The FIA Extreme H World Cup will return to Saudi Arabia later this year, with the second edition of the hydrogen-powered motorsport competition officially confirmed for Qiddiya City from October 29 to 31, 2026.
Announced by the FIA on Tuesday, the event will once again take place in Qiddiya City, the large-scale entertainment and sports destination near Riyadh that has increasingly positioned itself as a major hub for international motorsport events.
The FIA Extreme H World Cup is currently the world’s first and only hydrogen-powered motorsport competition. The series debuted in Saudi Arabia in 2025, introducing a new format built around hydrogen fuel cell technology and purpose-built off-road racing vehicles.
At the centre of the competition is the Pioneer 25 race car, a hydrogen-powered off-road vehicle developed specifically for the championship. Organisers say the series is designed not only as a motorsport competition but also as a platform for testing clean-energy technologies in extreme racing conditions.
The 2026 edition will continue using the championship’s multi-stage racing format, combining Time Trials, Head-to-Head knockout races and multi-car finals across three days of competition.
One of the defining features of the championship is its equal-driver structure. Every team is required to field both a male and female driver competing together for the same honours, continuing a format originally introduced during the Extreme E era.
Last year’s inaugural event was won by Kevin Hansen and Molly Taylor representing Jameel Motorsport. The duo are expected to return this year to defend their title against an international grid of teams and drivers.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem described the championship as an important platform for advancing hydrogen technology in motorsport, while organisers highlighted the role of Qiddiya City in supporting next-generation sporting events and sustainable mobility initiatives.
The return of the championship also aligns with Saudi Arabia’s broader investment in global motorsport and future mobility technologies under Vision 2030. In recent years, the Kingdom has expanded its presence across Formula 1, Formula E, Dakar Rally, Extreme E and other international racing platforms.
Qiddiya City itself is being developed as a large-scale entertainment and sports destination, with projects including Speed Park Track, Six Flags Qiddiya and Aquarabia already forming part of the development’s long-term plans.
With hydrogen technology continuing to gain attention across the automotive and energy sectors, the FIA Extreme H World Cup is positioning itself as a testing ground for future motorsport innovation while offering a different style of off-road competition built around sustainability and performance.
