Auctions, Art, Rally Legends, Automotive Culture, and more
Founded in 1976, Salon Rétromobile, one of the most prestigious vintage and classic collector car shows in the world, will celebrate 50 years in 2026. Organised by Comexposium, one of the world's leading event organisers, will once again open the European classic and collector car season in Paris with authority. Running from January 28 through February 1 at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, the 50th anniversary edition will build on a record 146,000 visitors in 2025. The organizers will aim to exceed that benchmark as the show enters a new phase.
Rétromobile 2026 spans Pavilion 7 and Pavilion 4 (view map), with each space serving a distinct role. Pavilion 7 forms the historic and commercial backbone of the event, housing auction houses, leading dealers, restoration specialists, governing bodies, publishers, automobilia, and the show’s core exhibitions.
images courtesy of: Artcurial, RM Sotheby's, Gooding Christie's, Bonhams Cars
Starting with collector cars, under Rétromobile’s multi-year partnership with Gooding Christie’s, the auction house will occupy the prime on-site spot in Pavilion 7.1, where you will be able to inspect a diverse lineup of blue chips valued in the millions, ranging from pre-war beauties to race-bred machines, before they cross the block. Satellite sales from the likes of Artcurial, Bonhams, and RM Sotheby’s will run in parallel across the city, compressing auction activity into a single week, effectively setting the tone for the European market and beyond.
Headline lots include a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB (Gooding Christie’s estimate: €8,000,000 - €9,000,000), a Ferrari 250 GT LWB Berlinetta ‘Tour de France’ by Scaglietti (RM Sotheby’s estimate; €13,000,000), a 1934 Mercedes-Benz 500K (Type W29) Coupé (Bonhams Cars estimate: €1,500,000 - €2,500,000), and the 1992 Ferrari F92A Formula 1, driven and owned by Jean Alesi (Artcurial estimate: €3,000,000 - 5,000,000).
Rally history will also be in focus with a dedicated exhibition at Pavilion 7.2, which will trace the sport's rich history from the 1960s through the 1990s, with motorsport icons such as the 1976 Lancia Stratos, 1981 Audi Quattro, 1986 Peugeot 205 Turbo 16, and Renault 5 Turbo. The cars will be supported by live discussions with Ari Vatanen, Didier Auriol, and other drivers whose careers unfolded at the sharp end of those transitions.
Several high-profile debuts will further broaden the scope beyond heritage alone. Twelve manufacturers will officially participate. Mazda’s stand will spotlight its rotary engine lineage, highlighted by the 787B that won Le Mans in 1991, shown alongside period road cars like the Cosmo Sport and first-generation RX-7. Volkswagen will use the anniversary to trace 50 years of the Golf GTI, while French marque, DS, will showcase on presidential vehicles spanning from a 1965 DS 21 Pallas to a 2025 DS No.8.
Stellantis will bring six of its brands, with Alfa Romeo and Maserati showcasing their BottegaFuoriserie programs, highlighting how bespoke craftsmanship has become central to modern brand identity. Mercedes-Benz Classic will spotlight its lineup for the 2026 1000 Miglia, linking factory-supported historic racing directly to road car lineage.
Renowned Italian coach builder Bertone will use the Paris stage to unveil its all-new Runabout at Ultimate Supercar Garage, a new, future-focused collaboration with Supercar Owners Ciricle that will focus on modern exotics. Pagani, which will showcase four hypercars. It is set to debut January 29 to February 1, 2026, inside Pavilion 4. The Runabout is a bespoke wedge-driven, modern-day coach-built icon limited to just 25 examples that takes inspiration from the 1969 Runabout concept, making its first public appearance at the show.
Art and design will remain integral to the show as Rétromobile 2026 will host the French stop of the BMW Art Car World Tour, bringing Le Mans competitors painted by Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons, and more. Bugatti will present rare material from the Schlumpf Collection, including the last surviving Bugatti Autorail railcar, showcasing how far founder Ettore Bugatti’s ambitions extended beyond conventional automobiles.
An exhibition dedicated to Hollywood superstar Steve McQueen, a.k.a. ‘The King of Cool’, will showcase a spectacular array of motorcycles and cars from his career, including the 1961 Triumph TR6 from the ‘Great Escape’ and the legendary 1968 Mustang Fastback from ‘Bullitt’.
Beyond the static displays, Century-old vehicles, including machines dating back to 1903 and 1905, will run in live demonstrations organized by the Club des Teuf-Teuf. The same hall later hosts a fully operational Stuart M3 tank from World War II.
There is a lot to unpack at Rétromobile, Paris 2026, but the action this year will extend beyond Paris this year, because in November 2026, the duPont REGISTRY Group will host the inaugural U.S. edition of Rétromobile in New York City at the Javits Center, running from November 19 to 22.
Images: Rétromobile
