- The Higuerón Marbella Golf Resort hosted the Exhibition Day for the 2026 Costa del Sol Concours d’Elegance, a private gathering that brought together collectors, brands and experts against the unrivalled backdrop of the Mediterranean.
- The Bugatti F.K.P. Hommage, the Bugatti Tourbillon, the Veyron La Finale, the Porsche Le Mans Tribute Collection, the Lamborghini Aventador J and the McLaren P1 number 001 were just some of the highlights of a truly exceptional selection of vehicles.
- Following the initial exhibition, the event continued with a four-day programme combining judging, driving experiences and exclusive activities, including a track day at Ascari Race Resort and a high-performance experience at Gibraltar Airport.
The 2026 Costa del Sol Concours d’Elegance, organised by CAVËN under the guidance of the Piëch family, staged a historic edition, bringing together some of the automotive industry’s most extraordinary creations from around the world over four days in Marbella and on the Costa del Sol.
Held as a private event reserved for collectors, owners and invited guests, the occasion combined unique vehicles, driving experiences and exceptional locations, establishing itself as one of the leading gatherings for enthusiasts of classic cars and high-performance vehicles.
The 2026 edition also enjoyed the support of leading partners from various sectors of luxury, design and excellence. With Bugatti as the Main Partner, the event brought together, alongside the French brand, companies such as Bombardier Jets, 180 Quarter, Drumelia, Hinves – Steinway & Sons, SPS, IXO Carbon and Maison Ë – organisations that share the event’s vision centred on design, innovation, craftsmanship and a lifestyle built on exclusivity.
Exhibition Day brings together the world’s greatest automotive masterpieces
Against the backdrop of the Costa del Sol sunset, at the Higuerón Marbella Golf Resort, Exhibition Day offered attendees the opportunity to discover an exceptional selection of vehicles from the world’s most prestigious brands, ranging from state-of-the-art hypercars to classics and unique one-off creations.
The presence of Bugatti, Main Partner of the Costa del Sol Concours d’Elegance, was one of the highlights of the 2026 edition. For the occasion, the French brand brought together an extraordinary selection of vehicles from various collections, including development prototypes and unique creations rarely seen together at a single event. Among them was the Bugatti F.K.P. Hommage, making its debut at an elegance competition, alongside the new Bugatti Tourbillon, which made its first active appearance at a motoring event, featuring road drives and a track session.
Bugatti’s presence was rounded off by special examples of its most iconic models, including the Veyron La Finale, as well as eight development prototypes showcasing different stages of the brand’s technical evolution. Among them was a Lamborghini Diablo VT Roadster with a V16 engine, a secret prototype shown to the public for the first time, which served as a testbed for an engine architecture that was ultimately not introduced in the Bugatti Veyron.
The gathering of Bugatti models was one of the defining moments of the event, with many attendees sharing the same impression: “I’ve never seen so many Bugattis together in one place.”
Other leading brands, such as Koenigsegg, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Porsche and Lamborghini, were represented alongside renowned design houses and coachbuilders such as Zagato, Isidera, Bertone and Kimera.
The Piëch family’s Porsche Le Mans Tribute Collection, featuring bespoke creations, was another major highlight, alongside unique models such as the Lamborghini Aventador J, the Morgan Midsummer, the Zagato Twintail, the Spyker C8 Alieron, the Porsche 996 GT1 and the McLaren P1 with chassis number 001.
A leading international jury recognises the greatest creations in the automotive world
During the event, the international jury assessed the participating vehicles, analysing aspects such as design, history, engineering, uniqueness and significance within the world of classic cars.
Comprising leading figures from the worlds of automotive design, restoration and collecting, the jury brought together experts associated with institutions and competitions such as the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Hagerty, the Petersen Automotive Museum, Ferrari Classiche, Italdesign and Pininfarina.
Among its members were designers such as Fabrizio Giugiaro and Carlo Bonzanigo, as well as figures such as Vince Finaldi, President of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance; Ken Gross, former Director of the Petersen Automotive Museum; Nigel Matthews, Hagerty’s Global Brand Ambassador; Gabriele Lalli, Director of Ferrari Classiche; and Chris Kramer, an international concours judge.
The awards recognised some of the most exceptional vehicles on display in Marbella. The Best Hypercar award went to the outstanding Koenigsegg Jesko entered in the competition; Best Vintage Supercar was awarded to the immaculate Bugatti Veyron 16.4; and Best Motorsport was awarded to the prized ex-Mille Miglia Ferrari 250 S Vignale.
The Totem GT received the Best One-Off Award, whilst the Hispano Suiza Alfonso XIII was honoured as Best Pre-War. The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster presented at the concours won Best Post-War and also claimed the event’s highest honour: the prestigious Best of Show.
From the tarmac at Ascari to Gibraltar Airport: the car as an experience
The Costa del Sol Concours d’Elegance was much more than just a car show. Over four days, participants enjoyed a programme centred on driving and a passion for cars.
On Friday 2 October, owners took their cars to the Ascari Race Resort in Ronda, where an exclusive track day was held. Some of the participating vehicles undertook dynamic and acceleration tests in front of the jury, allowing the judges to assess not only their design and history, but also their mechanical condition and the unique character of their engines.
On the third day, the event moved to one of its most unique locations: Gibraltar Airport, closed exclusively for the participants and the organisers. The owners travelled in convoy from Marbella to the runway, where they were able to experience their vehicles’ performance on a 1.5-kilometre-long straight, completing individual runs at top speed.
The event also featured a Bombardier Global 6500 on the tarmac and a VIP area inside the terminal, complete with a private lounge, catering and a DJ, allowing guests to enjoy the experience from different perspectives.
A black-tie gala to round off a historic event
The Costa del Sol Concours d’Elegance concluded with a gala dinner and awards ceremony held at a spectacular private villa in Marbella, where guests enjoyed a black-tie evening in an exclusive setting.
During the gala, the winning vehicles in the various categories were recognised and the prestigious Best of Show award was presented, thus putting the finishing touch to an edition that brought together some of the world’s most exceptional cars.
Beyond the participating vehicles, the event welcomed international figures from the worlds of motoring, design and lifestyle, including Mate Rimac, CEO of Bugatti, and renowned content creators such as Shmee150, The Stradman, Tom Claeren, Hanane Sobati, Tuesday Le Roux and Jodie Kidd, as well as the Spanish automotive artist Manu Campa.
The Costa del Sol Concours d’Elegance 2026 brought to a close an edition that combined one-of-a-kind cars, international collectors and exclusive experiences, cementing the Costa del Sol’s status as a prime venue for celebrating automotive history, innovation and passion.
