A motoring weekend in Cyprus. Rally thrills and classic cars.

The Cyprus motoring weekend will combine sporting competition with a car and motorcycle exhibition. The Petrolina Cyprus Rally and the sixth edition of the Ayia Napa Motor Festival will take place from October 23rd to 25th, 2026. Thirty crews have registered for the rally, and the competition will conclude the Middle East Rally Championship season.

Rally cars will be on display at the ceremonial start and finish in Larnaca and on the gravel stages in the Troodos Mountains. A more relaxed gathering featuring cars and motorcycles of various eras is planned for Ayia Napa. Here are the locations, times, and information you'll need to plan your trip.

Cyprus Motoring Weekend: The Rally Returns After a Break

The Petrolina Cyprus Rally returns to the international calendar after a year's absence. This year's edition will be the final round of the Middle East Rally Championship, or MERC.

The FIA has confirmed that November's Saudi Arabia Rally will not be held as a round of this year's championship. This means the final decision will be made in Cyprus.

Reported 19 crews for the international part and 11 for the national competitionOf the international participants, eight crews will earn MERC points. Therefore, not all 30 teams will be competing for the Middle East Championship.

Heading into the final, Nasser Al-Attiyah leads the field with 70 points, a four-point lead over Hamza Bakhashab. Four drivers remain in with a realistic chance of winning the title.

Start and podium in Larnaca, stages in Troodos

The organizers have prepared 12 gravel special stages with a total length of 183.92 kmThe competition will take place on Saturday and Sunday.

The service park, rally office, and press center are located in Nicosia. The official start and finish ceremonies will be held on the Finikoudes Promenade in Larnaca.

For those who want to see the cars and crews without having to travel to the mountain stages, the most convenient option will be the Friday start at 6:00 p.m. or the Sunday podium at 4:30 p.m.

Ayia Napa invites you to cars and motorcycles

On the same days it will take place 6th Ayia Napa Motor FestivalThe exhibition will take place in the Hellenic Lyceum parking lot in the port area - indicated in the announcement as Χώρος στάθμευσης Ελληνικού Λυκείου.

The organizers invite you to view the collection of cars and motorcycles, including classic vehicles. This is an opportunity for those interested in automotive history, design, and meeting the owners of the vehicles.

Friday's opening is scheduled for 6:00 PM. On Saturday and Sunday, the exhibition will be open from 11:00 AM. It will close at 11:00 PM each day.

PLAN YOUR WEEKEND · 23–25 OCTOBER 2026

Two events, two ways to get into motoring

SPORTS COMPETITION

Petrolina Cyprus Rally

Ceremonies: Finikoudes, Larnaca
Sections: Troodos Mountains
Service Park: Nicosia

Friday · October 23

17:30 — press conference in Larnaca

18:00 — ceremonial start at Finikoudes

Saturday · October 24

08:30 — departure for the first stage from the service park

Sunday · October 25

08:00 — departure for the second stage from the service park

16:30 — the podium at Finikoudes in Larnaca

The stage start times do not reflect the start times of each section. Before setting off, check the route, announcements, and spectator areas.

RALLY PROGRAM

VEHICLE EXHIBITION

Ayia Napa Motor Festival

Hellenic Lyceum parking lot at the port
Χώρος στάθμευσης Ελληνικού Λυκείου
Ayia Napa

Friday · October 23

18:00–23:00

Saturday · October 24

11:00–23:00

Sunday · October 25

11:00–23:00

Cars and motorcycles, including classic vehicles. Please confirm entry requirements and any fees with the organizer.

FESTIVAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Is there an admission fee to the festival?

Available announcements do not allow for a definitive confirmation of admission policies. Check In Cyprus and Famagusta News provide consistent opening hours but do not indicate ticket prices.

Cyprus.BZ currently marks the event as free, but notes that program and admission details are still being confirmed. The event times also differ from those announced on other portals.

This is why we do not state 2 euros as a confirmed priceBefore arriving, please check the organizer's latest announcement.

How to watch the rally and combine both events?

The simplest plan is to start on Friday at Finikoudes in Larnaca, followed by a Saturday or Sunday visit to the exhibition in Ayia Napa. This doesn't require traveling to the special stages.

Fans choosing Troodos should check official maps and organizer instructions beforehand. Spectators should use designated areas and follow the instructions of the route security staff.

Please do not plan to use the rally stage as a shortcut between attractions. The sports schedule does not replace road closure information.

On Sunday, October 25, winter time will come into effect. In Cyprus, the clocks will be turned back at night from 04:00 to 03:00, which is worth taking into account when leaving for the rally in the morning.

Archival Polonaise in the photo

The main photo shows the Polonez during the historic Cyprus Rally. The photo has been colorized using artificial intelligence and does not show this year's competition.

This is an automotive reference to the event's past – not a preview of this car's participation in the 2026 edition.