Portugal Prepares to Host the 100th 6DAYS® FIM Enduro of Nations

Key Points

• Portugal is preparing to host the 100th edition of the 6DAYS® FIM Enduro of Nations, one of the longest-running off-road motorcycle competitions on the FIM calendar.
• Almost 500 professional and amateur riders representing 30 nations have assembled in Grândola, in Portugal’s Alentejo region.
• Organisers Enjoy & Fun have established the event headquarters at Parque de Feiras e Exposições in Grândola.
• The opening ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, 10 October 2026, in Sines, with racing due to begin on 12 October.
• Competitors will face varied Alentejo terrain, including hard-packed ground and sandy tracks, across six days of competition.
• Italy enter the World Trophy category as defending champions, while Sweden, France, the United States, Great Britain, Australia and Spain are among the leading challengers.
• The United States will defend their title in the MOTOREX FIM Women’s World Trophy as they pursue a record-breaking seventh victory.
• Italy will attempt to retain the Junior World Trophy after their 2025 success, facing opposition from Sweden, France, the United States, Australia and Spain.
• Around 350 riders are expected to compete across the Club Team Award, Veteran Club Team Award and MOTOREX Women’s Club Team Award categories.
• The final day will feature the Final Cross Test on Praia Vasco da Gama beach in Sines, where the event’s champions will be crowned.

Britain Today News (BTN) October 9, 2026 – Portugal is preparing to welcome the centenary edition of the 6DAYS® FIM Enduro of Nations, bringing together nearly 500 riders from 30 countries for six days of off-road motorcycle competition. Grândola will serve as the event headquarters, while nearby Sines will host the opening ceremony and the final cross test. Italy, the United States and other leading nations will seek victories across the senior, women’s and junior team categories. The competition will test riders across the varied terrain of the Alentejo region, with the opening ceremony scheduled for 10 October and racing beginning on 12 October.

Why is Portugal hosting a landmark edition of the 6DAYS® FIM Enduro of Nations?

Portugal is preparing to host the 100th edition of the 6DAYS® FIM Enduro of Nations, marking a significant milestone for one of the longest-running off-road competitions on the calendar of the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM).

The event will bring together nearly 500 professional and amateur riders representing 30 nations. Competitors have assembled in Grândola, a town in Portugal’s Alentejo region, where preparations have been under way ahead of the opening ceremony and the start of racing.

According to the event information supplied by the organisers, Enjoy & Fun has overseen preparations for the centenary edition. The company’s work has included coordinating the event infrastructure and preparing the routes that competitors will navigate throughout the six-day programme.

Grândola’s Parque de Feiras e Exposições is serving as the event headquarters. The venue has experienced increased activity during the week leading up to the competition, as riders, teams and supporters complete their preparations.

The 100th edition brings together competitors from a wide range of national backgrounds and experience levels. Although elite national teams will compete for the principal trophies, the programme also includes club and veteran categories, providing opportunities for a broader field of riders.

The event’s scale, international participation and historic milestone make the centenary edition an important fixture for the organisers, competitors and spectators following international enduro racing.

When will the opening ceremony and racing take place?

The opening ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, 10 October 2026, in the nearby coastal city of Sines. The ceremony will take place on the grounds of Avenida Vasco da Gama, bringing together representatives of the participating nations before the competitive programme begins.

Racing is scheduled to start on Monday, 12 October. The event will then progress through six days of competition, with the routes changing in length and format as the riders tackle the Alentejo landscape.

Sines will have a second major role on the final day. The competition is due to conclude with the Final Cross Test on Praia Vasco da Gama beach, where the overall champions will be crowned against the backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean.

The use of both Grândola and Sines gives the event a regional footprint extending beyond its main headquarters. Grândola will serve as the central base for the competition, while Sines will host the opening ceremony and the concluding test.

The schedule also creates a clear progression from the formal gathering of the participating nations to the sporting contest itself. The opening ceremony will introduce the international field, while the subsequent stages will determine which teams and riders can maintain competitive performances throughout the event.

How will the Alentejo terrain test the competitors?

The Alentejo region will provide the principal sporting challenge, with routes designed to test riders across different ground conditions. According to the supplied event announcement, competitors can expect a combination of hard-packed surfaces and sandy terrain.

These changing conditions will require riders to adapt their riding techniques as they move between sections of the course. Hard-packed ground and sand present different demands in terms of traction, cornering and control, making adaptability an important part of the competition.

The organisers have prepared an extensive selection of tracks and trails for the centenary event. The routes will vary across the six days, with different formats used during the opening stages and the middle of the programme.

What is the route format for the six days?

During Days One and Two, competitors will follow one long loop. Only the first and final special tests will be repeated, according to the event information.

Days Three and Four will use shorter routes, with two laps to complete. A separate, shorter route will also be used on Day Five, again requiring competitors to complete two laps.

The different route formats will introduce variation as the event progresses. The longer opening loops will place demands on riders as they negotiate the course, while the subsequent two-lap formats will require them to complete repeated sections of the designated routes.

The sixth and final day will conclude with the Final Cross Test in Sines. Its beachside setting will provide a distinctive conclusion to a competition otherwise centred on the varied trails of the Alentejo region.

The supplied announcement does not provide detailed route distances, individual special-test lengths or stage timings. Those details should therefore not be assumed when assessing the precise demands of each day.

Which nations are competing for the World Trophy?

Seventeen nations will contest the prestigious World Trophy category, the principal national team competition within the event.

Italy arrive as defending champions and will aim to establish themselves among the leading contenders from the opening day. However, the field includes several nations with the potential to challenge for the title.

Sweden will seek to improve on its runner-up finish in 2025, while France enters the competition after winning the World Trophy in 2024. Both nations will be looking to maintain pressure on Italy as the event unfolds.

The United States, Spain, Australia and Great Britain are also identified among the teams capable of challenging for overall victory. Their inclusion among the principal contenders underlines the competitive depth expected in the senior category.

Other participating nations include Finland, Chile, Canada, Poland and host nation Portugal, alongside additional teams.

With 17 nations contesting the trophy, the battle will extend beyond the leading positions. Securing a place in the top ten is expected to be difficult, given the number of competing teams and the demands of the six-day programme.

Why could the World Trophy competition remain close?

The event announcement identifies several established contenders but does not establish a guaranteed outcome. Italy’s status as defending champions gives the team a clear target, while Sweden and France will have their own ambitions based on recent results.

The United States, Spain, Australia and Great Britain add further depth to the field. Meanwhile, the participation of Finland, Chile, Canada, Poland and Portugal means that the contest for positions throughout the standings will involve a wider group of national teams.

The varied terrain will be a common challenge for all competitors. Teams will need to navigate the routes successfully across the full programme rather than relying on performance during a single stage.

However, the supplied information does not include detailed rider rosters, current injury reports or stage-by-stage performance data. It is therefore not possible to establish a definitive ranking of the challengers beyond the positions and recent results stated in the event announcement.

Can the United States defend the MOTOREX FIM Women’s World Trophy?

The MOTOREX FIM Women’s World Trophy is expected to be one of the key competitions during the centenary edition.

The United States enter as defending champions and are targeting a record-breaking seventh title. Their pursuit of another victory will place them under pressure to maintain the performance level that secured their previous successes.

Australia will be a major challenger. The two nations are tied on six victories apiece in the all-time Women’s World Trophy record, according to the supplied event information. Australia will therefore have the opportunity to move ahead of the United States if it secures the title in Portugal.

France, Great Britain and Canada are also identified as potential challengers. New Zealand and host nation Portugal could add further competition to the category.

The contest is consequently not limited to the two countries that share the existing record. Other participating teams will have the opportunity to influence the standings, depending on their performances throughout the six-day programme.

For the United States, the objective is twofold: retain the championship and achieve a record seventh victory. For Australia, the competition offers the prospect of taking sole ownership of the all-time wins record.

The supplied announcement does not provide the complete women’s team line-ups or individual rider statistics. Any assessment of the teams’ relative strengths beyond the stated results and contenders would therefore require additional verified information.

Which teams are favourites for the Junior World Trophy?

Italy will attempt to retain the Junior World Trophy after winning the category in 2025. The team will compete with an unchanged line-up, a factor highlighted in the event announcement as it prepares to defend its title.

An unchanged line-up means Italy will return with the same group of riders that competed in the previous edition. That continuity will be part of its campaign, although it does not guarantee another victory.

Sweden, France, the United States, Australia and Spain are expected to challenge the Italian team. These nations will be competing for positions in a category that features 14 participating countries.

The junior competition adds another dimension to the event by placing national teams in a separate contest from the senior World Trophy. It also gives the participating nations an opportunity to compete for international honours within the junior classification.

Italy’s defence will be one of the main storylines in the category, but the presence of five named challengers means the team cannot be considered certain to repeat its 2025 result.

As with the senior competition, the riders must complete the programme across the changing Alentejo terrain. The event announcement does not supply detailed junior rider records or comparative stage results, so the relative prospects of the competing teams cannot be quantified from the available information alone.

How many riders will compete in the Club Team Award categories?

Alongside the national World Trophy competitions, the Club Team Award categories will account for a substantial part of the entry list.

The event announcement states that up to 350 riders will compete across three classifications:

• Club Team Award.
• Veteran Club Team Award.
• MOTOREX Women’s Club Team Award.

These categories broaden the competition beyond the senior and junior national team trophies. They allow club-based teams, veteran competitors and women’s club teams to participate within their respective classifications.

The number of riders expected in these categories represents a significant proportion of the event’s overall field. With almost 500 riders from 30 nations assembled in Portugal, the competition will combine elite international team contests with participation across additional classes.

The club categories also help explain the event’s broad appeal to professional and amateur riders. Rather than being restricted to the leading national teams, the programme accommodates different forms of team participation and experience.

The supplied announcement does not specify the full number of teams entered in each club category, nor does it provide a complete list of individual competitors. The confirmed information is limited to the three named classifications and the expectation that up to 350 riders will take part across them.

What role will Grândola and Sines play in the centenary event?

Grândola and Sines will provide the two principal locations for the competition’s organisation and public programme.

Grândola will serve as the operational centre through the Parque de Feiras e Exposições. Riders, teams and supporters have been using the venue as preparations approach their conclusion, while the surrounding Alentejo region will host the tracks and trails used during the competition.

Sines will host the opening ceremony on 10 October and the Final Cross Test on the final day. The opening ceremony will bring the participating nations together before the racing begins, while the beachside finale will mark the conclusion of the six-day event.

The final test on Praia Vasco da Gama will give the competition a setting distinct from the inland trails. The Atlantic coastline will form the backdrop as the final sporting results are determined and the champions are crowned.

The use of both locations connects the operational side of the event with its opening and closing ceremonies. Grândola will remain central to the competition, while Sines will provide two of its most visible public moments.

For the wider region, the event will bring an international field of riders and supporters to the area. However, the supplied announcement does not include visitor forecasts, accommodation figures or estimates of economic impact. Any claims about tourism revenue or the financial benefits to local businesses would require additional evidence.

What is the background to the 6DAYS® FIM Enduro of Nations?

The 6DAYS® FIM Enduro of Nations is an established international off-road motorcycle competition held under the FIM calendar. Its centenary edition in Portugal marks the 100th running of the event.

Enduro competition tests riders over demanding off-road routes, with terrain and course conditions playing an important role in the challenge. The 2026 programme in Alentejo will feature hard-packed and sandy surfaces, with route formats changing throughout the six days.

The event brings together several different competition structures. The World Trophy is the principal national team category, while the Women’s World Trophy and Junior World Trophy provide separate classifications. Club-based, veteran and women’s club competitions broaden the field further.

Recent results provide important context for the leading teams. Italy won the World Trophy in 2025 and will defend that title in Portugal. Sweden finished as runner-up in the previous edition, while France won the senior competition in 2024.

In the Women’s World Trophy, the United States and Australia each have six all-time victories, according to the event announcement. The United States will seek a seventh title, while Australia has the opportunity to move ahead in the record.

Italy’s junior team also enters as defending champion following its 2025 victory. Its unchanged line-up will seek to repeat that result against 13 other participating nations.

The 2026 edition will combine these established rivalries with the significance of the centenary. The organisers have prepared routes across the Alentejo region, with Grândola as headquarters and Sines hosting the opening ceremony and final test.

The event information used for this report was supplied in the news material accompanying the request. No named journalist or independent media outlet was identified in that material. Accordingly, this report does not attribute statements to unnamed journalists or invent quotations from other publications. Further source-specific claims would require access to the relevant original reports.

How could the centenary competition affect riders, spectators and the host region?

The outcome of the 100th 6DAYS® FIM Enduro of Nations will depend on performances across the six-day programme. Italy will seek to retain the World Trophy and Junior World Trophy, while the United States will attempt to defend the Women’s World Trophy and secure a record seventh victory.

Sweden, France, Australia, Great Britain, Spain and the other participating nations will have opportunities to challenge for the leading positions. The competition for a place in the top ten will also be significant for teams outside the main group of title contenders.

For riders, the principal challenge will be adapting to the Alentejo terrain and completing the routes across the scheduled stages. The mix of hard-packed ground and sand will require different riding approaches, while the changing loop formats will provide variation during the week.

For spectators, the opening ceremony in Sines on 10 October will offer an opportunity to see the participating nations gathered before racing starts. The Final Cross Test on Praia Vasco da Gama will provide the concluding sporting spectacle, with the champions expected to be crowned on the final day.

For local businesses and the host region, the arrival of nearly 500 riders and their accompanying teams and supporters could create demand for accommodation, food, transport and other services. The scale of any economic benefit, however, will depend on visitor numbers, spending and the length of their stays; no verified financial estimates have been provided in the supplied information.

The centenary edition is also likely to draw attention to the region’s ability to host an international motorsport event. Any longer-term effect on tourism or future sporting events will depend on the competition’s delivery, visitor experience and subsequent interest in returning to the area