Exciting new additions and iconic classics as this year’s stages are revealed
The fourth edition of BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia, round two of the FIA European Rally Championship 2026, will take place from May 22–24 with Karlstad as its base. Over three days, Europe’s rally elite will battle it out across 16 demanding stages in central Värmland.
This year, the rally returns to Färjestad, where both the service park and HQ will be located at the trotting track.
The event will run Friday to Sunday, instead of Thursday to Saturday as in previous years. Friday kicks off at 11:00 with Free Practice on the new Träfors shakedown stage, located just off the E18 east of Väse. Starting positions will also be decided here, as the stage is run as the Qualifying Stage at 14:01.
The ceremonial start takes place in Karlstad’s city centre at Stora Torget, where activities begin at 17:00. The rally is officially opened at 18:00 before all crews cross the start ramp. The action then begins with the city-close spectator stage SS1 Bråtebäcken, featuring the LBC Arena in the gravel quarry – a stage that debuted last year and quickly became a fan favourite.
Saturday heads west with Värmskog as the opening stage. The rally will once again use a loop format, where two stages are run twice before service, allowing for shorter waiting times and the opportunity to watch up to four stages in a single day. After Värmskog comes Stensjön, which served as the Power Stage in the Swedish Rally Championship final in Arvika in 2023, before another run of Värmskog leads into the midday service at Färjestad.
After service, crews tackle Gårdsjö outside Sunne, followed by the iconic Colin’s Crest, where the world’s most famous rally jump once again delivers spectacular action throughout the afternoon.
Sunday moves east from Karlstad. Bäckelid is a returning stage with a start at Sutterhöjden, running towards Kungsskogens Gård and finishing on parts of the classic Lungsund stage. Ängebäckstorp is also back with a new ending.
The afternoon begins with the new stage Lövhöjden, north of Väse. The rally is decided on SS Ölme, this year’s Power Stage, which will be run in the opposite direction compared to 2025.
After the action in the forests, crews return to Stora Torget in Karlstad for the finish ceremony and podium celebrations in the heart of the city from 19:00.
Stig Rune Kjernsli, Clerk of the Course for BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia, said:
“It’s been a long process to get everything in place, but we are very happy to now present a route we truly believe in. We have key classics like Colin’s Crest and Ölme, which have been part of the rally since its inception in 2023, combined with some of the finest stages in western Värmland, including Värmskog and now also Stensjön.
Together with several new additions, we aim to offer a real challenge for the drivers. We now look forward to working with all clubs and volunteers to deliver a great rally for both fans and competitors on May 22–24.”
BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia 2026 – Itinerary:
Friday, May 22
11:00 – Free Practice SS Träfors
14:01 – Qualifying Stage SS Träfors
15:15 – Qualifying Stage SS Träfors
18:00 – Ceremonial Start – Stora Torget
18:33 – SS1 Bråtebäcken
Saturday, May 23
08:03 – SS2 Värmskog 1
09:36 – SS3 Stensjön 1
10:59 – SS4 Värmskog 2
12:19 – Service – Karlstad Service Park
14:17 – SS5 Gårdsjö 1
15:10 – SS6 Colins 1
16:20 – SS7 Gårdsjö 2
17:13 – SS8 Colins 2
19:08 – Service – Karlstad Service Park
Sunday, May 24
07:40 – SS9 Bäckelid 1
08:29 – SS10 Ängebäckstorp 1
09:32 – SS11 Bäckelid 2
10:21 – SS12 Ängebäckstorp 2
11:39 – Service – Karlstad Service Park
13:02 – SS13 Lövhöjden 1
14:05 – SS14 Ölme 1
15:07 – SS15 Lövhöjden 2
17:05 – SS16 Ölme 2 (Power Stage)
19:00 – Podium Ceremony – Stora Torget
