Race Across The World returns for its sixth series on 2 April 2026, with five teams racing over 12,000km across Europe and Asia. The route passes through Italy, Greece, Türkiye, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia, with temperatures ranging from 30°C to –20°C. Each team must survive on less than £26 per person per day, with no smartphones or bank cards.
Among the contestants are childhood best friends Jo (19) and Kush (19) from Liverpool, the youngest duo in the race. Both still live at home with their mums and have just finished sixth form. This is their first real taste of independence, and they hope to use their youth to their advantage.
Kush revealed a secret strategy: 'I think that being young, we will kind of hopefully be brushed over like we don’t have the experience, and then we can secretly work in silence and take over.' Jo added that their strength is their ease in speaking to strangers, which will help them navigate the journey.
The pair have prepared by studying past series, noting that other contestants used whiteboards to draw pictures of transport. They have packed a whiteboard and pens. Kush has also drawn on his experience backpacking in Thailand and advice from his grandmother.
Jo said: 'Because it’s my first time backpacking, I've been using other people's experiences to my advantage, and listening to their do's and don'ts. I’m listening a lot to Kush.' Kush added: 'I'm personally less bothered about the winning and here more for the experience.'
