Filming Locations Revealed for 2026’s Race Across the World Series
The popular travel competition returns for 2026 with what producers describe as its toughest route yet. Five new pairs set off from Palermo to rural Mongolia across roughly 7,400 miles.
Teams and format
Contestants compete on a shoestring budget, carrying only backpacks and essential items. They travel without phones and bank cards after the race start ritual.
- Jo and Kush — best friends.
- Katie and Harrison — siblings.
- Andrew and Molly — father and daughter.
- Puja and Roshni — cousins.
- Mark and Margo — in-laws.
Route overview
The course follows stretches of the historical Silk Road across Europe and Asia. Teams pass through Italy, Greece, Turkey, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia.
Early legs send pairs across southern Italy. Choices include routes via Naples, Sorrento, Puglia and the Calabrian coast.
Start: Palermo, Sicily
The race begins in Palermo, the island capital of Sicily. Competitors hand in phones and bank cards at the Church of San Giuseppe dei Teatini.
Palermo displays Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque architecture. Norman-era palaces show Arab and Byzantine influences.
Checkpoint One: Fiskardo, Kefalonia
The first checkpoint sits in Fiskardo on Kefalonia’s northern tip. The village is known for Venetian-era buildings that survived unchanged.
Fiskardo attracts yachts and waterfront diners. Pebble beaches and bays offer swimming, diving and boat hire.
Finish: Hatgal, Mongolia
The finish lies in Hatgal beside Lake Hövsgöl in northern Mongolia. The lake is often called the Blue Pearl and is the country’s largest by volume.
Hövsögöl is one of about 20 ancient lakes worldwide and has existed for roughly two million years. Winters are severe, with temperatures falling as low as -49°C in January.
Every March the lake hosts a two-day festival. Events include ice skating, horse sleigh racing, ice sumo and Shamanic rituals.
Production notes
Filming locations include Mediterranean cities and Central Asian steppes. The 2026 Race Across the World series tests navigation, endurance and budgeting skills.
Filmogaz.com confirmed that crews captured urban crowds and remote landscapes. The journey aims to showcase contrasting climates and cultures.
