Rainbow World is hidden away in Mario Kart World, provided you meet a particular set of conditions.

This is good news if you have polished off every Mario Kart World track and still have room for more. This guide explains how to access Mario Kart World's Special Cup, and the Rainbow Road track within. However, know that it's only accessible in Grand Prix mode either way.

How To Unlock Rainbow Road In Mario Kart World

Mario Kart World - Rainbow Road
Image: Nintendo

Accessing Rainbow Road requires unlocking Mario Kart World's Special Cup first.

Doing so is a pretty straightforward process, and one that will likely be familiar to those who have hunted down Mario Kart unlockables in the past. If you want to unlock the Special Cup, you have to place in the top three in all seven other Cups.

It's as simple as that. It doesn't matter whether you nab gold, silver or bronze, nor which CC you are racing on, but you have to land on the podium in the Mushroom, Flower, Star, Shell, Banana, Leaf and Lightning Cups.

That's it! After placing in the top three for every Cup, you will be informed that the Special Cup is now ready to roll, adding a handful of extra courses to the track lineup, including Rainbow Road. Nice.

Can I Unlock Rainbow Road in Free Roam?

Nope, sadly not. Which is a shame, because we'd love to explore space in Mario Kart World, but Rainbow Road is inaccessible in Free Roam, even when you have unlocked the Special Cup as explained above.

Just as well - can you imagine the ridiculous P Switch Missions there would be in Rainbow Road? No. Thank. You!

Mario Kart World - Special Cup FAQ

Here are a handful of frequently asked questions you may have about Mario Kart World's Special Cup.

How many tracks are in Mario Kart World's Special Cup?

Unsurprisingly, there are four tracks in the Mario Kart World Special Cup. You'll find a list of these unlockable circuits below:

  • Acorn Heights
  • Mario Circuit
  • Peach Stadium
  • Rainbow Road
Mario Kart World - Special Cup
Image: Nintendo Life

How long does it take to unlock Rainbow Road?

That depends how quickly you can land on the podium in seven different Cups, as well as what CC you're racing on, your character's weight, kart choice, etc.

By our rough estimate, however, it takes about 15 minutes to beat a Cup, and you'll need to do that seven times. Leaving a little wiggle room for the off-chance that you slip up in a race or two, we'd say it'll take around two hours to unlock the Special Cup and get to ride around Rainbow Road.

If you're after more Mario Kart World guides, see how to unlock costumes, characters, and what the best kart is.