The 2026 Baja España Aragón will not take place on its scheduled dates of July 24–26 after the Government of Aragón decided to suspend the event because of the extreme risk of wildfires across the region.
The decision was based on technical assessments and forecasts indicating red-alert conditions in the province of Teruel and other parts of Aragón. Exceptionally high temperatures, strong winds, very low relative humidity and prolonged dry conditions have combined to create an environment in which even a small ignition could develop into a serious wildfire.
Regional authorities concluded that the large movement of competition, assistance and spectator vehicles through rural areas could not be safely accommodated under the current circumstances. The concentration of spectators along the route and the possible need to divert emergency resources towards the rally were also considered incompatible with the level of risk forecast for the coming days.
The decision followed discussions involving representatives of the Aragón regional government, Teruel City Council, forestry and emergency services, as well as event organiser Esedos Events & Productions S.L.
Although the rally has been suspended on its original dates, both the regional government and the organiser intend to examine possible alternatives that would allow the 42nd edition of the Baja España Aragón to be held later in 2026. No replacement date has yet been announced.
While the final decision came only days before the start, the possibility of disruption had been increasingly difficult to ignore.
Europe has been affected by repeated and increasingly intense heatwaves during the opening months of the summer, with Spain among the countries suffering the most severe consequences. Extreme temperatures, extended periods without meaningful rainfall and critically dry vegetation have produced dangerous conditions across large areas of the Iberian Peninsula.
Western Europe recorded its hottest June on record, while Spain and France were among the countries most seriously affected by the heat. The extreme conditions continued into July, contributing to major wildfires across Spain and placing emergency services under sustained pressure.
The situation has been particularly serious in Spain, where large fires, evacuations and repeated periods of extreme fire danger have marked the summer. Another heatwave was developing as the Baja Aragón approached, with temperatures above 40°C forecast in several regions and wildfire danger classified as very high or extreme.
Against that background, staging a major rally-raid across remote tracks, forested areas and dry agricultural land had become increasingly difficult to reconcile with public safety and environmental protection.
The Aragón authorities also took into account the heavy workload already placed on firefighters, emergency personnel and civil protection services during recent incidents. Avoiding further pressure on those resources was one of the central considerations behind the decision.
The Baja España Aragón is one of Europe’s longest-established and most prestigious cross-country rallies. First held in 1983, it has become an important fixture on the international rally-raid calendar and traditionally attracts leading drivers, riders, manufacturers and private teams from across Europe and beyond.
The 2026 event was due to form the fifth round of the FIA World Baja Cup and the fourth round of the FIA European Baja Cup. Competitors registered for the FIA competitions were preparing for approximately 490 kilometres of selective sections on the fast, dusty and rocky tracks surrounding Teruel.
The rally was also included in the FIM Bajas World Cup calendar for motorcycles and quads and formed part of the Spanish Cross-Country Rally Championship, the CERTT GT2i.
Cars, Challenger prototypes, SSVs, motorcycles, quads and trucks were expected in Teruel, with a strong and varied international entry already preparing for the event. Several Portuguese drivers, co-drivers and teams were also due to take part.
For many competitors, the announcement represents a major logistical and financial setback. Some teams had already travelled to Spain or were completing their final preparations when the decision was confirmed. Nevertheless, the scale of the wildfire threat left the authorities with little room to accept the additional risks created by an event of this size.
The postponement may also reopen the discussion about the Baja Aragón’s traditional late-July date.
For decades, heat, dust and hard ground have formed part of the event’s sporting identity. However, the increasing frequency and severity of European heatwaves are beginning to create challenges that go beyond driver endurance or mechanical reliability.
The regional government and the organiser have indicated that, alongside the search for a new date in 2026, they will consider a more stable calendar solution for future editions, reducing the likelihood of the rally coinciding with the period of greatest wildfire danger.
The immediate priority is now to determine whether the competition can be reorganised before the end of the year without creating conflicts with the FIA, FIM and Spanish championship calendars.
Until a new date is officially confirmed, the Baja España Aragón 2026 remains postponed.
Rally-Raid Network
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