For 67 years, Rali da Madeira has found one of its most unique stages in our mountains.

Throughout this time, it has been far more than just a competition. It has mirrored the Region’s transformation, spanned generations, and become part of a collective memory that the people of Madeira claim as their own. Perhaps that is why the Rally speaks highly about Madeira. This is a land that has always lived in dialogue with the challenges of its terrain. The mountains—which for centuries dictated paths and distances—also taught us to seek new passages, conquer steep slopes, and build solutions where others would see only obstacles.

There is something in this relationship with our geography that is woven into the very character of the Madeiran people. It is hard not to recognize that same demand when we see a car finding the exact line of a mountain road at high speed; when hands merge with the steering wheel, the gaze anticipates the curve, and a split-second decision can determine the outcome of the entire race. Rallying possesses the extraordinary quality of combining technical mastery with the unpredictability of the landscape, and human precision with the force of nature. It is this combination that makes it unique.

Yet, there is another dimension worth preserving. The rally is one of those great occasions when Madeira unites around a shared passion. Roads fill up, families gather, friends reunite, and different generations share the same enthusiasm. For a few days, the competition transforms into a collective celebration, and the entire island participates—in its own way—in the events unfolding on its roads and mountainsides. It is a celebration born among us, and precisely for that reason, we know how to welcome and share it. For a region’s identity is not built solely on what it preserves; it is also forged through the ability to open its doors, to welcome others, and to make its mark beyond its own borders. The Madeira Rally is a prime example of this expansion.

Every year, drivers, teams, professionals, and fans arrive in the region to tackle a course known for its demanding nature and recognized for its uniqueness. And through them—and the images and attention the event generates—Madeira reaches other parts of the world as well. Our landscape ceases to be merely the backdrop for the competition and becomes an integral part of the event's own identity. It is a particularly wonderful way to showcase Madeira: not through a manufactured image, but through who we are, the territory we inhabit, and our ability to transform its characteristics into a unique experience.

The Regional Government recognizes not only the sporting value of this event but also its significance for promoting the region internationally, establishing sports tourism, and boosting economic activity. That is why we will continue to support Rali da Madeira and to work alongside all those who, over the decades, have contributed to its enduring success and the prominent position it holds today.

I extend my appreciation to the organisers, drivers, teams, sponsors, and everyone who makes another edition possible. To those arriving in Madeira, I bid you welcome. And to the people of Madeira, I offer a message of confidence: may you continue to experience this event with your enduring passion. After all, Rali da Madeira is a clear expression of who we are: an island region that is never insular; a mountainous land accustomed to forging new paths; a community that preserves its traditions while looking toward the future. May the 67th edition of Rali da Madeira once again be as a meeting point—between our identity and the world, between the thrill of competition and the power of the landscape, and between the memory of tradition and the capacity to renew it. And when the roar of engines is heard once more across the mountains, may we recognize in that sound not only the return of a great race but also a part of Madeira’s living history.

Welcome to the 2026 Rali da Madeira.