The Dakar Rally could return to Portugal in 2027, two decades after its last start in Lisbon. One of the scenarios under consideration would see the famous rally-raid begin in the Algarve, with an opening prologue in southern Portugal before competitors head to Morocco. The proposal has gained momentum, although organisers have yet to confirm the final route.
The possibility emerged after Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), the company behind the Dakar Rally and the Tour de France, announced that the 2027 race would no longer take place in Saudi Arabia. Citing recent developments in the region, the organisers confirmed that the competition would go ahead in a different location, with a formal announcement expected in the coming days.
According to information reported by Portuguese news agency Lusa, Portugal and Morocco are among the countries being considered. Spain has also been mentioned as a possible host, but a route beginning in the Algarve and continuing across North Africa has attracted particular attention.
Could the Dakar Rally start in the Algarve?
The proposal centres on the Algarve Stadium, which could serve as a logistical base for competitors, support crews and event organisers. Under the scenario being discussed, the rally would begin with a prologue in the region before the first full stage takes competitors towards Morocco.
André Gomes, president of Turismo do Algarve, has described the project as being at an advanced stage in comments reported by Lusa. However, he also made clear that no final agreement had been reached. The route, infrastructure requirements and practical arrangements still need to be settled before any official confirmation.
For the Algarve, hosting the start of one of motorsport’s most recognisable events would offer a different kind of international exposure. Best known for its beaches, coastal resorts and golf courses, southern Portugal would become the starting point for an endurance race associated with remote landscapes, demanding terrain and long-distance adventure.
The region is already familiar with motorsport, but the scale and international profile of the Dakar would make this a particularly significant occasion. For now, however, an Algarve start remains a possibility rather than a confirmed decision.
A possible return to Portugal after 20 years
Portugal has a special place in the Dakar Rally’s history. Lisbon hosted the start of the 2006 and 2007 editions, when competitors gathered in the Portuguese capital before making their way towards Africa.
A third consecutive start from Lisbon was planned for January 2008, but the event was cancelled on the eve of the race because of security threats in Mauritania. The decision marked a turning point for the competition, bringing its traditional European and African format to an abrupt end.
The Dakar subsequently moved to South America in 2009, with routes crossing countries including Argentina, Chile, Peru, Bolivia and Paraguay over the following eleven editions. In 2020, the rally relocated again, this time to Saudi Arabia, where it has remained.
A 2027 start in the Algarve would therefore represent the Dakar’s first return to Portugal in twenty years. A route continuing into Morocco would also reconnect the competition with the European and African geography that shaped its early identity.
A change of scenery before the Dakar’s 50th edition
First held in 1979, the Dakar Rally was created by French adventurer Thierry Sabine and originally linked Paris with the Senegalese capital. Over the decades, its routes changed considerably, with memorable editions including Paris–Cape Town in 1992, Granada–Dakar in 1995 and Dakar–Cairo in 2000.
The proposed relocation for 2027 is not expected to mark a permanent departure from the Middle East. According to ASO’s announcement, Saudi Arabia is due to host the Dakar again in 2028, for an edition presented by the organisers as the rally’s 50th.
That would make 2027 a temporary change of venue, potentially giving Portugal and Morocco a rare opportunity to welcome the event back to its historic territory.
The final decision now rests with the organisers, who have said that the new host location will be announced separately. Until then, the possibility of seeing Dakar competitors set off from the Algarve remains one of the most intriguing developments surrounding the 2027 race.
