What is Air|Water and what’s the hype around it?
If you’re even remotely into Porsche, this is your Super Bowl. Air|Water is a full-spectrum Porsche experience, serving its name from air-cooled and water-cooled — the two big eras of Porsche.
Expect air-cooled icons, water-cooled legends, race cars, road cars, EVs, hybrids, and even vintage diesel tractors from the 1950s. It’s organised by the same team behind Luftgekühlt, so expect obsessive attention to detail, not just rows of cars in a parking lot.
This year’s event is set to take place on 25 April 2026, in Costa Mesa, California, and it’s already billed as Southern California’s largest single-marque Porsche gathering.
What can you see and do at Air|Water?
Well, there’s a lot. And not the vague “something for everyone” kind. This is a properly curated event. You’ll get a front-row look at Porsche’s 75+ years of evolution. That means everything from homologation specials like the 911 Carrera RS lineage to modern track weapons like the 525hp 992 GT3 RS and electric performance icons like the Taycan Turbo S.
Then there’s the event programming. Hosted by automotive personality Jonny Lieberman, you can expect deep dives, stories from industry insiders, and the kind of conversations you don’t usually get on YouTube.
There’s also:
- A 50+ exhibitor hall packed with parts, apparel, and automotive art
- A live Broad Arrow auction featuring race and road cars
- Exclusive car unveils
- Automotive art from names like Felix Holst and Austen Segal
Why is this a major event for Porsche fans?
The simple reason is that it connects the two big eras (air-cooled and water-cooled) and every micro every era without filtering anything out. You’ll see air-cooled legends like the 930 Turbo, sit alongside race cars like a Porsche-powered McLaren MP4/2 (yes, the Alain Prost-era F1 car), and then walk over to a lifted 911 Dakar built for off-road abuse.
Last year’s event proved this mix works. Even heavy rain didn’t slow it down. By midday, the place turned into a rolling museum of Porsche colours, and brilliant German engineering. Expect similar energy this year, just bigger and sharper.
Road to Air|Water: Want to actually drive there?
This is where it gets interesting. The “Road to Air|Water” rally, organised with Overcrest is a properly curated driving experience across some of Southern California’s best roads. It starts with a shared breakfast, then covers a demanding, enthusiast-focused route and ends with early access to the main event. Access is limited, so head over to Air|Water to book your spot.
Runway Reception: The afterparty you’ll want to attend
The Runway Reception, hosted at Finish Line Auto Club, is the official afterparty—and it’s not just drinks and background music. You get access to private Porsche collections, many of which don’t even appear at the main event. Add runway views, curated displays, and a proper enthusiast crowd, and this becomes its own event within the event. Tickets are separate, and realistically, they’ll sell out soon.
If your idea of a good Saturday involves flat-sixes, rare paint-to-sample builds, and casually bumping into cars worth more than your house, you already know where you need to be. April 25. Costa Mesa. Don’t overthink it.
