New classes for the 2026 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship including Youth, Four-Stroke and Senior World Cups as the series aims to clarify and unify itself ahead of season two under the new promoters.

Aiming to improve “sporting integrity and the experience for riders, teams, officials and fans alike”, the 2026 FIM Hard Enduro World Championship promoters and the FIM have announced new rules and regulations for the 2026 season.

Laid down for all events, the aim is to improve integrity with a clear set of standards, event formats, timekeeping, classification, results validation, podium protocols and media procedures, ensuring consistency across all rounds while respecting the unique character of each event.

The regulations take some reading but include clarification of new classes for 2026, aiming to open up the series to younger, older and female riders, and be more inclusive with a new four-stroke World Cup. Electric bikes are officially allowed also, but only in the full world championship class, not amateur ranks, as per other FIM competition.

There’s also a ruling that over-50s have to go to the extra trouble and expense of obtaining a medical fitness certificate along with their championship licence application, which seems a bit harsh. Don’t they know 50 is the new 40? Poor, old Graham will have to put his hand in his pocket yet again.

New World Championship and World Cup classes:

  • FIM Hard Enduro World Championship (including 4 Stroke World Cup)

  • FIM Hard Enduro Junior World Championship

  • FIM Hard Enduro 4 Stroke World Cup

  • FIM Hard Enduro Youth World Cup

  • FIM Hard Enduro Women’s World Cup

  • FIM Hard Enduro Senior World Cup

Subject to a minimum of five registered riders in this class throughout the championship. Different classes will run different number plate colours to distinguish them, and the promoters of the series might implement a new “leader jersey” rule. Age restrictions apply for some and the Youth class can race up to a 150cc maximum.

Age of riders

For the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship and Women’s World Cup the minimum age is 16; minimum 16 and maximum 24 (as of the first day of the event) for the Juniors.

The FIM Hard Enduro Senior World Cup class has a minimum age of 40 and applicants aged over 50 years must obtain a certificate of medical fitness (including a normal exercise tolerance electrocardiogram) issued by a doctor recognised by their FMN.

The FIM Hard Enduro Youth World Cup has a minimum age of 14 and maximum of 20. The FIM Hard Enduro Youth World Cup can only be included where the event is held on private land or officially closed roads.

Competition format and points structure confirmed for 2026

The final regulations confirm the championship’s points system for both single-day and multi-day events as well. It got a little confusing there for a while in understanding what counted and what didn’t at different HEWC races.

That has been clarified for 2026 to ensure rider performance across prologues, race days and overall classifications “contributes meaningfully to the championship standings.”
“By rewarding consistency across an entire weekend, the structure reflects the core demands of Hard Enduro and encourages riders to commit to the full championship campaign.”

Final classification clarification:

  • The FIM Hard Enduro World Championship will take place on all rounds of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship (all rounds count).

  • The FIM Hard Enduro Junior World Championship will take place on all rounds of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship. The final rankings will take into account the best six results of the season.

  • The FIM Hard Enduro 4 Stroke World Cup*, Senior World Cup*, Women’s World Cup* and Youth World Cup* will take place on all rounds of the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship Calendar. The final rankings will take into account the best six results of the season.

Subject to a minimum of five registered riders in this class throughout the championship.

Format of each event:

Each event will be divided into three separate scoring competitions: prologue, sprint and main event/final. Prologues can be an EnduroCross-style race, straight rhythm or a single timed section. Races can be single or multi-day events with various event formats including A-to-B, GPS/rally-style with checkpoints and service points, multi-lap races with checkpoints and a different start/finish.

Points system:

With points up for grabs across the prologue, sprint and main races, the idea remains to encourage sporting riding across a whole event. The maximum points a rider can obtain over an event is 33 points – that would be three for the prologue, 10 for the sprint and 20 for the main event.

In the main event the first 15 riders receive points in their respective class, plus the first 15 riders from the scratch classification receive World Championship points regardless of two or four-stroke (if registered).

FIM Hard Enduro Junior World Championship riders who have additionally registered for the World Championship may also score points in that category.

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

 

Photo Credit: Future7Media | Andrea Belluschi