (with the second, Abestone, also moving location), plus there’s a proposed earlier visit to The Roof of Africa provisionally in September and a return to the widely praised Silver Kings US round in Idaho, USA.

Those highlights sit alongside established, traditional major hard enduro events which see themselves back once more including Sea to Sky, Hixpania and a welcome return of Extreme Lagares.

Three new races & one old favourite

France will open the 2026 campaign with 24MX Alestrem Hard Enduro on April 17–19, the southern French event stepping into a prime early-season slot and marking a first appearance in the series. Alestrem has long been a rider favourite and is already established as a stand alone event but very much part of the hard enduro calendar. Being part of the 2026 HEWC will also finally bring the FIM World Championship to French soil.

From there, the series moves to Portugal for Extreme XL Lagares on May 1–3 which also has a great history and was a firm favourite back in its heyday a decade or so ago when it famously ran a prologue on the streets of Porto.

The mountains of Idaho, USA proved a very popular inclusion last year at Silver Kings Hard Enduro, albeit with the series still finding its feet with the new promoters and changes to the rules system. With more time to plan, it should be another good one with North American riders getting their chance to challenge the HEWC regulars in June. 

The championship will then jump back to Europe for the first of two visits to Italy with Abestone Rodeo Miravalle on July 10–12 moving from its established home to a new one.

As we already reported, there’s another new addition to the calendar with Forza Orza in Sweden on August 20–22 — the first time the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship has visited Scandinavia, although it’s worth noting this clashes with the Tennessee Knockout.

The second Italian round, on September 11–13, is Wild Woods Extreme, traditionally held in the north, just outside Genoa and marking the third new race in the calendar.

The Roof of Africa is pencilled in to move to September, from its well-established November dates, although this one has an asterisk next to it as awaiting confirmation. 
Navigation skills will also needed at the holiday resport race in Turkey, Sea to Sky on October 8–10, followed by Hixpania on October 23–25, once again providing an intense finale to the season.

2026 Hard Enduro World Championship Calendar:

Round 1: Alestrem, France – April 17-19

Round 2: Extreme Lagares, Portugal – May 1-3

Round 3: Silver Kings, USA – June 18-20

Round 4: Abestone Rodeo Miravalle, Italy – July 10-12

Round 5: Forza Orza, Sweden – August 20-22

Round 6: Wild Woods Extreme, Italy – September 11-13

Round 7: Roof of Africa, Lesotho – September 23-26

Round 8: Sea to Sky, Turkey – October 8-10

Round 9: Hixpania, Spain – October 23-25

“Our goal for 2026 was clear: build a compact, world-class calendar that works for riders, teams and organisers, and gives fans an unforgettable season,” said HEWC Championship Director Ross Whitehead. “With nine rounds across some of the most iconic and demanding terrain on the planet, we believe this is a big step forward for the series.”

 

Photo Credit: Future7Media