The sixth series of Race Across the World returns to BBC One and iPlayer 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 has a budget of less than £26 per person per day.
The youngest duo, childhood friends Jo and Kush, both 19, from Liverpool, are taking on the challenge before university. Jo, a college student, and Kush, on a gap year, are first-time backpackers for Jo, while Kush has solo travelled in Thailand. They plan to use a whiteboard and pens to communicate, drawing pictures of transport to ask locals.
Jo said: 'We have discussed little things. For example, if we want to get a member of the public's attention, my role will be getting their attention first, and then Kush will be getting the information.' Kush added: '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.'
Kush admitted feeling more stressed than Jo, who remains 'very chilled'. Jo said: 'I'm down for getting in the nitty gritty and having them hard experiences, because I know the good experiences are going to be the best ever.' Kush noted: 'I'm personally less bothered about the winning and here more for the experience.'
The teams will race from Palermo, Sicily, to Hatgal in northern Mongolia, retracing parts of the ancient Silk Road. They have no smartphones, internet or bank cards, only cash. The winning team receives £20,000.
