2025
After five successful years based in Lamia, the EKO Acropolis Rally embarks on a new chapter. In 2026, the iconic Greek round of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) will be hosted in Loutraki.
The EKO Acropolis Rally returns to a region with a long-standing tradition in both Greek and international rallying. Its 2026 edition (25-28 June) will mark the beginning of a new era for this historic event.
Comprehensive bids to host the rally headquarters were submitted by the municipalities of Almyros-Volos, Lamia, and Loutraki-Perachora-Aghioi Theodoroi. All proposals were assessed based on their completeness, functionality, and overall contribution to the successful organisation of the event.
Each was considered well-structured and feasible, and after the evaluation process, Loutraki was chosen as the host city of the EKO Acropolis Rally Greece.
This decision opens a new chapter in the modern history of the rally, offering fresh opportunities for route planning and new challenges for the crews. As in previous years, the EKO Acropolis Rally will continue to traverse the Region of Central Greece on well-known, much-loved special stages, preserving the character and identity that make it unique on the WRC calendar.
At the same time, hosting the Service Park in Loutraki highlights a new aspect of the event: bringing it closer to the sea and offering a setting worthy of its historic legacy and international appeal.
The Ministry of Sports and Motorsport Greece extend their sincere thanks to the Municipality of Lamia and the Region of Central Greece for five years of excellent cooperation and their continued support in the successful staging of the rally.
Alternate Minister of Sports, Giannis Vroutsis, stated: “The EKO Acropolis Rally is a living institution of Greek sport and one of our country’s most important ambassadors internationally. We were pleased to receive three strong and complete proposals. Following the Organising Committee's evaluation, it was decided to relocate the rally headquarters to Loutraki. This marks a new era filled with challenges and opportunities for our event. All parties involved will work in close coordination to ensure the success of this new phase, as the rally continues to run through three Regions.”
The Organising Committee of the EKO Acropolis Rally Greece has already begun planning for 2026, aiming for a modern, competitive and technically demanding event, one worthy of its history and of the trust placed in it by the FIA and WRC Promoter.
Simon Larkin, Senior Director - Events, WRC Promoter GmbH, added: “When the WRC returned to Greece in 2021 for the EKO Acropolis Rally, it was with the intention that the event could, from time to time, relocate to maximise its remarkable sporting heritage and the significant economic impact that a WRC round brings to each host country and region. Lamia has been an excellent home for the past five years. In line with the Minister's vision and his team’s, we are now bringing the heart of the rally to Loutraki, closer to Athens. Loutraki offers a rich variety of stage opportunities, easier access for new audiences, and additional tourism potential.”
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