2026 is shaping up to be a classic year for car enthusiasts, with a huge number of motoring events to attend.
We’ve researched some of the UK’s biggest and best car shows and motorsport events, making sure we include something for everyone.
Dive in to see what the year has in store – and be sure to let us know below if you’re planning to attend any… perhaps see you there?
2026 MOTORING EVENTS
May 2026
1-3 May: Donington Historic Festival
2 May: Auto Italia Italian Car Day at Brooklands
2-3 May: Gaydon Land Rover Show, British Motor Museum
9 May: Prescott Italia at Prescott Hillclimb
9 May: London to Brighton Runs, Brooklands Museum to Brighton
10 May: British Mini Day, Himley Hall
12 May: Jap Show, Santa Pod
14-17 May: Nurburgring 24 Hours
See Max Verstappen race a Mercedes-AMG!
20-21 May: Concours on Savile Row
21 May: Hagerty Hangout at Bicester Motion
25 May: Best of British Day, Brooklands
June 2026
6-7 June: Best of British, Shelsley Walsh
9-11 June: London Concours, Honourable Artillery Company, City of London
10-14 June: Le Mans 24 Hours
19-21 June: Concours des Legendes at Wilton House
20-21 June: Icons of Porsche, Sunstede Silverstone Edition
A festival dedicated to Porsche, to mark 75 years of the brand in the UK. It will be hosted at the Porsche Experience Centre Silverstone and will include demonstrations of Porsche race and road cars on the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit. You can buy tickets here.
27-28 June: Heveningham Concours, Suffolk
28 June: Ford Nationals, British Motor Museum
July 2026
3-5 July: British Grand Prix
5 July: National Metro & Mini Show, British Motor Museum
8 July: RAC Club Concours, Woodcote Park
9 July: Hagerty Hangout at Bicester Motion
10-12 July: Summer Nationals, Santa Pod
9-12 July: Goodwood Festival of Speed
12 July: BMC & Leyland Day, British Motor Museum
18-19 July: Classic Nostalgia at Shelsley Walsh
25 July: Festival of the Unexceptional
25-26 July: Silverstone Classic
August 2026
3 August: Megaphonics 25, Boxengasse Bicester
8 August: Pistonheads Annual Service, Bicester Motion
23 August: Italian Car Day at Carlton Towers
September 2026
2-6 September: Salon Privé
4-6 September: Concours of Elegance, Hampton Court Palace
6 September: John Haynes Classic Motor Show, Haynes Motor Museum
10 September: Hagerty Hangout at Bicester Motion
12-13 September: Beaulieu Autojumble
18-20 September: Goodwood Revival
October 2026
4 October: Sunday Scramble, Bicester Motion
11 October: Motorsports Day at Brooklands
November 2026
1 November: London to Brighton Veteran Car Run
13-15 November: Classic Motor Show
The 2026 events that have already happened
Look back at the 2026 events calendar so far… which of the below events will be on your radar for 2027?
20-22 February: Race Retro
For many enthusiasts, Race Retro marks the start of the annual events calendar. This year, there’s live action from 120 rally cars, historic race exhibits, celebrity motorsport talks and more. There’s also a flagship auction on Saturday 21st February, with cars once owned by Richard Hammond, Richard Hamilton and even King Charles II!
20-22 March: Classic Car & Restoration Show
Rustic gems, resto projects and pristine classics is the promise of the NEC Classic Car & Restoration Show. Over 1,300 classics are expected, from 160 car clubs, and more than 230 cars will be on sale, too. Meet star experts including Derek Mathewson, Mike Brewer, Paul Cowland, Sheldon Nichols, Steph Holloway and more.
28 March: AUTOBEST Conquest Live Show
This is something all-new for 2026. AUTOBEST, the largest independent automotive awards jury in Europe, is holding its first live AUTOBEST Conquest event on 28 March – where the 2026 winner will be revealed. You can vote now from the six finalists… Motoring Research director and UK juror Richard Aucock has already cast his vote. Tune in on the night to find out which of the six will be crowned AUTOBEST Best Buy Car of Europe 2026.
11 April: Food & Fuel, Bicester Motion
12 April: GTI Spring Festival, Santa Pod
16-18 April: Salon Privé London
18 April: Pride of Longbridge, Cofton Park, Longbridge
18 April: Rustival, British Motor Museum
18-19 April: Classic Car Boot Sale Kings Cross
18-19 April: BTCC 2026 season-opener, Donington Park
Motoring Research will be at Donington for the 2026 curtain-raiser. If you can’t make it, you can watch every BTCC race in 2026 LIVE on ITV4.
26 April: DRIVE IT DAY 2026
26 April: Sunday Scramble, Bicester Motion
The April event will celebrate the vee engine, with displays of both road and race cars, while Hangar 113 will mark a century of the Bicester Technical Site. A pioneering aircraft will be flanked by period cars.
26 April: Ultimate BMW Meet, British Motor Museum
