“The Great American Road Rally: Celebrity Edition” To Debut on The CW Network
National Prime-Time Event Series Hosted by Ian Ziering, Premiering Wednesday, May 13 at 9pm
Series Will Coincide with America’s 250th Birthday and 100 Years of Travel on Route 66
BURBANK, CA (January 13, 2026) — As the nation approaches a historic convergence of milestones in 2026, The CW today announced THE GREAT AMERICAN ROAD RALLY: CELEBRITY EDITION, a new prime-time event series celebrating American culture, community, and connection.
Premiering Wednesday, May 13 (9:00-10:00pm ET/PT), the series will air weekly on The CW Network, culminating in a live two-hour finale on Wednesday, July 22 (8:00-10:00pm ET/PT). The Rally is hosted by Ian Ziering, whose four-decade television career, cultural resonance, and deep connection to automotive culture make him a natural guide for this journey.
Set against a cross-country journey along iconic Route 66, THE GREAT AMERICAN ROAD RALLY: CELEBRITY EDITION blends competition, storytelling, and real-world impact as the country prepares to mark the 250th Anniversary of the United States, the 100th Anniversary of Route 66, and other defining cultural moments in 2026.
The series features ten celebrity-driven vehicles, each aligned with a charitable cause, embarking on a cross-country journey to raise awareness, drive fundraising, and activate local communities—transforming competition into contribution and the open road into a force for good.
Best known for his iconic roles across film and television, Ian Ziering is a lifelong car enthusiast and committed philanthropist with longstanding ties to charitable and community-based initiatives. As host, he leads viewers through America’s backroads and byways, celebrating the people, places, and causes that define the country’s past and present—while connecting legacy stories with a new generation of audiences.
More than a traditional competition series, THE GREAT AMERICAN ROAD RALLY: CELEBRITY EDITION is designed as a shared national experience—one with a clear beginning, a clear destination, and an open invitation for viewers across the country to engage along the way.
Additional details, including celebrity participants, community events, and opportunities for fan participation, will be announced in the weeks ahead.
Produced by 7 Bridges Media Group for The CW Network, THE GREAT AMERICAN ROAD RALLY: CELEBRITY EDITION represents a new kind of event television—one that honors the past, connects the present, and looks forward to what comes next.
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About The CW Network
The CW is America’s fifth major broadcast network and reaches 100% of US television households. The CW delivers 15 hours of primetime entertainment programming per week in addition to nearly 400 hours of sports per year as the broadcast home to the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, WWE NXT, ACC football and basketball games, Pac-12 football games, AVP beach volleyball, PBR Team Series, and Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) events. The fully ad-supported CW App, with more than 100 million downloads to date, is available for free to consumers on all major platforms and is home to the latest episodes and seasons of The CW’s primetime programming and a library of entertaining film and television content for on-demand viewing. The CW is 75%-owned by Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: NXST), a leading diversified media company and largest CW affiliate group. For more information about The CW, please visit www.cwtv.com.
The CW Media Contact:
Beth Feldman
646/563-8334
Beth.Feldman@cwtv.com