This ultimate events calendar enumerates major automotive events in Europe and serves our annual bucket list we follow. The pandemic is long gone and we see the return of car shows on all fronts, though 2026 brings some fundamental changes.
2025 promised to be a good year and delivered on most fronts. Even if Geneva is gone, Brussels Car Show returned to take back its place as a major European international car show. As cherry on top, even the 2024 substitute Brussels Auto Show also took place, albeit in a new location and at a new date. InterClassics Maastricht celebrated its 30th anniversary , and we got see the very last of Essen Techno Classica before the organisers of Retro Classic take it over. Also the Classic Days lived through a comeback at a new venue.
2026 promises to be a really good year. The 2026 edition of Brussels Car Show was announced short after the closing of the successfoul 2025 edition. Conversely, Geneva’s failure in 2024 doomed the car show with a century of tradition for good, so it will not happen in 2026 either. Apart from that most car events are hanging on. Last year we buried the ailing Essen techno Classica with the takeover by Retro Classic, but the organiser SIHA annouced its plans for a new Techno Classica in Dortmund. This could bring two excellent car shows (a Retro Classic Essen in April and a Techno Classica Dortmund in September), unless the German car scene will not heed to the call. France has been a stronghold of automotive events in recent years, we expect a lot from the Paris Car Show, Retromobile, and Chantilly, despite the change in leadership of the latter’s organiser.
Some events happen only in the odd years, so we can see Le Mans Classic and IAA Munich happening. As some events changed throughout the year, we update this list regularly when new developments arise. All in all, we got to see a fine 2026 filled with great car events.
The European automotive events calendar 2026
Brussels Motor Show – (9-18 January) – Brussels, Belgium – Official website
The Brussels Motor Show is one of the best international car shows in Europe. It grew steadily in the 2010s, and by 2020 it sported more brands than Paris or Frankfurt. The Autosalon is organised every year, and the lucrative Belgian market required presence at the show from all brands to remain relevant.
As Geneva fell out for good, Brussels is best placed to take over the hosting of the Car of the Year Award. We had really high expectations, and the show exceeded in every aspect. Following the cancellation of the 2024 edition, the Belgian car market quickly realised they need such a grand event, and the 2025 edition proved to be another success, even if the Belgian Auto Show (the temporary replacement for 2024) took away some of the steam. We had quite high expectations for the 2026 edition, and the show delivered on all fronts.
InterClassics Classic Car Show Maastricht – 15-18 January, Maastricht, the Netherlands – Official website
The InterClassics Maastricht is a well-established classic car event of the Benelux region. With some changes on the website, the event acquired the name Classic Car Show Maastricht. It is usually one of the first car events on the calendar, and the organisers usually are dedicating this year’s event to the legends of the rising sun.
Retromobile – 28 January – 1 February, – Paris, France – Official website
We usually refer the Retromobile exhibition as the queen of classic car events. There is always room to claim to be the largest classic car event, but the sheer quality of Retromobile is what puts it on our A-list. This event is the arena of the real players, where the major classic car collectors face off and chase the world record of auctions.
Aspiring events and major national museum rent space at the vent just to put themselves to the map (the early timing of the event also helps).
The 2020 event was truly great, probably the last show unaffected by the Pandemic. After a half hearted 2022, the 2023 edition proved to be great again, returning to its old setting but we had to miss it due to conflicting programmes. The 2024 and 2025 event followed the 2023 tradition and also the two counter events (the auctions organised by Bonhams and RM Sotheby’s) took place at the same weekend. We are expecting another top event in 2026, as the show celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Paris Auction Week – the auctions of Artcurial , Bonhams, Broad Arrow (Hagerty), Gooding and RM Sotheby’s (listed strictly in alphabetical order).
These Auctions usually take place during the week of Rétromobile, and we aime to see all of them, as each are a car show on their own right. Artcurial used to be the show’s official auctioneer, but this year, Gooding takes over as Retromobile’s official auctioneer (at the Expo site), sending Artcurial to the Peninsula Hotel. As in the previous years, Sotheby’s bunk is in the city centre in the Louvre, while Bonhams moved outside to a Polo Club. Another newcomer is Broad Arrow, Hagerty’s auctioneer (they already attended this year’s Zoute GP). Each auction is a car show in its own right with dozens of breathtaking vehicles and hundreds of memorabilia. For the location, see the map below:
The ICE, 30-31 February, St Moritz, Switzerland – Official website
Bremen Classic Motorshow, 30 January – 1 February, Bremen, Germany – Official Website
The Bremen Classic Motorshow is the traditional season opener for the German classic car scene. It was inaugurated in 2003 and it grew into a major car event filling eight exhibition halls attracting some 50.000 visitors.
Flanders Collection Cars, 13-15 February, Ghent, Belgium – Official Website
This event seems to be a spinn-off to the Antwerp Edition, that followed the footsteps of Antwerp Classic.
Retro Classics Stuttgart, 19-22 February, Stuttgart, Germany – Official Website
One of Europe’s flagship classic car events, but the specialty of the organisers is to find dates coinciding with other major events (the Techno Classica event series or the InterClassic series). We attended in 2020, just before the pandemic. It was literally the last car show on earth, for about two years. The show seemed to recover pretty well from COVID, so we had to see it for ourselves last year.
Automotoretrò, 7-8 March, Parma, Italy- Official Website
Flanders Collection Cars, 13-15 March, Antwerp, Belgium – Official Website
This event followed the footsteps of Antwerp Classic, though no linger under the auspices of SIHA.
Belgium Auto Show – (21-22 March) – Ghent, Belgium – Official website
This Brussels Auto Show was meant to be the replacement for the Brussels Car Show in 2024, but could not fill the massive shoes. As the Autosalon returned, the BAS had to find a new date, home and hence even a name.
Thus the show moved to Ghent since 2025, and followed a concept closer to the variety shows of the Essen Motor Show.
Retro Classics Essen, 8-12 April, Essen, Germany – Official website
As Retro Classics takes over the Essen expo, this will be the replacement of what used to be the king of classic car shows. Techno Classica was far from its top form in recent years, but we hope that the event will rise with the arrival of an experienced organiser team.
Spa Summer Classic, 24-26 April, Spa, Belgium – Official website
This event is held annually at Spa-Francorchamps. Although Spa Summer Classics is not as clear-cut as the Spa Classic mentioned earlier, it is still worth visiting. The event combines the regional classic car series to race at this legendary circuit.
Oldtimer Messe Tulln, TBC May, Tulln, Austria – Official website
Spa Classic, 22-24 May, Spa, Belgium – Official website
The Spa event is part of the classic racing series run by the French Peter Auto series.
While the flagship event is the bi-annual Le Mans Classics (scheduled to July), the roaring circus visits Spa every year, and so do we for the past years, until the recent change of management. We shall see what it will bring for the future.
Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, 15-17 May, Cernobbio, Italy – Official website
The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este is one of the most well-known beauty contests of historic cars. It is undoubtedly the most traditional event, held for the first time in 1929. Since its revival in the 1990s, the Concorso has developed into a benchmark of European Concours events. Even its local counter event, the Fouri Concorso (held in the sane weekend, in several villas near Lake Como) seems to make it as a great stand alone event on its own.
1000 Miglia – 9-13 June, Brescia – Rome, Italy – Official website
Klassikwelt Bodensee, 12-14 June, Fridriechshafen, Germany – Official website
Nürburgring Classics, 12-14 June, Nürburgring, Germany – Official website
Concours d’Elégance Suisse, 19-21 June, Chateau de Coppet, Switzerland, – Official website
Spettacolo Sportivo, TBC June, Zandvoort, Netherlands – Official website
This event was on our wish list for the 110th anniversary of Alfa Romeo, but we still need to see it ourselves. This year, Alfa Romeo celebrates its 115th anniversary, and when one gets that old, every year is a reason to celebrate… 🙂
Le Mans Classics Legend, 2 – 5 July, Le Mans, France – Official website
Le Mans Classics is the flagship event of the brilliant Peter Auto classic racing series. It used to be a biennial event, taking shifts with Hungaroring Classics and Chantilly, but this year, it is announced again, with an annual rhythm planned for future years.
Peter Auto’s current calendar includes only Le Mans Classics this year, and it will certainly prove to be one of the best classic car races of the year. We attended the 2023 event that marked the 100th anniversary, making it probably the best classic car race of all time.
Goodwood Festival of Speed, 9-12 July, Goodwood, UK – Official website
Eifel Rallye Festival, 23-26 July, Daun, Germany – Official website
Classic Days, 31 July – 2 August, (Rittergut Birkhof, near Düsseldorf), Germany – Official website
Another lesser-known event that promises a great program, and the reports confirmed that it’s a must-see. The core programme is a classic car meeting, that moved out of the usual lakeside castle to a park near Düsseldorf, becoming a major classic car jamboree. Unfortunately, the new site brought new challenges, and just before the 2024 event, the organisers decided to withdraw due to excessive red tape. The organisers are however back with a new summer event concept titled “Grand meeting”.
Oldtimer-Grand-Prix, 7-9 August, Nürburgring, Germany – Official website
It seems like a great event from the official photos, definitely worth a visit.
Carfest (former Silverstone Festival), TBC August, Silverstone, UK – Official website
One of the UK’s largest classic car events is held at the legendary Silverstone race track. We have been looking at Silverstone Classics for quite some time. Still, people out there drive on the wrong side of the street without even noticing! : ).
The photos on the website seem spectacular (and after a few classic car races, we can tell : ) ), both in terms of scenery and cars attending on and off track. Visitors get to see classic sports cars and race cars in their natural environment, i.e. on the race track. 2025 brought a new name, and we are curious to see if it brings any changes in the concept.
Salon Privé, 27 – 30 August , Blenheim Palace, UK – Official website
The Salon Privé might not be that well-known outside the UK, but the event has a distinctively classy and aristocratic flair, covering both classic and supercar shows.
Concours of Elegance, 5 – 7 September, Hampton Court Palace, UK – Official website
An interesting concept to arrange a similar event to the same week not far away. This might actually work, as tourists can group the two occasions for a visit to the region (we certainly would, had there been no Brexit).
Antwerp Concours, 7 September, Antwerp, Belgium – Official website
This event was one of the best surprises of 2021, and last year, it did not fall much behind.
The venue is a castle near Antwerp, and organisers deliver some 100 dream cars of all epochs. We were genuinely impressed by the 2021 event, and the 2022 was not much far behind. We also loved the 2023 event and the 2024 edition.
Concours d’Elegance de Chantilly – 13 September, Château de Chantilly, France – Official website
Chantilly is a high-end Concours d’elegance organised by Peter Auto. The photos we saw from the 2019 edition truly impressed, with the only downside of the extremely hot weather.
The September date will take care of the climate, and the show proved to be really impressive open air event.
Goodwood Revival, 12-14 September, Goodwood, UK – Official website
Another legendary event in a legendary site. In addition to the Festival of Speed, Revival is one of the events we would like to visit one day. Unfortunately, with Brexit, this is getting even more unlikely.
Wheels Mariënwaerdt, 12-14 September, Landgoed Mariènwaerdt, Beesd, the Netherlands – Official website
This event appeared on our radar rather recently, as several friends posted about the event. Having a peek the event’s website, we encountered a plethora of promising photos.
Techno Classica, 24-27 September, Dortmund, Germany – Official website
The Techno Classica is also one of the most important automotive events in the continent, which means pretty much the world. The exhibition claims to be the number 1 of classic car fairs, and this show also delivered, year after year.
During COVID, Techno Classica was cancelled, and upon its return in 2022, the show was a mere shadow of itself. There has been a gradual return of manufacturers in 2023, and but unfortunately, none of them returned to Essen in 2024. According to the information available, the next show is the very last Essen Techno Classica ever, as Retro Classic takes over Essen in 2026. For the very last Essen Technica Classica ever, the organisers went all in: Essen Techno Classica 2025 occupied the entire Essen expo area, covering 120,000 square metres, the equivalent to the area of 17 football fields. Although we saw only a few small stages with some manufacturer (or rather importer or flagship trader) support this year, but even with that, we saw many more breathtaking classics and exotics than in Stuttgart or Maastricht. We shall see if that momentum will last in the new location and time slot.
Rallye Legend – 2-5 October, San Marino, Italy – Official website
Zoute Grand Prix, 7-11 October, Knokke-Heist, Belgium, – Official website
This excellent Concours d’elegance takes place in October by the Belgian coast. The event looks back to a decade of success with a continually growing audience growing beyond 250.000 visitors in 2018.
The Zoute Grand Prix comprises five events held throughout the four days at various locations: the Zoute Top Marques show (last year called Prado Zoute), the Zoute Rally, the Zoute Sale by Bonhams Auction, the Zoute Concours d’elegance and the closing Zoute GT Tour.
Some of these events are public, others might require additional investment. The 2019 event guaranteed a full day of activities with a comprehensive set of programmes. For us, this was the best car event of 2021, hands down. And the same thing happened to the 2022 event. Since 2023, Zoute GP did not feature a Concours d’Elegance, but it still proved to be one of the best car events of the year. For this year, the organisers announced the return of a traditional Concours d’Elegance, and assembled a stellar cast for its exhibition and also for the tours and rallies.
Paris Motor Show, 12 – 18 October 2022, Paris, France – Official website
The Paris Car Show is organised every even year, in the odd years the shift is taken over by the German International Automobile Exhibition IAA.
The Paris and the Frankfurt Car shows differ in many ways, the Paris Show is more compact, and aims to go beyond the automotive and mobility, with special exhibitions following a dedicated theme.
Auto-moto d’epoca – 22-25 October, Bologna Italy – Official website
Époqauto – 6-8 November, Lyon, France – Official website
Interclassics Brussels, 20-22 November, Brussels, Belgium – Official website
The Interclassics Brussels is a relatively recent event, will be held for the eight time this year. However, the organisers are far from being beginners.
Their main event, the Interclassics Maastricht is the most important classic car event in the Netherlands with some three decades of history. Even as a newcomer, Interclassics Brussels quickly established itself, thanks to the region’s very active classic car culture.
The last few events were quite impressive. In 2019, it surpassed the Maastricht event, the 2021 InterClassics Brussels was one of the few major classic car events actually held. The 2002 edition was good as always, albeit limited to 3 halls. The 2023 edition was slightly larger, but its still not at the level of its prime. In 2024, the show offered largely the same spectacle as last year, and for 2025, the show even broke visitor records.
Milano AutoClassica, 20-22 November, Milano, Italy – Official website
Another event on our bucket list, as a stable candidate for a visit.
Ypres Historic Regularity Rallye, TBC December, Ypres, Belgium- Official website
The earliest date might serve this event best, as the 2023 edition was hit by a snowstorm, making rallying in prewar cars on diagonals quite tricky.
Prewar Days, TBC December, Kortrijk, Belgium – Official website
Prewar Days was on our bucket list for a long time. The event acquired quite a reputation in Belgium, as we encountered their delegations at various events like InterClassics and Antwerp Concours. Finally we could finally attend in 2023 and 2024.
Essen Motor Show, 28 November – 6 December, Essen, Germany – Official website
We like to summarise the Essen Motor Show as a European SEMA meets classic car show. It can not be compared to the international car shows, even if a few dealerships exhibit. For a full-blooded international car show, wait a few weeks and go to Brussels. But it’s safe to say that EMS will leave quite a few lasting memories on other fronts, with a clear aim to please everybody by offering everything on all fronts.
2018, we could witness VW’s electric Pikes Peak stormer ID R and Porsche’s 919 Nürburgring dominator, we watched the drift championship training session, we marvelled all forms of beauty and was paralysed by shock and awe in the taverns of tuning.
EMS is organised every year, and with an eventual cancellation of the Techno Classica, the EMS could step in as a backup plan. The 2021 event however could not come close to the Techno Classica, even if we could see quite a few spectacular cars. The 2022 event was a bit more reserved but surpassed ETC in our books, and 2023 saw another major car event.
International Racingshow – TBC December, Kortrijk, Belgium – Official website
This show was a new item on our bucket list, but definitely raised our interest. The show presented an impressive selection of classic race cars, and we would definitely like to attend again.
