Race Around the World: ABC on the hunt for fearless content creators for global adventure
WANTED: Fearless creators are ready to pack their bags and cameras for a once-in-a-lifetime storytelling adventure around the world.
cult TV hits Race Around the World It returns to our screens in 2026 and the search is on for a new crop of aspiring filmmakers.
If you think you have what it takes to shoot 10 films in 100 days in 10 countries…all while traveling solo and shooting and editing your own films on the road, read on.
What’s the matter?
If you’re unfamiliar with a juggernaut like Race Around the World, the series originally aired on ABC in 1997 and 1998 and was an unexpected success.
Eight aspiring documentary filmmakers traveled to all corners of the world in search of a sharp and original story.
With no cell phone, email, Google Maps or communications network, every contestant was flying by the seat of their pants.
All they had was 90 minutes of videotape and a lot of courage.
The series launched the media careers of many young people, including Walkley-winning journalist Olivia Rousset and leading media personality John Safran.
Although things will look a little different for 2026 racers (thanks to some, you know) Small changes in the way we live and create and consume our favorite content), the DNA of the series will remain close to the original.
Target: Unknown. The mystery is part of the excitement of the game. (Reuters/ABC News)
Insider words from a former winner
Olivia Rousset was 25 when she won the inaugural season of Race Around the World.
He describes it as an exhilarating, transformative and exciting opportunity with a lot of hard work.
During her time on the show, she toured the USA, Canada, Belize, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong, Mauritius, Japan and Scotland.
Tracking down a story started with tapping a stranger on the shoulder in a bar or on a bus and asking for a clue.
“It was like walking blindly into a scary adventure where I didn’t know if I would fail or succeed, but it was an incredible journey.”
said Rousset.
“We were so young. We had so much potential we didn’t even know we had it.
“This experience was like a wide open door saying, ‘Go and show us what you found.'”
Olivia during her experience filming the original series in 1997. (ABC Archives)
But Rousset makes sure to talk about the scale of the challenge they took on with little help.
“Finding and crafting a story worthy of being on television was exhausting and difficult.”
he said.
“We had just bought a plane ticket and were literally out there alone with our little cameras, desperately hoping to find a place to stay, something to eat, and most of all, a truly compelling story that we could shoot and cut in time to send back and move on to the next place.”
In search of a story, Rousset went on an archaeological cave diving trip in Belize and found the remains of a Mayan human sacrifice. In Los Angeles, she went behind the scenes of the city’s thriving sex industry.
“I basically followed a guy who wanted to be a porn star into his first job,” he said.
Since competing in Race Around the World, Olivia has become a Walkley award-winning video journalist. (Provided by: Olivia Rousset)
Rousset won the 1997 competition and was named one of the ABC’s Foreign Correspondents, as well as earning $8,000 from short courses at the Australian Film Television and Radio School.
He has since gone on to work on the ABC’s Australian Story and Compass and has won two Walkley Awards for his video journalism.
Rousset says the grueling nature of the series—its pace, deadlines, and unsupported format—isn’t for everyone.
“You have to be willing to put everything into it, not just funny or pretty,” she said.
“You have to be curious and willing to step into the space, make something of what you find, and then move past it.
“You have to be open, you have to be fearless, you have to be willing to push yourself really hard, and you have to have a real thirst for life.”
Are you ‘fearless’ and ready to apply?
If you are already dusting off your passport during the preparation phase, here’s what you need to know:
Applicants:
- Must be 18 years or older
- Must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
- Get ready to shoot between April and August 2026
Put in your diary:
22 December 2025: Applications close at 9am (AEDT)
Go to: race around the world Casting page to reference.
