Gravel racing’s biggest weekend is leaving Europe for the first time, and it is heading to one of the most remote host locations any UCI world championship has ever used.
## The Basics
The fifth edition of the UCI Gravel World Championships takes place October 10 and 11, 2026, in Nannup, a remote town in the south of Western Australia. It is the first time the event has been held outside Europe, following previous editions in Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands.
## The Format
– All women’s categories, including elite, race on Saturday, alongside the men’s 50-plus age groups
– Elite men and the men’s 19-49 age groups race on Sunday
– Riders qualify by finishing in the top 25 percent of their category across UCI Gravel World Series events, or through national federation nominations
## A New Kind of Course
Organisers have promised the most gravel-heavy course the championships have ever seen, looping out from Nannup across terrain expected to be significantly rougher than the mixed-surface routes used in previous European editions. That shift reflects gravel racing’s roots in more remote, unpaved terrain rather than the gentler farm roads used at recent championships.
## Recent Champions
Florian Vermeersch and Lorena Wiebes won the 2025 titles in the Netherlands. Past champions include Mathieu van der Poel, Matej Mohorič, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and Marianne Vos, a list that reflects how quickly gravel racing has attracted top road cycling talent since the championship’s 2022 debut.
## Why the Move to Australia Matters
Taking the championships outside Europe for the first time reflects gravel cycling’s rapid global growth, with the broader UCI Gravel World Series expanding to a record 45 events worldwide in 2026, including new races in South America and Asia.
For the road cycling equivalent happening earlier the same season, see our UCI Road World Championships guide. And for the full picture of what else is happening around the same time, check our roundup of October 2026’s biggest sports events.
## Final Word
A remote Australian course and a stacked list of past champions make Nannup’s debut as host one of gravel cycling’s most significant moments yet.