The road to the 2026 Drone Champions League season has officially begun with a format that captures what DCL is all about: mixed-reality competition, world-class teams and a real-world stage that turns racing into spectacle. The first Seeding Race of the season sets the initial seeding order for Falcon Cup 2026.
The Falcon Cup Seeding Race is a two-step season kick-off that starts virtually on the simulator and culminates with a live FPV showdown in Saudi Arabia. Step one is now complete and the top three teams have secured their place on the grid in Riyadh.
On 19 January 2026, six DCL teams lined up virtually from across the world to race on the DCL Simulator in the first Seeding Race of the year.
Same track. Same pressure. No travel advantage. Just pace, precision and consistency.
What it means:
Ten days after the virtual opener, DCL goes from simulator to real-life.
On 29 January 2026, the qualified teams will compete in the Falcon Cup Seeding Race Finals: a live FPV race staged during the Drones Hub Opening in Riyadh, hosted by Tuwaiq Academy.
This is where virtual speed becomes a real-world moment: lights, crowd, pressure and a track built for pure intensity.
The Seeding Race Finals in Riyadh will determine the final seeding positions at the top end of the leaderboard, turning the top of the ranking into something you earn live, in front of everyone.
The Falcon Cup Seeding Race Finals are designed to be fast, sharp and unforgettable:
This isn’t just a qualifier. It’s the opening statement of the season.
The virtual race proved who’s ready.
The Riyadh Finals will prove who can deliver when it’s real.
From remote competition to an on-site final, the Falcon Cup Seeding Race defines the opening chapter of the season.
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