► Brussels motor show: our 2026 A-Z
► First major international show of the year
► Highlights include Kia EV2, Citroën ELO
The 2026 Brussels motor show is nearing opening day – the first major international car show of 2026. The European-focused car event is designed to give us a proper preview of the cars launching within the next year or so, with a huge number of manufacturers attending.
Stellantis is out in force, with pretty much all of its major brands taking up show space with new or updated models. Renault Group is also a major attendee, as are the likes of Hyundai and Kia. More brands from China are making their presence felt in Europe, too, via the Brussels show.
The show is also the new home for the announcement of European Car of the Year after the cancellation and closure of the annual Geneva motor show usually held in March each year. The 2026 contenders for European Car of the Year are the Citroën C5 Aircross, Dacia Bigster, Fiat Grande Panda, Kia EV4, Mercedes CLA, Renault 4 and Skoda Elroq. Last year’s winner was a joint one, shared between the Renault 5 and Alpine A290.
Keep scrolling for all we know about what to expect at the 2026 Brussels motor show. More brands besides these (like Mercedes-Benz, Mazda, BMW, Ford and BYD) are on the attendance list, but haven’t yet formally announced what is to come. We’ll update this page when we know more.
Tonale facelift
The brand’s small SUV returns sporting its refreshed look and upgraded tech.
ELO concept
The French brand is going back to being wacky with the new ELO concept car. It’s an electric people mover that looks more at home on the moon than hear on Earth, with configurable seating, massive interior space and visibility and can power all sorts if you’re out and about. The name comes from the second letters of rEst, pLay and wOrk. Nope, us neither.
Concept Three
Our first look at an electric hatchback from the Korean brand that’s smashing it design-wise right now. We saw it at the 2025 Munich motor show, but the concept makes its European debut here.
Insteroid
All for the lols, this one. It’s an Inster that’s been subject to gamma radiation, Hulk-style and comes with a wild body kit and loads of retro-futuristic gamer graphics. Something Simon Loasby’s design team did between cranking out bangers, basically.
Ioniq 6 facelift & 6N
The updated electric streamliner will go on sale in Europe very soon, with its refreshed design that cleans everything up and keeps it looking slick. We’ve already driven the 6N, and it’s excellent.
Nexo
Hyundai is persisting with hydrogen fuel cell cars, unveiling a new-generation Nexo at the 2025 Seoul Mobility Show. This is our first time seeing the chunky new SUV on European soil.
Staria EV
Hyundai hasn’t officially confirmed that it’s Brussels launch car is this thus far, but we can read between the lines of the brand’s press release teaser. It’s ‘biggest EV yet’, with an image that looks very much like the front end of the futuristic-looking van, will launch at the show. Tech is confirmed to include a new 800-volt architecture – an interesting differentiation from the new Kia PV5.
Torres and Actyon Hybrid
New powertrains for KGM’s new-age SUVs, splitting the difference between the wheezy combustion models and the electric versions. These hybrid engines are developed by BYD, and are nicknamed ‘Dual-Tech Hybrid.’
EV2
Probably the most important car launching at the Brussels show. We’ve already seen the concept version of what will be Kia’s smallest electric car, and it already looks promising. Chunky looks, slightly crossover-y stance and clever interior design details are all expected.
B03X
The brand’s smallest electric crossover yet, designed to fight the BYD Atto 2 and Ford Puma Gen-E. It’ll likely be priced to compete and come with plenty of kit as standard.
New model range
The updated ASX, Grandis, Eclipse Cross and Outlander PHEV (above) will all populate Mitsubishi’s stand as the brand pushes back into Europe properly. The brand has also confirmed its UK relaunch, too.
Firefly
The Nio brand as a whole is in attendance with cars like the EL6, ET5 and Touring estate model – and even an EP9. But the focus is on the new Firefly hatchback, a supermini from the Chinese brand that’s aimed squarely at the likes of the Renault 5. We’ve already driven it – you can find out more here.
Astra facelift
One of the lightest refreshes in recent history? It has to be the updated Astra. Some new lights and seats are the focus here, as is an upgraded range from the EV model. You may now soothe your fevered brow.
Jake has been an automotive journalist since 2015, joining CAR as Staff Writer in 2017. With a decade of car news and reviews writing under his belt, he became CAR's Deputy News Editor in 2020 and then News Editor in 2025. Jake's day-to-day role includes co-ordinating CAR's news content across its print, digital and social media channels. When he's not out interviewing an executive, driving a new car for review or on a photoshoot for a CAR feature, he's usually found geeking out on the latest video game, buying yet another pair of wildly-coloured trainers or figuring out where he can put another car-shaped Lego set in his already-full house.
By Jake Groves
CAR's news editor; gamer, trainer freak and serial Lego-ist
