Planning is everything. What might seem like an event months out tends to arrive quicker than expected and often passes by in the blink of an eye. Last year, the automotive world saw several large automotive shows, many of which were the staging grounds for some of the best cars revealed in 2024.

A few new shows are returning to the calendar this year, and others expected to make an appearance are only returning bigger and better. These are the automotive shows happening this year that shouldn’t be missed.

The automotive shows included in this list have been arranged in order of the dates of each show, from the earliest to the latest.

10 Brussels Motor Show

10th – 19th January

The Brussels Motor Show is an automotive show that showcases various brands and vehicles, focusing on the forefront offerings. The Brussels Motor Show will celebrate its 101st edition of the famed event this year. Unlike some shows that exclusively focus on classic cars, the Brussels Motor Show showcases various vehicles, from passenger cars to light commercial vehicles, with many sports cars and motorsport vehicles included.

This year, the European automotive event will feature 63 automotive brands and an expansive and in-depth view of the Belgian market. Some of the models featured at the show will be Dodge, BMW, BYD, Chevrolet, Lotus, Lamborghini, Mazda, Honda, Audi, Tesla, and many more.

9 Retro Classics

27th February – 2nd March

As the name would suggest, the Retro Classics automotive show is held in Stuttgart, Germany, and caters to classic cars of all shapes and sizes. While it has a large German presence, the show also caters to enthusiasts looking for classic American muscle cars or niche passenger carriers built in the 60s.

Some noteworthy entries in this year’s event include the likes of the Ford Mustang, Dodge Charger, and Pontiac Trans Am. An oddity showcased this year is the Opel Manta B, a coupe designed for families that was also used to participate in rally racing and even appeared as the lead car in a German action comedy produced in the ’90s.

8 Concours d’Eleganza Villa D’Este

23rd – 25th May

This is one of the most noteworthy and coveted automotive events this year. The Concours d’Eleganza Villa d’Este is held at Lake Como in Northern Italy and is used as a competition for classic and vintage vehicles. The event first appeared in 2011 and was organized by the BMW Group.

Alongside a car competition that draws out some of the most historically significant and beloved vehicles ever created, attendees are also offered other activities like live music.

7 Goodwood Festival Of Speed

10th – 13th July

The Goodwood Festival Of Speed is one of the most well-known automotive events held nearly yearly and rarely fails to draw a large crowd. This event combines a standard automotive show and a motorsport festival. One of the biggest activities held at the Goodwood Festival Of Speed is the hill climb race up Goodwood Hill, which stretches 1.16 miles and features nine turns.

This event has regularly served as the staging ground for some of the most anticipated new models from some of the most revered manufacturers. Other noteworthy Goodwood Festival Of Speed elements include the supercar paddock, the Future Lab, and the Cartier Style et Luxe.

6 The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering

15th August

The Quail, held in California this year, is another high-ranking and prolific automotive event. The Quail series consists of several separate events, but the one held in August this year is the most noteworthy. Some sponsors associated with this event include Rolex, Porsche, Bugatti, McLaren, Bonhams Cars, Rolls-Royce, and many more.

Some of the biggest reveals and appearances in the last few years at The Quail include the likes of the Apollo Intensa Emozione, Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR, Koenigsegg CCR, Hennessey Venom F5, and an example of the 1949 MG TC.

5 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance

17th August

Monterey Car Week is one of the most highly anticipated events on the yearly automotive calendar, and the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is the culmination and finale of this week-long beloved event.

Like the Retro Classics event held in Germany, the Pebble Beach event focuses on classic and vintage cars that range from well-known vintage models like the Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Scaglietti Competizione Berlinetta, the Ferrari 250 GT, and the Bugatti Type 57SC Corsica Roadster. However, the event has also spotlighted niche vintage and classic cars like the 1970 Lancia Stratos HF Zero.

4 Concours Of Elegance

7th September

While other events offer a wide variety of cars, whether that be classic cars, modern sports cars, race cars, or a sublime medley of everything under the sun, the Concours Of Elegance event held at Hampton Court Palace only features a selection of 60 of the rarest vehicles ever created and sourced from around the world.

These vehicles are not restricted to being from a certain era or country; the only deciding factor is rarity. As such, the Concours Of Elegance event is often a showcase of cars that the public rarely sees, like the 1940 Aston Martin Speed Model Type C that won the “1940s” category at the event held in 2024 and the 1974 BMW 3.0 CSL “Batmobile.”

3 Goodwood Revival

12th – 14th September

Unlike other entries on this list that focus on static and conservative showcases of some of the best cars ever created, the Goodwood Revival event intends to recreate the motor racing at the Goodwood racetrack between 1948 and 1966. This results in an event that sees hundreds of classic cars and race cars take to the track to stage a veritable time machine.

It’s like larping but with classic cars instead of foam swords, but often, there are heart-rate-elevating battles on the famed racetrack as ultra-rare and ultra-expensive cars rub elbows and trade blows from time to time. Some of the races confirmed for this year include the Madgwick Cup, which only allows cars with engines under three liters that raced between 1960-1996, and the Goodwood Trophy race, which only allows Grand Prix and Voiturette cars that were raced between 1930 and 1951.

2 Japan Mobility Show

29th October – 9th November

Also referred to as the Tokyo Motor Show, this is an auto show held in the year’s final quarter that focuses on showcasing new technology in the automobile space and new models that highlight the future of mobility. Some of the goals of the Japan Mobility Show include highlighting the importance of business and industry collaboration and showcasing technological and digital advancements.

At the event last year, some of the focuses of the event included advancements and new models in the plug-in hybrid segment, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and innovations, advancements in the field of carbon neutrality and cars leveraging carbon-neutral tech, and electric vehicles like the Nissan Ariya and the Honda Power Pack Exchanger e:.

1 Geneva International Motor Show

November

The Geneva International Motor Show has been held since 1905 and has always tried to highlight the future of mobility and the automotive world. Some automotive events included in this list can be summed up as a collection of different cars with the aim being simply to gawk at the cars gathered at those events; the GIMS is a gathering that blends eye-catching automotives with eye-opening discussions on various aspects of the automotive world by some of the most prolific names in the automotive industry.

Recently, the automotive show has undergone some changes, as a lack of interest from manufacturers and a number of uncertainties have forced the event to change its formula. It is now being held in Qatar for this year, scheduled for November this year.

Sources:
Geneva International Motor Show
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Concours Of Elegance
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Concours d’Eleganza Villa d’Este
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Brussels Motor Show
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Goodwood Festival Of Speed
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Goodwood Revival
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Japan Mobility Show
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Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
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The Quail