By anyone’s standards, Dacia’s summer of 2026 was one for the record books. Basque waves, Italian mountains, Norwegian fjords, and a rundown of Britain’s most stunning environments: this was the outcome of Dacia’s Bucket list Fund. The fund was the car brand’s competition to help Brits turn their one-in-a-lifetime outdoor itineraries into sunny-season realities.
Dacia’s Bucket List Fund opened in June 2026, inviting the general public to submit their dream adventures in a bid to win the funding, transport, and technology that would make them possible. A panel of judges chose the six winners in July, and Dacia Duster and Bigster hybrid soon carried them to some of Europe’s most remarkable natural places, turning their wildest dreams into reality.
From coastlines to mountaintops, Dacia’s Bucket List Fund proved how far people can go when they simply say “yes!” to a meaningful outdoor experience. In doing so, the competition taught us an important lesson: adventure looks different to all.
ADVENTURE LOOKS DIFFERENT TO ALL
Amongst the winners was Stephen Hackett of Salisbury who travelled 2,189 miles around Britain with his son Will. From Dorset to the Cairngorms and back down the east coast to Kent, the pair visited 23 RSPB reserves spotting 163 bird species. On completing the trip, Stephen said: “Thank you to Dacia for the opportunity – it was great for us to spend time in each other’s company, to visit some truly remarkable places and to see some great wildlife. The most amazing and memorable trip. And the Bigster was an absolute delight!”
John Poole of Cumbria set off in the direction of Pamplona via the Pyrenees mountains to witness the total eclipse of the sun. John said: “When we applied to Dacia’s Bucket List Fund with an idea to drive across Europe to see the eclipse, we never really expected to win. But fifteen days and 3,005 miles later, we’d crossed France, Spain and Andorra, driven some fantastic roads, eaten far too much good food and stumbled across places and experiences we’d never planned for. The Bigster – or ‘Umbra’, as she became known – was brilliant and genuinely became part of the adventure. The eclipse may have been the reason for the trip, but it was everything that happened along the way that made it unforgettable. We’re enormously grateful to Dacia for giving us the opportunity.”
Environmental advocate Gwilym Pugh was part of the judging panel that whittled down hundreds of entries to the fund’s six winning applications earlier this year. He said: “What struck me reading every entry was how many people had an adventure ready to go. They just needed someone to say, ‘go now’. Seeing these six actually happen is the best possible outcome for this fund.”
Lina Riberio, Dacia UK Brand Director, said: “When we launched Dacia’s Bucket List Fund, we set out to prove that Dacia can make adventures of any size, shape or level accessible. Six winners later, from Basque surf to a total solar eclipse in northern Spain, we couldn’t be prouder of what they’ve achieved. None of these trips needed a fortune or specialist expertise, just a great idea, the right support and a car that was up for the journey. What’s stayed with us most is how much happened simply because people said yes: the unplanned detours, the time spent together and the stories they came home with. The spirit of adventure is what Dacia is built for, and we hope it inspires many more people to get behind the wheel and start creating their own unforgettable journeys.”
For anyone still sitting on a bucket list idea, the message from Dacia’s summer of adventure is simple. Say yes!
