The Algarve could be hosting one of motorsport's biggest spectacles sooner than anyone expected. André Gomes, who heads the region's tourism board Turismo do Algarve, says talks are advanced for the famous Dakar Rally to stage its prologue and the start of its first stage in southern Portugal in January 2027. Official confirmation, he suggests, is only days away.
The sudden opportunity comes after organisers ASO announced that the 2027 edition would not be held in Saudi Arabia, its home since 2020, citing recent developments in the region. The switch is described as a one-off: Saudi Arabia is expected to take the rally back in 2028 for its 50th running. Morocco has emerged as the front-runner to host the bulk of the 2027 route, with Portugal or Spain in the frame for the European opening — which puts the Algarve in pole position.
The practical plan, as outlined by Gomes, is for the rally caravan to set up base at Algarve Stadium, turning the venue into the event's nerve centre. A prologue would be run somewhere in the region — the exact spot is still to be chosen — before competitors set off on stage one, most likely heading towards Morocco across the sea. Talks involve the Automóvel Clube de Portugal, the regional tourism board and the local municipalities.
For the Algarve, the timing is the real prize. January is one of the region's quieter months, when golfers and long-stay visitors keep things ticking but the big crowds are months away. A world-class rally rolling into town would fill hotels, restaurants and beaches-front promenades at the very start of the year, and give the region global TV exposure it rarely gets in winter. The Algarve has hosted the Dakar before, so there's local know-how to draw on.
For travellers, this is worth circling even if you've never watched a rally in your life. A Dakar start is free to watch in most spots, oddly festive, and brings bivouacs, team trucks and a travelling circus of fans into town. Combine it with mild winter weather — the Algarve often sees daytime temperatures in the mid-teens in January — and you've got an unusual off-season escape with a sporting edge.
Watch this space: the new location for the 2027 Dakar is due to be announced shortly, and if the tourism board's optimism is warranted, that announcement will name the Algarve as the starting grid.
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