Renal cell carcinoma (RCC), particularly clear cell RCC (ccRCC), has seen rising incidence and mortality rates. Early detection remains difficult due to nonspecific symptoms, often leading to diagnoses at advanced stages and unfavorable prognoses. Current treatments, including surgery, targeted therapies, and immunotherapies, face limitations such as adverse reactions, drug resistance, and immune evasion. This review discusses the role of circular RNAs (circRNAs) and their involvement in the circRNA/miRNA/mRNA axis during RCC progression. As competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs), circRNAs regulate gene expression and cellular processes, including proliferation, metastasis, apoptosis, and drug resistance. Furthermore, we explore the impact of circRNAs on tumor metabolic reprogramming and their influence on the immune microenvironment. We also summarize the clinical prospects, challenges, and future directions in this field. A comprehensive understanding of these complex interactions may provide new insights into the diagnosis and treatment of RCC, ultimately overcoming existing challenges and improving patient outcomes.