Race Across The World crowns 2026 winners in nail-bitingly close final

The winners of BBC One’s Race Across the World 2026 have been revealed following an enormously tense final.

After racing more than 12,000km through Europe and Asia across the world’s largest continental landmass, Jo and Kush became the first pair to reach the final checkpoint in Hatgal and claim the £20,000 prize.

Sprinting through the snow-covered forests to reach the finish line, father and daughter Andrew and Molly came in second place, just three hours behind the winners.

They were followed by siblings Katie and Harrison, while in-laws Mark and
Margo came in fourth place.

Claiming that they ‘felt sick’ before before turning the page to discover they were this year’s winners, the Livepool duo Jo and Kush celebrated their victory by piling on top of one another in the snow whilst shouting ‘We did it. We won!’

Screaming with joy, Kush said ‘I can’t put it into words bro!’ as Jo added ‘that’s how I feel bro’.

Writing their names in the book, Jo then said: ‘The dream from the start was opening the final book and seeing it empty, so that actually happening… it’s hard to get my head around it.’

Kush continued: ‘I hope we did Liverpool proud. Big up scousers!’

Sharing an emotional hug after turning the page to claim second place, Andrew said: ‘Congratulations to the boys. We had a tough final leg… We’re three hours behind the lads. What an achievement’, with Molly adding: ‘I didn’t actually physically think we were going to make it, but we did it!’

Siblings Katie and Harrison arrived at the checkpoint in third place, just under three hours behind the father and daughter duo, and after catching up by eighteen hours to the winners.

Harrison said: ‘We couldn’t have done this any better this leg, and
we’ve made it to Hatgal. And we’ve done it together. I could still just cry with pride and joy that we’re here.’

After a tough penultimate leg, Mark and Margo reached the final checkpoint in last place 25 hours later.

Thrilled to finally finish, Mark said: ‘I couldn’t have done it without you Marg, a true friend. And Julia would be really proud of us!’ with an emotional Margo adding: ‘We haven’t won THE race, but we’ve won OUR race and we have come in fashionably late.’

Over the eight-part series, the four pairs have raced over 12,000 km over 51 days.

Starting the race in the sun-soaked streets of Palermo in Sicily, the teams have journeyed across Eurasia to reach the final checkpoint in northern Mongolia, Hatgal.

They’ve had to navigate crowds, cultural barriers, public transport disasters – all without smartphones and bank cards and carrying only the cash equivalent of flying the route.

Straight after the final episode of Race Across the World, the teams will return for a reunion at 9pm on BBC One.

This comes after fans were left in tears after Andrew shared his terrifying health setback.

Speaking to the camera, his daughter Molly said: ‘‘This is his opportunity to prove to himself that he can do it. Because three years ago my daddy had a heart attack, and it was probably the worst day of my life.

‘That really shook me and I think it raelly shock him. Daddy realised he wasn’t invincible.’

All episodes of Race Across the World are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

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