Every August, the California coast transforms into the most glamorous stage in the automotive world. On Sunday, August 16, 2026, that stage reaches a new pinnacle. The 75th edition of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance arrives not just as a car show, but as a living celebration of seven and a half decades of extraordinary automobiles, legendary design, and a tradition unlike anything else on earth.
Whether you are a lifelong collector, a first-time visitor, or simply someone who appreciates beauty and history, this guide covers everything you need to know about this landmark event.
A Tradition Born on the California Coast
The story began in 1950. The first Pebble Beach Road Race was held on November 5 of that year, winding through the pine-lined roads of Del Monte Forest on the Monterey Peninsula. The Concours was added almost as an afterthought, a last-minute social gathering to complement the race. Cars were judged in a field near the tennis courts, then paraded down the start-finish straight of the racecourse.
Nobody knew then that this modest side event would one day become the most prestigious collector car competition in the world.
“In truth, the Pebble Beach Concours owes everything to that race,” said Concours Chairman Sandra Button. “The race was clearly the main event. The concours was secondary — a last-minute addition to serve as a social gathering and add a bit of style.”
Racing continued in Del Monte Forest through 1956. Phil Hill, Carroll Shelby, Ken Miles, and Carroll Ginther all competed on those tight, tree-lined roads. The course eventually proved too dangerous for increasing speeds, and a purpose-built circuit was carved from a nearby dry lake. That circuit became Laguna Seca, now one of the most celebrated racetracks in America. However, the spirit of that first Concours never faded. It grew year after year, eventually becoming what it is today.
What Makes This Year Different
The 75th anniversary is not just a number. It is a reason to look back and a reason to go further than ever before.
The event returns to its roots this year in a very deliberate way. The 2026 edition will pay special tribute to the Pebble Beach Road Racing legacy. Organizers are partnering with the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion to showcase Pebble Beach Road Race cars at Laguna Seca, connecting the past and present in a single, seamless week of celebration.
Additionally, the Concours will feature a very special gathering that revisits iconic groupings of cars that were first brought together at Pebble Beach in previous decades. These once-in-a-lifetime assemblies were among the most memorable moments in the event’s history. Seeing them reconvened on the same fairway, against the same Pacific backdrop, will be a deeply emotional experience for any enthusiast.
Where It All Happens
The event takes place on the 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links, at The Lodge at Pebble Beach in California. The setting is extraordinary. The Pacific Ocean stretches out behind the cars, the morning fog rolls in over the cypress trees, and hundreds of the world’s rarest automobiles sit gleaming on the manicured grass.
It is, by any measure, one of the most beautiful places on earth to see a car. Therefore, even those who know little about automotive history find themselves moved by the experience.
The Concours draws around 15,000 spectators each year. It runs from morning through late afternoon and culminates in the announcement of the Best of Show award, widely considered the highest honor in the collector car world.
Featured Marque: Ferrari
No marque has a longer or richer relationship with Pebble Beach than Ferrari. The very first Ferrari to appear here did so in 1951, when Jim Kimberly — heir to the Kimberly-Clark fortune — drove his 1949 Ferrari 166 MM Touring Barchetta to the Concours and then entered it in the Road Races. On lap 20 of the feature race, he skidded on oil and flipped the car. He emerged unharmed and reportedly received a kiss from his date, movie star Ginger Rogers. It was a debut entirely in keeping with Ferrari’s flair for the dramatic.
In the decades since, more than 900 Ferraris have appeared on the Pebble Beach lawn. The marque became the first ongoing postwar featured marque at the Concours beginning in 1973. This year, the tribute goes deeper than ever before.
The 2026 Ferrari showcase will focus on three specific areas. First, it will feature Ferrari’s overall Le Mans winners, the race cars that carried the prancing horse to total victory at the world’s greatest endurance race. Second, it will spotlight NART competition cars, the legendary machines run by the North American Racing Team under Luigi Chinetti, which brought Ferrari glory across American circuits in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. Third, it will celebrate Vignale-bodied road cars, Ferrari’s most exquisitely tailored examples from the golden age of Italian coachbuilding.
Featured Coachbuilder: Carrozzeria Vignale
Alfredo Vignale was born in 1913, the fourth of seven children. He began working as a panel beater at the age of eleven. After years of training with Pinin Farina and later Stabilimenti Farina, he founded his own carrozzeria in Turin in 1948. The defining moment came in 1950 when Vignale began collaborating with Ferrari, creating some of the most breathtaking shapes in automotive history.
His work is characterized by sculpted surfaces, dramatic proportions, and a sense of lightness that made each car feel like it was moving even when standing still. Vignale-bodied Ferraris, Maseratis, and other Italian thoroughbreds represent a period when cars were truly works of art.
This year’s tribute to Carrozzeria Vignale will bring some of these masterpieces together in one place. For those who appreciate the craft of coachbuilding, this alone is worth the journey to the Monterey Peninsula.
New Classes Debuting in 2026
Beyond the Ferrari and Vignale tributes, the 75th edition introduces several exciting new competition classes. Each one opens a different window into automotive history.
Early American Speedsters are pre-World War I racing machines that defined sporting motoring in America’s earliest days. Cars like the Mercer Raceabout and the Stutz Bearcat were the performance icons of their time. They were raw, powerful, and completely uncompromising. Seeing them gathered on the Pebble Beach lawn will offer a rare glimpse into the very origins of speed.
Classic Streamliners celebrate the aerodynamic masterpieces of the 1930s. This was an era when designers were captivated by speed and the science of airflow. They created cars with flowing fenders, sloping grilles, and fastback rear ends that captured the spirit of an age obsessed with the future. Some experimented with genuine wind tunnel-tested teardrop forms. Others were simply caught up in the glamour of the streamlining movement. All of them are astonishing to look at.
Japanese Motorsports: The Rising Sun at Le Mans spotlights Japan’s remarkable journey into endurance racing. Toyota, Nissan, and Mazda all made their marks at Le Mans over the decades, and Mazda became the first Japanese manufacturer to win outright in 1991. This class gives long-overdue recognition to Japan’s place in the history of international motorsport.
Additionally, Pebble Beach Road Racing Greats will honor the drivers and constructors who shaped the early years of American road racing right here on the Monterey Peninsula.
Monterey Car Week: The Full Experience
The Concours does not exist in isolation. It serves as the grand finale of Monterey Car Week, a ten-day celebration that runs from August 7 through August 16, 2026. The full week offers something for every type of automotive enthusiast.
The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion takes place at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca from August 12 to 15. It brings together more than 400 authentic historic race cars for two days of competitive racing. These are not static displays. These cars run hard, on a track, just as they were built to do. The sights and sounds are unforgettable.
The Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance runs on Thursday, August 13. More than 150 Concours entrants take to the road to prove their machines are fully functional, not just beautiful. The route traces the scenic Highway 1 coastline, and the event is free to watch for the public.
The Automobilia Collectors Expo, taking place August 10 through 12, is America’s most extensive automobilia show. It features rare collectibles, historic automotive art and literature, vintage memorabilia, and official Concours merchandise.
High-profile collector car auctions from firms like RM Sotheby’s run throughout the week. These sales consistently set world records and offer a fascinating look at the financial side of the collector car world.
The Pebble Beach Motoring Classic, a scenic road trip from the Pacific Northwest down the coast, arrives at Casa Palmero on August 12. Participants travel approximately 1,500 miles before completing their journey at the world’s most prestigious automotive destination.
Planning Your Visit
Tickets for the Concours are required and should be purchased well in advance. The event sells out each year, and demand for the 75th anniversary is expected to be especially high. Tickets can be purchased through the official website at pebblebeachconcours.net.
For those attending multiple events during the week, the Car Week Passport offers access to several premier events at a bundled price. It is one of the most practical ways to plan a full week on the peninsula.
Accommodation in the Pebble Beach, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and Monterey areas books up quickly during Car Week. Therefore, anyone planning to attend should secure lodging as early as possible, ideally months in advance.
Shuttle services run from Carmel Plaza to the Concours grounds, departing every 15 to 30 minutes from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the day of the event. Driving and parking at the venue is possible but requires advance planning.
Dress appropriately for the morning weather. The Monterey Peninsula can be cool and foggy at sunrise, even in August. However, afternoons typically warm up considerably, so layers are always the right choice.
The Charitable Legacy
The event carries a purpose beyond competition and celebration. The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance has a proud tradition of charitable giving. In 2026, a challenge grant promises to match up to one million dollars in donations to Concours charities, bringing the event closer to achieving two major philanthropic milestones. Over the course of its history, the Concours has donated tens of millions of dollars to local and national charitable causes. Attending is not just a privilege. It is also a contribution.
Conclusion
The 75th edition of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is shaped to be one of the most memorable in the event’s long and storied history. Taking place on August 16, 2026, on the iconic 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links, it will celebrate Ferrari’s extraordinary legacy, honor the sculptural genius of coachbuilder Alfredo Vignale, and introduce exciting new classes covering Early American Speedsters, Classic Streamliners, and Japanese motorsport history. It will also return to its own roots, paying tribute to the Pebble Beach Road Races that gave the Concours its reason for being. Set within the ten-day celebration of Monterey Car Week, and backed by a proud charitable legacy, the 75th anniversary promises a combination of beauty, history, and passion that is impossible to find anywhere else on earth. If you have ever considered making the journey to the Monterey Peninsula in August, this is the year to do it.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance 2026?
The 75th edition takes place on Sunday, August 16, 2026, on the 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links at The Lodge at Pebble Beach, California.
What is the featured marque at the 2026 Concours?
Ferrari is the primary featured marque this year. The tribute focuses on Ferrari’s Le Mans overall winners, NART competition cars, and Vignale-bodied road cars. Carrozzeria Vignale is the featured coachbuilder.
How do I buy tickets for the event?
Tickets can be purchased through the official website at pebblebeachconcours.net. The event sells out each year, and demand for the 75th anniversary edition is expected to be particularly high, so early booking is strongly advised.
What other events happen during Monterey Car Week 2026?
Monterey Car Week runs from August 7 to 16 and includes the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Laguna Seca (August 12–15), the Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance (August 13), the Automobilia Collectors Expo (August 10–12), several major collector car auctions, and the Pebble Beach Motoring Classic road trip.
What new competition classes are being introduced in 2026?
Three new classes are debuting this year: Early American Speedsters (pre-World War I), Classic Streamliners (1930s aerodynamic designs), and Japanese Motorsports: The Rising Sun at Le Mans. A special class honoring Pebble Beach Road Racing Greats is also part of the program.
