The Great American Road Rally: Celebrity Edition is a competition series that premiered on The CW on September 2, 2026. The CW had originally announced a May 2026 launch before pushing the premiere to the fall season. Produced by 7 Bridges Media Group, the series coincides with Route 66’s 100th anniversary and the United States’ 250th anniversary. It stands as one of The CW’s first prime-time series built around a philanthropic road rally format.
The series follows ten celebrity-driven teams traveling Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica over eleven days. The on-road journey was filmed from August 6 through 16, 2026, with stops including the Springfield, Missouri, Birthplace of Route 66 Festival. Along the way, teams complete challenges, visit historic landmarks, and hold free public meet-and-greets with local fans. The television adaptation compresses the journey into thirteen weekly episodes, including premiere installments titled “The Send-Off” and “Gateway West.”
At its core, the series is built around turning competition into contribution. Each of the ten celebrity teams represents a charitable cause, spanning veterans, first responders, children, and families in need. Episodes weave fundraising appeals and organizational profiles into the road-trip format rather than treating charity as a side segment. The series airs weekly through November 25, 2026, closing out its charitable mission for the season.
Ian Ziering hosts the series, guiding viewers through the people, places, and causes that define each Route 66 community. Recognizable participants include John Schneider, John O’Hurley, Erik Estrada, and Charlene Tilton, spanning decades of American television. The lineup also features NASCAR driver Jesse Love and WWE personalities Oleg Prudius and Tyrus among its celebrity drivers.
