Drone Champions League
The Drone Champions League is an international first-person-view drone racing series founded in 2016. It involves teams of drone pilots competing in both physical and virtual tournaments at various international locations. Events are held at outdoor landmarks as well as in digitally recreated environments known as “digital twins.”
The league is operated by Drone Champions AG, based in Ruggell, Liechtenstein.
History
The first DCL events were demonstration races held in 2016 at Ehrenberg Castle in Reutte, Austria, and inside the Salina Turda salt mines in Turda, Romania.The first full season was held in 2017, beginning on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, France, with an estimated attendance of around 150,000 spectators. Eight races were held across Europe, and the British team NEXXBlades Racing won the overall championship.
In the following seasons, races were held at locations including the Great Wall of China, Brussels, Madrid, and other international venues.
In 2018, DCL collaborated with THQ Nordic to develop DCL: The Game, a drone-racing simulator released for PC and consoles in 2020. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 season was held entirely online using the simulator.
In 2023, the DCL Super Final was held in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, and in 2025 DCL co-organized the first autonomous drone racing championship with the Autonomous Racing League in Abu Dhabi.
Format
Teams and pilots: DCL functions as a team-based league, generally consisting of teams with four pilots. As of 2025, teams include Raiden Racing, Cyclone Drone Racing, Spain Drone Team, Quad Force One, Wildcard Team, Phoenix Racing, and China Dragons.Race structure: The competition consists of timed FPV races through illuminated gates and obstacles, with team points determining event standings. Since 2025, the season has included three tournaments, each featuring 14 matches in a knockout format, concluding in a joint final.
Venues: DCL races have taken place at venues such as the Champs-Élysées in Paris, Laax in Switzerland, the Salina Turda salt mines, and the Great Wall of China.