The 100th 6DAYS FIM Enduro of Nations will be staged in Portugal’s Alentejo region from 12 to 17 October 2026. MCN reports that the paddock will be based in Grândola, around 115 km from Lisbon, while the competitive area will extend towards the Atlantic coast and the towns of Sines, Santiago do Cacém and Odemira. The anniversary will be more than a ceremonial milestone: the event retains its demanding six-day format for riders, motorcycles and national teams.

The 6DAYS began in Great Britain in 1913 as a test of motorcycle reliability and rider endurance. Technology, suspension and support systems have changed dramatically since then, but the essential task has not. Riders must cover difficult ground at speed, avoid crashes and damage, and reach the finish with a functioning motorcycle. The event was postponed during the Second World War and the Covid-19 period before returning for its landmark 100th edition.

A 1,500-kilometre test

The route is expected to cover approximately 1,500 km and combine sandy and rocky sections. The landscape described for the event includes cork-oak woodland, rolling terrain, open dirt tracks and the influence of the Atlantic. The demands will therefore change throughout the week: fast open ground will be followed by surfaces that place greater emphasis on line choice, accuracy and physical endurance.

More than 30 nations from six continents are expected in Portugal, while the event’s official information forecasts more than 500 riders. The national programmes mentioned include Italy, France, Great Britain, Finland, the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Mexico. The Club Team categories add another layer, allowing club and amateur competitors to tackle the same terrain and strict timetable as the professional field.

Portugal has already hosted the 6DAYS in 1999, 2009 and 2019. The 2026 edition will nevertheless be the first based in this particular part of the Alentejo. The region suits the character of the event, offering open tracks, woodland, sand and rock, with the surface continually changing the rhythm and priorities of the competition.

Five days under the service clock

The first five days are scheduled to start and finish around the Grândola paddock. The daily plan calls for riders to leave at about 8am, complete two loops and tackle three special tests on each loop. The final test will be close to the paddock, but reaching the end of the course will not finish the day’s work. Riders will have only 15 minutes to service their motorcycles and prepare them for the following day.

That limit is central to the character of the 6DAYS. A loose component, damaged radiator, worn brake pad or tired chain can affect the result as much as a slow special test. The motorcycle has to be protected on the course and returned to competitive condition immediately after the finish. The same cycle begins again the next morning, repeating for five consecutive days.

A parade in Sines, a beach finale

The formal opening will come before the racing begins. On Saturday 10 October, Sines will host the Opening Ceremony and the Nations Parade. The procession will leave Vasco da Gama Castle, pass through the town and finish at a stage overlooking Vasco da Gama Beach. Teams will appear in their national colours, and the trophies from the previous edition will be returned before the centenary event gets under way.

Day Six will move the competition to Vasco da Gama Beach in Sines. After approximately 1,500 km across the week, riders will face a Final Cross Test on sand. Club Team competitions are scheduled for the morning, followed in the afternoon by the Junior, Women’s and World Trophy categories. The podium ceremonies and celebrations will then close the 100th edition.

The pressure of the national teams

The main prize is the World Trophy, contested by national teams of four riders. The programme also includes the Junior World Trophy, Women’s World Trophy and Club Team Award. This format makes consistency a team responsibility: one mistake or mechanical failure can affect the entire national effort rather than only the rider who encounters the problem.

Italy will arrive in Portugal as defending World Trophy champion after winning the 99th edition in Bergamo in 2025. It also won the Junior World Trophy there, while the United States took the Women’s World Trophy. Great Britain’s World Trophy quartet carries a combined 20 FIM Enduro World Championship titles, according to the ACU. Australia is another team worth watching, while New Zealand will include Women’s Trophy rider Rachael Archer and a strong junior presence.

With more than 30 nations, hundreds of riders, factory teams and Club Team entries, the 100th 6DAYS will have an international scale but a very specific competitive logic. Speed will be essential in the special tests, yet the week will also be shaped by motorcycle management, teamwork and the ability to contain problems. In Grândola, the challenge will not simply be to go fast; it will be to remain reliable all the way to the final test in Sines.