Race Across The World 2026

[LindorDoubleChoc]

Hooray!

This is back for another series, starting Thursday.

I just googled very quickly and they set off from Sicily and end the race in northern Mongolia - sounds interesting.

I don't know anything else about it at this point, but thought that we should have a thread ready and waiting.

Yes, pretty similar, really. Essentially a sheet in the form of a long bag that you can get into before the sleeping bag.

I like the brother and sister best so far.

I thought I’d find Margo a bit grating but sometimes that attitude and outlook is exactly what’s needed and she seems like a genuinely decent person (I thought it was widely acknowledged that Hyacinth was also a good person in retrospect!)

The route looks incredible.

Presume they know it 5 or 6 weeks so they were using that to figure out the per day fee.
Guess South Italy will be most expensive part so wouldn't worry about budget yet.
Not too keen on back story but was amazed to hear the brother n sister say 14 homes!!! To me they didn't seem like people from care ( but how would I know, bias assumption)
So far like all the contestants the running is snow at end looked very hard wonder if they were carrying snow boots and trousers or if they have another bag that can be swapped.
Saw a little more about accommodation but again bit vague would like more on that as an important part is traveling.
I was looking up Italy for holidays after watching

“I was looking up Italy for holidays after watching”

I think half the beauty of this programme is that it’s not just a reality show or race, you discover new parts of the world as well. Part travel show, part holiday, part race and part reality (which is why the over emphasis on sob stories don’t work - show us more scenery producers!).

We’ve all heard about the Niagara Falls, but who knew about the Iguazu falls in South America before this programme. Equally stunning, if not more do, I imagine (not been to either).

Exactly this!

I went to Iguacu at least 20 years ago. It's far, far better than Niagara which is extremely tacky. Mind you, Iguacu might be by now.

I think there is some artistic licence in the programme. In one of the earlier series, they were at an Argentinian vineyard we had visited not long before. It looked as if they were staying there but the accommodation portrayed was not on that site.

I’d like to see fewer clips of what’s coming up as sometimes they are almost spoilers

Iguazu is in a league of its own. I visited Niagara a few years later. Dh loved it and I apparently said ‘is this it?’. My take do Niagara first!

I just glanced at this post and mis-read it as “Might take Viagra first!”

Where’s the ‘laugh’ emoji when you need it?!

Omg hilarious!!!

I’m curious as to what your homemade one looked like that you didn’t recognise his as also being a sleeping bag liner.

I thought “modesty cocoon” was just his term for it on the spot, slightly self-deprecating. I like the in-law couple, especially Margot.

Just a regular sheet sewn at the bottom and the side. It was a long time ago.
I suppose I didn't look that carefully, he said it was a modesty cocoon so I assumed that was an actual thing.

I think he was making a joke.

I only got the chance to watch Ep 1 last night, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! And, as happens every year, I am immediately in love with Palermo and Kefalonia and now want to visit as a matter of some urgency.

I love Joe and Kush too. I loved the two young lads who won the year before last as well, that was my favourite win so far. I might feel like this as I have a young lad of my own and he and his friends are just generally a delight to be around.

Funniest moment for me of episode 1 is seeing the brother and sister trussed up in formal clothes and serving in that ultra posh cafe without having a word of Italian between them. Like that would ever happen in the real world .

Like others I just pray it doesn't descend into a bore-fest with all the contestants back stories replayed on repeat again and again, which sadly was the case last year. I too hope the producer/director Stephen Day (I think it is) read the Mumsnet in 2025 and has taken some of our very well argued points on board!

We travelled there late 2024 - visited the Argentinian side and stayed on the Brazillian side. Absolutely amazing. Argentinian side was much busier although not totally commercialised, but we stayed in the hotel that is within the national park on the Brazillian side, so could wander around when all the visitors had left. Really worth visiting.

Niagara reminded me of Blackpool!

Hmmm, Harrison's incessant focus on the money is getting a wee bit grating 🤔

Thank goodness that someone sang the song. I can’t pass up a mention of Istanbul without it.

Is anyone else's transmission constantly breaking up? Not sure if it's just my telly!

Mine's OK, Piggy

And mine

I’m watching on iplayer, Fine here.

Oh. Humbug.

It's got a bit better now.

The synchrosity between Ian and this nice driver is extraordinary!

I take the impression they grew up in want, which would account for it

Yes, I think if you've grown up with financial uncertainty, it stays with you.