Baja 1000 Stays Put With a Cabo Celebration Next Year

Rumors spread fast in Baja, faster than a Trophy Truck on the dry lake beds. The latest? That the legendary Baja 1000 was packing up and leaving Baja California for good. Relax. Put the panic on hold. SCORE International and the Baja California Secretary of Tourism have confirmed the race is not going anywhere—at least not permanently.

Cabo Gets the Spotlight in 2026

Next year, the Baja 1000 will run a special edition starting and finishing in Los Cabos. We already told you about it in our story Baja 1000 Makes History with Los Cabos as Start and Finish in 2026. Cabo’s turn is part of the race’s tradition of roaming the peninsula. It doesn’t mean Ensenada is out of the game.

Ensenada Holds the Crown This Year

The 58th Baja 1000 this November will start and end in Ensenada, the Off-Road Capital of the World. Baja California also stays the main home of the SCORE Desert World Championship. The 2025 season includes San Felipe 250, Baja 500, Baja 400, and the Baja 1000. In 2026, Baja keeps three races: San Felipe 250, Baja 500, and Baja 400.

Baja California Digs In

Let’s be honest. SECTURE wasn’t about to lose its crown jewel. With the support of Governor Marina del Pilar, Ensenada, San Felipe, and San Quintín all lined up to back SCORE. Officials praised Baja’s capacity to host international events, its unique tourism appeal, and the unbeatable hospitality of its people.

SCORE’s Vote of Confidence

SCORE International highlighted the collaboration with Baja authorities, from state to federal. They called Baja the “ideal home” for their races, a mix of wild desert, dramatic coastlines, and taco stands just when you need them most.

So, What Happens Next?

The Cabo edition will be flashy, no doubt. But will it become a regular stop? Baja California swears the race remains its own. Still, with Cabo flexing its party credentials, this story isn’t finished.

Your Turn to Decide

Where would you rather see the Baja 1000?

• Ensenada, the forever Off-Road Capital
• Los Cabos, where the finish line means margaritas

Whatever the outcome, Baja proves once again that nothing here stands still—not the racers, not the fans, not even the rumors.

Photos courtesy of Grabowsky Brothers Racing, capturing the true spirit of Baja’s desert playground.

Luisa Rosas-Hernández

Luisa Rosas-Hernández is a writer for the Gringo Gazette North, where she covers Baja’s wine scene, good eats, and public safety—with a healthy dose of wit and no bad news allowed. By day, she’s a health researcher recognized by Mexico’s National System of Researchers (SNI), and by night, she handles the Gazette’s finances and dabbles in social media—making sure the numbers add up and the posts pop. When she’s not chasing stories or crunching data, you’ll likely find her in the Valle enjoying a glass of red (or a crisp white with oysters)… for research purposes, of course.

See Full Bio