Rali da Madeira — events in Madeira
67th edition of Madeira's biggest annual motorsport event (formerly Rali Vinho Madeira) — 15 special stages, ~205 km of mountain tarmac across Funchal, Santa Cruz and Santana. 30 July – 1 August 2026.
About Rali da Madeira
Rali da Madeira is a working rally, not a demonstration run. Special stages thread through Funchal, Santa Cruz & Santana's narrow mountain roads for three days, and if you time it right you can watch WRC-adjacent machinery slide past drystone walls you drove down the day before.
Study the stage map before you drive out — spectator zones are marshalled and the closed roads are enforced strictly. The service park in central Funchal, Santa Cruz & Santana is open to the public between stages and is the easiest way to see the cars up close.
The Rali da Madeira — known for decades as the Rali Vinho Madeira and rebranded from 2024 — is the biggest annual sporting event on the island and one of the most spectacular tarmac rallies in Europe. The 2026 edition is the 67th running of the race and takes place from Thursday 30 July to Saturday 1 August 2026. It is an official round of the FIA European Rally Trophy (ERT) as well as multiple Portuguese and Madeiran national/regional championships.
The 2026 route packs 15 special stages and roughly 205 km of competitive tarmac into three days, all on the island's narrow, twisting mountain roads. Rally HQ, service park and refuelling zone all sit on Avenida Dr. Sá Carneiro in Funchal harbour, with the parc fermé at Praça CR7 on the seafront and the overnight closed park at the Unidade de Apoio do Quartel General.
The signature spectator moment is the opening urban super-special 'Cidade do Funchal' (2.18 km) on Avenida Calouste Gulbenkian and Avenida do Mar at 19:30 on Thursday 30 July — cars blasting past the seafront with grandstands packed. The rally finishes with the podium ceremony back at Praça do Povo on Saturday 1 August around 19:30, followed by prize-giving before cars return to the CR7 parc fermé at 19:40.
What to know before you go
- Accommodation in central Funchal sells out earliest — booking 3–6 months ahead is normal for the larger festivals.
- Public transport runs extra services on the main event days, but parking near Funchal, Santa Cruz & Santana becomes very limited — arrive early or plan to walk in.
- Street programming is free. Paid elements — grandstand seats, gala dinners, indoor concerts — release in waves and disappear quickly once the dates are official.
- Photograph early. The best light and the smallest crowds are usually in the first hour of the programme, not the headline slot.
- Dates: 30 July – 1 August 2026 (Thursday to Saturday). Full timetable at ralidamadeira.com.
- Ceremonial start: Thursday 30 July at 16:00, Praça do Povo (Avenida do Mar). Free grandstand viewing.
- Opening super-special 'Cidade do Funchal' (SS1, 2.18 km): Thursday 30 July, 19:30 — Avenida Calouste Gulbenkian into Avenida do Mar. The single easiest stage for visitors to reach on foot.
- Friday 31 July is the biggest mountain day — 8 stages between 09:15 and 20:28 across Santo da Serra, Palheiro Ferreiro (Chão da Lagoa), Santana and Ribeiro Frio.
- Saturday 1 August covers the west of the island — Chão da Lagoa, Ponta do Sol, Ponta do Pargo and the Lameiros/Rosário Power Stage. Podium and prize-giving from 19:30 at Praça do Povo.
- Free spectating on every stage, but access roads close 2–3 hours before the first car and stay shut until the last car passes. Arrive early and be prepared to walk in.
- Expect heavy traffic across Funchal, Santa Cruz, Santana, Ponta do Sol and the ER101/ER228/ER203 all weekend. Book airport transfers with extra buffer, especially Saturday evening.
Best time to visit
The main programme runs around July. Arrive a day early to settle in and see the build-up — set-up day is often the most photogenic.
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Frequently asked
When is Rali da Madeira?+
The next confirmed dates for Rali da Madeira are 2026-07-30 to 2026-08-01. The event recurs every year.
How do I get to Rali da Madeira and where should I stay?+
The service park (usually in Funchal, Santa Cruz & Santana or Câmara de Lobos) is walk-up and the best chance to see the cars, crews and mechanics up close between stages.
What's the best day or time to experience Rali da Madeira?+
Any single super-special stage gives the whole flavour in an hour. The Friday night Funchal super-special is the most accessible if you're not renting a car.
What are the local traditions behind Rali da Madeira?+
Spectator etiquette: stay behind the marshalled tape, don't stand on the outside of corners, and give a thumbs-up if a course car flags you back. The last car through is a safety car — the road doesn't reopen until it passes.
When is the Rali da Madeira 2026?+
The 67th Rali da Madeira runs from Thursday 30 July to Saturday 1 August 2026. It opens with the Praça do Povo ceremonial start at 16:00 and the Cidade do Funchal super-special at 19:30 on Thursday, and finishes with the podium at Praça do Povo around 19:30 on Saturday.
What are the 15 special stages in 2026?+
Thursday: SS1 Cidade do Funchal (2.18 km). Friday: SS2/SS4 Santo da Serra (13.78 km), SS3/SS5 Palheiro Ferreiro (21.02 km), SS6/SS8 Santana (12.03 km), SS7 Ribeiro Frio (20.52 km). Saturday: SS9 Chão da Lagoa (15.66 km), SS10/SS13 Ponta do Sol (10.95 km), SS11/SS14 Ponta do Pargo (11.83 km), SS12/SS15 Lameiros/Rosário (12.47 km) — SS15 is the Coral da Madeira Power Stage.
Where is the best place to watch the Rali da Madeira?+
For first-timers, the Cidade do Funchal super-special on Thursday evening at 19:30 is unbeatable — cars race past the Avenida do Mar seafront with public grandstands and full harbour-side viewing. For mountain action, the classic vantage points are Chão da Lagoa above Poiso (SS3/SS5/SS9), the Palheiro Ferreiro hairpins, the Santana stage on ER219, Ponta do Pargo on ER101, and the Encumeada descent that closes the Lameiros Power Stage.
What time does each rally day start and finish?+
Thursday 30 July: ceremonial start 16:00, super-special 19:30, cars in parc fermé by 20:32. Friday 31 July: first car out 08:00, last car back to parc fermé by 21:20. Saturday 1 August: first car out 09:03, podium ceremony 19:30, rally ends 19:40 at Praça CR7.
Is Rali da Madeira the same as Rali Vinho Madeira?+
Yes — the event was renamed from Rali Vinho Madeira to Rali da Madeira from 2024. It is the same race, the biggest annual sporting event on the island, and remains a round of the FIA European Rally Trophy.
Do I need a ticket for the Rali da Madeira?+
No. All spectator zones along the special stages are free, including the Cidade do Funchal super-special and every mountain stage. Only reserved grandstand seating on the seafront super-special is ticketed.
Will the rally affect getting around Madeira that weekend?+
Yes — expect significant closures on the ER101, ER103, ER203, ER219 and ER228 mountain roads across all three days, and heavy traffic in central Funchal on Thursday afternoon/evening and Saturday evening. Allow extra time for airport transfers and any inter-town drives across 30 July – 1 August.
Where is rally HQ and the service park?+
Rally headquarters, the service park (parques de assistência A–F) and refuelling zones are all on Avenida Dr. Sá Carneiro in Funchal harbour, with the ceremonial parc fermé at Praça CR7 and the overnight closed park at the Unidade de Apoio do Quartel General.
Plan the rest of your trip
The four guides most first-time visitors reach for.