The lawns of Blenheim Palace will welcome some of the world’s most significant automobiles when Salon Privé Concours 2026 begins on Wednesday, 2 September.
Now in its 21st year, the event combines a professionally judged concours d’élégance with contemporary supercars, hypercars, manufacturer debuts, fashion, hospitality and luxury shopping. Organisers expect more than 30,000 guests across its five-day programme, following an attendance of over 28,000 in 2025.
Around 70 cars will compete in the principal concours on Wednesday and Thursday, the 2nd and 3rd of September, representing almost a century of motoring. They will range from pre-war competition machinery and coachbuilt grand tourers to prototypes, limited-production supercars and some of the newest hypercars.
For anyone planning a visit, here is our complete guide to Salon Privé Concours 2026.
When and where is Salon Privé Concours 2026?
Salon Privé takes place from Wednesday, 2 September to Sunday, 6 September 2026.
The event is held on the South Lawn of Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, Oxfordshire. The palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the ancestral home of the Dukes of Marlborough and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.
Its formal architecture and landscaped grounds provide a suitably grand setting for the concours, while the different themes assigned to each day give visitors several distinct ways to experience the event.
Venue: Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, OX20 1UL
Dates: 2–6 September 2026
Opening hours: 10:00 am–5:00 pm
Tickets: From £60, with hospitality packages also available
Parking: Complimentary general parking is included
Tickets and the latest daily schedules are available through the official Salon Privé website.
What cars can visitors expect?
The Salon Privé Concours by Aviva Private Clients will occupy the South Lawn on Wednesday and Thursday. More than 70 collector cars are expected to compete across 12 classes.
The field stretches from an Armstrong-Siddeley Special Six and Maserati 8C 3000 to an Aston Martin DB3S, Ferrari 250 GT Series 1 Cabriolet, Lamborghini Miura P400S and one-off Maserati 3500 GT Spyder Prototipo by Vignale.
Later performance cars will be represented by machinery including a Bugatti EB110 prototype, Lamborghini Sián FKP 37 Prototype 1, Aston Martin Valiant prototype and Bugatti Bolide. A 2025 Rimac Nevera Time Attack is also set to become the first fully electric car to compete in the event’s 21-year history.
Those are only a few highlights from a remarkably varied entry list. Our separate guide to the 13 cars you cannot miss at the 2026 Salon Privé Concours takes a closer look at the machines that deserve a place at the top of every visitor’s viewing list.
New concours classes recognise modern collector cars
One of the most important changes for 2026 is the greater prominence given to modern supercars and hypercars.
Salon Privé has introduced two classes devoted to contemporary performance machinery: Rare Breeds of the Digital Age and Hypercar Heaven. These categories recognise that the definition of a significant collector car no longer ends with the traditional pre- and post-war classics.
Cars produced during the past three decades have become increasingly important to collectors. Low production numbers, pioneering technology and distinctive design have turned models such as the Bugatti EB110, Ferrari Daytona SP3, Pagani Utopia, Rimac Nevera and Lamborghini Sián into recognised pieces of automotive history.
The complete 2026 concours comprises the following classes:
- The Golden Age of Motoring
- 80 Years of Bristol Motor Cars
- 100 Years of Carrozzeria Touring
- La Dolce Vita
- The Air-Cooled Era
- Time to Go Racing
- 60 Years of the Lamborghini Miura
- Gone with the Wind
- Passione Ferrari
- Poster Cars: Icons from Our Youth
- Rare Breeds of the Digital Age
- Hypercar Heaven
For the first time, Salon Privé will also present two principal Best of Show awards. The Concours d’Élégance award will recognise the finest classic car built up to 2000, while the new Concours d’Excellence award will honour the best modern collector car from the supercar and hypercar classes.
Both winners will be announced on Thursday.
Lamborghini, BRABUS and Giamaro lead the UK debuts
Salon Privé says its 2026 Automotive Gallery will host the largest number of supercar and hypercar reveals in the event’s history, with 12 manufacturers, coachbuilders and restoration specialists involved.
Among the headline attractions is the UK debut of the Lamborghini Revuelto SV. The latest model to wear Lamborghini’s Super Veloce badge combines a V12 hybrid powertrain with a claimed output of 1,050hp and 1,425Nm.
BRABUS will stage two UK debuts. The first is the BODO, a low-slung carbon-fibre grand tourer named in tribute to company founder Bodo Buschmann. Its hand-built 5.2-litre twin-turbocharged V12 sends the 2+2 coupé from rest to 100 km/h in a claimed three seconds. Just 77 examples are planned.
The second is the BRABUS 800 Cabrio, a dramatically reworked open-top version of the Mercedes-AMG G 63. Its folding-roof conversion reportedly required more than 500 newly developed components, while an 800 hp twin-turbocharged V8 sits beneath the bonnet. Production is limited to 50 cars.
Italian manufacturer Giamaro Automobili will give the Krafla its UK debut in a distinctive GC livery combining Azzurro Giamaro, Bianco Infinito and Grigio Cenere with exposed carbon fibre.
Further presentations and reveals are expected from Electrogenic, Theon Design, Petroyle, Talos, Delage Automobiles, Koenigsegg and Elektron Motors.
What happens on each day?
Although extraordinary cars are present throughout Salon Privé, the character and principal displays change from one day to the next.
Wednesday, 2 September: Concours opening day
Wednesday is the opening and media day, when the Salon Privé Concours begins on the South Lawn. Judging starts across the 12 classes, while guests get an early look at the Automotive Gallery’s manufacturer debuts and new-model presentations.
This is likely to be one of the best days for visitors primarily interested in the concours field and the latest automotive unveilings.
Thursday, 3 September: Awards and style
Judging concludes on Thursday, followed by the presentation of class awards and the two new Best of Show honours.
Thursday also brings the inaugural Concours Style Award presented by Clements + Church. Open to male visitors, the competition will reward tailoring, fit, proportion, craftsmanship and the overall originality of an outfit.
Friday, 4 September: Ladies’ Day
Friday is Ladies’ Day by Boodles, traditionally one of the most fashion-focused occasions in the British motoring calendar.
The Best Hat Competition returns, while automotive displays, hospitality and luxury brands remain part of the programme. Friday also marks the start of the three-day Concours de Vente, in which every competing collector car is offered for sale.
Saturday, 5 September: Supercar Saturday
Supercar Saturday brings privately owned sports cars, supercars and hypercars from leading owners’ clubs onto the palace lawns. The Salon Privé Club Trophy, parades and presentations will be accompanied by shopping, food and entertainment.
Weekend displays include a Pagani-versus-Bugatti feature, a Maserati Club UK celebration of 80 years of the grand tourer and a major gathering of Lotus Essex Turbo road cars alongside a Lotus Formula One car.
Richard Hammond will also be present for meet-and-greet and bottle-signing sessions while participating in the Concours de Vente programme.
Sunday, 6 September: Supercar Sunday
The event concludes with Supercar Sunday and Lifestyle Clubs Day.
Richard Hammond will join motoring journalist Jason Barlow and racing driver and broadcaster Amanda Stretton to judge the Concours de Vente. The winning car will receive the Prix d’Honneur during the afternoon awards parade.
Sunday provides a more relaxed finale, with extensive club displays and another opportunity to see the weekend’s Pagani and Bugatti collection.
Displays running throughout the event
Several attractions will remain in place across all five days.
The White Collection, Salon Privé’s annual colour-themed display, will assemble more than 20 white classics, supercars and hypercars. Confirmed highlights include a Kimera 037 and Radford 62-2.
SuperVettura will present what is billed as the UK’s largest-ever Koenigsegg showcase, giving visitors five days to see a selection of the Swedish manufacturer’s hypercars in one place.
The Automotive Gallery, luxury shopping displays and the principal manufacturer presentations will also remain accessible throughout the event.
What is there besides the cars?
Salon Privé describes itself as an automotive garden party, and the experience extends well beyond the concours field.
A luxury retail village will feature jewellery, watches, fashion, fine art, travel, aviation and lifestyle brands. Exhibitors include Boodles, Canali, Clarendon Fine Art, Audley Travel and Champagne Pommery.
Visitors with entry-only tickets can use the Dining Village, which offers outdoor seating and a selection of street-food vendors. Vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free choices are expected to be available.
Hospitality packages provide a more formal experience, with dining, drinks and premium parking depending on the ticket selected. Guests should check what is included in their specific package before travelling.
Salon Privé’s first official clothing and merchandise capsule, produced with Malman, will also be available during the event.
What is the Salon Privé dress code?
The official dress code for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday is formal garden-party attire. The weekend is slightly more relaxed but still calls for garden-party clothing.
For men, the organisers recommend a suit or a blazer worn with chinos and brogues or loafers. Linen and lighter-coloured tailoring suit the outdoor setting, while ties, bow ties, cravats and pocket squares are encouraged.
Women are advised to consider summer dresses, tailored trousers or jumpsuits. Hats, fascinators and headpieces are particularly appropriate for Ladies’ Day.
Footwear deserves some thought because the event covers lawns and gravel paths. Wedges, sandals or block heels will generally be more practical than stilettos.
Shorts and T-shirts are not permitted on any day. Hospitality guests are expected to dress more formally, with shirts and ties recommended for men and long dresses or smart trousers for women.
The British weather may still have the final word, so checking the forecast and carrying a suitable light outer layer would be sensible.
How to get to Salon Privé
By car
Blenheim Palace lies approximately eight miles north-west of Oxford on the A44 Evesham Road. It is signposted from Junction 9 of the M40 and can be reached from both London and Birmingham.
Drivers using satellite navigation should enter OX20 1UL. Complimentary event parking is available within the Blenheim Palace grounds, with the main Salon Privé entrance no more than an approximately ten-minute walk away. Hospitality tickets include premium parking.
Accessible spaces and a shuttle service are available for Blue Badge holders. The badge should be displayed clearly when arriving so that stewards can direct the vehicle to the appropriate area.
By train
Oxford and Oxford Parkway are the most practical major stations. Oxford has regular services from London Paddington, while Oxford Parkway is served from London Marylebone.
Hanborough is geographically closer to Blenheim Palace, but it does not have a taxi rank. Anyone using that station should arrange a collection or pre-book a taxi.
Because the event can be busy, booking the final road transfer in advance is advisable.
Which day should you attend?
Wednesday or Thursday will suit visitors who want to concentrate on the professionally judged concours and its 70-car field. Wednesday offers the excitement of opening day and the anticipated debuts, while Thursday adds the principal awards.
Friday is the natural choice for fashion, hospitality and the full Ladies’ Day atmosphere. It is also the first opportunity to explore the Concours de Vente.
Saturday and Sunday will appeal most strongly to supercar enthusiasts and families looking for busy club displays, parades and a slightly less formal atmosphere. Richard Hammond’s appearances and the Pagani-versus-Bugatti display give the weekend additional attractions.
