The FIA Extreme H World Cup will return to Qiddiya City for its second edition from 29 to 31 October 2026, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s growing role in the development of next-generation motorsport.
Extreme H is the world’s first championship dedicated to hydrogen-powered racing. Its return to Qiddiya will place the Pioneer 25 competition car at the centre of an event designed to test emerging fuel-cell technology under demanding off-road conditions.
The World Cup also stands apart through its gender-equal sporting format, with male and female drivers competing together for the same honours.
For Qiddiya City, the event provides another international showcase as the destination evolves from a major development project into an operational centre for entertainment, sport and culture.
A high-speed laboratory for hydrogen technology
Extreme H combines the spectacle of off-road racing with the practical testing of hydrogen fuel cells and associated clean-energy technologies.
The Pioneer 25 race car will be pushed across a demanding course intended to test speed, reliability and performance in one of the world’s most challenging environments.
Alejandro Agag, Founder and Chairman of Extreme H, said the inaugural event had demonstrated that elite motorsport and cleaner energy technologies could coexist.
“The inaugural FIA Extreme H World Cup was proof that we could combine the raw ferocity of world-class motorsport with a future powered by clean energy,” he said.
The second edition will continue to use competition as a development laboratory, demonstrating the potential of hydrogen-powered mobility while exposing the technology to a global audience.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem described the event’s return as another important step in the development of hydrogen-powered motorsport.
He said the competition provides an opportunity to test fuel-cell technology in a high-performance environment while supporting the FIA’s broader commitments to innovation, sustainability and safety.
Equal competition
Extreme H remains the only gender-equal motorsport discipline in which male and female drivers compete alongside one another for the same titles.
The format places equal emphasis on the performances of both drivers and makes team strategy an important part of the competition.
Inaugural World Cup champions Kevin Hansen and Molly Taylor, who represented Saudi-based Jameel Motorsport in 2025, are expected to be among the leading names when the competition returns to Qiddiya.
Their victory in the first edition was decided by just 0.082 seconds, underlining how closely matched the teams and drivers had become.
Details of the complete 2026 field and driver pairings will be announced in the coming months.
From precision to wheel-to-wheel racing
The 2026 World Cup will retain the multi-stage format introduced at the inaugural event.
Time Trials will allow teams to complete precision runs to determine their seeding positions. These will be followed by a knockout series of Head-to-Head contests, placing two competitors into direct tactical competition.
The event will then move into wheel-to-wheel racing before culminating in an eight-car World Cup Final.
The combination of individual timed runs, elimination duels and a multi-car finale has been designed to test different aspects of driver skill while creating a clear progression towards the championship-deciding race.
Qiddiya’s motorsport ambitions accelerate
The return of Extreme H comes during a period of rapid development for Qiddiya City, situated approximately 45 kilometres from central Riyadh.
Six Flags Qiddiya City welcomed its first visitors in December 2025, while Aquarabia, described as the Middle East’s largest water theme park, has subsequently opened.
Work is also continuing on the Speed Park Track, an F1-grade circuit intended to become one of the destination’s principal international sporting venues. An 18-hole championship golf course designed by Sir Nick Faldo is also scheduled to open.
Abdullah Aldawood, Managing Director of Qiddiya Investment Company, said the return of Extreme H reflected the city’s growing reputation as a destination for motorsport and major international sporting events.
“By hosting events of this calibre, Qiddiya City continues to strengthen its role as a national and global platform for entertainment, sports and culture,” he said.
The event will also provide an opportunity to showcase Qiddiya’s expanding visitor infrastructure and its ambition to become a destination attracting millions of domestic and international guests.
Saudi Arabia and the future of motorsport
Saudi Arabia has rapidly expanded its presence across international motorsport, hosting major competitions while investing in circuits, teams, technologies and emerging Saudi talent.
Mansour Bin Ali Al-Mokbel, CEO of Saudi Motorsport Company, said the collaboration between the company, Extreme H and Qiddiya would contribute to clean-energy innovation, sustainable mobility and the development of next-generation racing.
The event also supports broader Saudi Vision 2030 objectives by strengthening the Kingdom’s international sporting profile, creating new visitor experiences and encouraging investment in entertainment and technology.
For Qiddiya, the second Extreme H World Cup is more than another event on a growing sporting calendar. It is an opportunity to position the City of Play as a place where competition, entertainment and experimental technology can operate together at scale.
When the Pioneer 25 cars return to the desert in October, they will be racing not only for a world title but also to demonstrate how motorsport can contribute to the development—and public understanding—of hydrogen-powered mobility.
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Photo top of page: FIA EXTREME H – Photographer: Jordan Gullick
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