The Tatts Finke Desert Race over the King's Birthday weekend has attracted more than 800 competitors, over 60 per cent up on 2025, including men, women and junior riders.
The main race is from Alice Springs to Aputula (Finke) and back over two days, with many thousands of spectators expected to line the dusty trail to see who becomes "King of the Desert".
Northern Territory tourism minister Marie-Clare Boothby said the Finke race was a major tourism drawcard for Central Australia, with the 2025 event adding nearly $15 million into the territory's economy.
The event was first held in 1976 with 56 motorcycle competitors, with cars and buggies able to compete from 1988.
The Finke Desert Race's president, Antony Yoffa, said celebrating 50 years of the event was "truly special".
"This race is part of the territory's heart, the call of the desert, the crowds, the community and the sheer determination of every competitor," he said in a statement.
This year the Finke races will be filmed by Wild State, the production company founded by Mad Max series star Chris Hemsworth and Ben Grayson, for a proposed feature-length film and documentary series.
NT Police have urged race spectators to stay safe and follow police and track warden instructions, including keeping 30 metres back from the track and watching their alcohol intake.
The 30-metre rule was implemented following the death of 60-year-old Canberra retiree Nigel Harris in 2021 when a competing vehicle had suspension failure and veered into a crowd of spectators.
Police have urged spectators to leave their drones at home to avoid colliding with and bringing down St John's Ambulance helicopters.
Those caught flying a drone risk copping a $16,000 fine.
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