The Dakar Rally is On, and You Can Watch it Online

Let’s be honest. Most of us—including me—are never going to strap into a rally car, charge through the desert, and careen over the dunes in the legendary Dakar Rally. But here’s the good news: even if we’re not in the driver’s seat, we can still follow every hair-raising moment of the world’s wildest motorsport marathon by streaming it online.

The Dakar Rally has earned a legendary reputation as the world’s toughest off-road race—“off-road” sometimes being a comical understatement. Drivers and riders tackle thousands of miles of punishing terrain, from rocky expanses to towering dunes, all while trying not to break anything important (like their vehicles… or themselves).

Originally staged from Paris to Dakar, Senegal, this endurance test has since switched up venues over the years. After a decade in South America, it found a new home in Saudi Arabia. For the sixth edition in the Kingdom, organizers are once again dialing the difficulty up to ‘Are-You-Serious?’ levels, ensuring that while we watch from our screens as competitors blaze through the desert.

The rally’s roots date back to 1979, when French adventurer Thierry Sabine got lost in the Libyan desert and decided that the middle of nowhere was the perfect place for a race. Over the decades, the Dakar has evolved yet maintained its spirit of extreme challenge. It has also expanded in scope to feature multiple categories—so now we get to watch trucks, motorcycles, cars, quads, and more recently, lightweight vehicles all kick up dust in their frantic pursuit of glory.

In short: if it has wheels and can handle a beating, you’ll find it at the Dakar. Some take on the route in motorcycles—light and nimble but notoriously punishing on the rider. Cars, meanwhile, range from factory-backed prototypes to privately prepped beasts.

Trucks often steal the show with their power and agility. Quads and side-by-sides (lightweight four-wheelers) add even more variety to the field

This year’s course stretches from Bisha to Shubaytah, nearly 8,000 kilometers in total, with over 5,000 kilometers of full-throttle specials. Immediately after the opening 48-hour “chrono stage,” participants face a marathon stage where they’ll have limited mechanical support—just to ratchet up the tension (and the risk of creative duct-tape repairs).

In the second week, the Empty Quarter’s dunes will be the ultimate gatekeepers, towering over the horizon like giant sand monsters waiting to be conquered. The race wraps up on January 17 in Shubaytah, where the final podium will welcome weary (and hopefully victorious) crews.

Before the dust starts flying, competitors will converge in Bisha. This southwestern Saudi city transforms into a massive bivouac—part campsite, part open-air garage, part social hub. The idea of pitching one big tent city well ahead of the start has become a Dakar hallmark in recent years, offering everyone a chance to complete their last-minute tweaks, do a bit of socializing, and possibly share tips on how to not get lost in the dunes. Think of it as the calm before the sandstorm.

Where to Watch

Of course, the real question is: how do we watch it without scouring the entire internet for highlights? The easiest way is to head to the official Dakar Rally website (dakar.com), which offers daily video recaps, behind-the-scenes features, and of course, plenty of dramatic photos (for those who prefer the still-life version of living vicariously).

The Dakar’s official YouTube channel also posts stage summaries, interviews, and features. You can usually find coverage on major sports networks—some countries carry nightly highlight shows or even live coverage.

If you subscribe to motorsport-focused streaming services (for instance, Red Bull TV often covers rally events), keep an eye on their schedules for streaming options.

If you are into the Dakar Rally, you’ll also want to check out the upcoming King of the Hammers, which takes place later this month in Johnson Valley, California.