Costa del Sol Concours d’Elegance brings some of the world’s most extraordinary cars to Marbella

Marbella once again became a meeting point for some of the world’s most exclusive collector cars during the second edition of the Costa del Sol Concours d’Elegance. Over four days, from 1 to 4 October 2026, an exceptional selection of rare, historic and technologically advanced vehicles gathered at different locations in Marbella and the surrounding Costa del Sol.

The event, organised by CAVËN under the vision of the Piëch family, retained its private format, aimed mainly at owners, collectors and invited guests.

Rather than operating as a conventional motor show, the programme combined historic cars, modern hypercars, prototypes, unique commissions, road drives and exclusive motoring experiences.

One of the main exhibition days took place at Higuerón Marbella Golf Resort, where many of the participating cars were displayed together.

Cars rarely seen even at major international events

One of the defining features of the Concours is the rarity of the vehicles selected.

This is not simply a gathering of expensive production cars.

The line-up included models built in extremely limited numbers, development prototypes, bespoke commissions and historic cars with significant collector value.

The 2026 selection mixed contemporary machinery with classic road cars and competition vehicles.

Brands represented included Bugatti, Koenigsegg, Gordon Murray Automotive, Pagani, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Porsche and Lamborghini.

Design houses and specialist coachbuilders such as Zagato, Isdera, Bertone and Kimera were also present.

Bugatti was one of the major highlights

Bugatti was among the most prominent names at this year’s event.

The French marque brought together vehicles from different collections, including production models, unique cars and prototypes linked to the development of its latest generation of hypercars.

Among the standouts were the Bugatti F.K.P. Hommage and the new Bugatti Tourbillon.

The Tourbillon attracted particular attention because it did more than remain on static display.

It took part in driving activities during the event, giving guests a rare opportunity to see one of Bugatti’s newest models being used on the road.

The Bugatti presence also included special vehicles such as the Veyron La Finale.

The Bugatti Tourbillon takes to the road

The Tourbillon was one of the most closely watched cars of the second edition.

The model represents a new chapter for Bugatti after the Chiron family and introduces a major change in the brand’s engineering architecture.

During the Costa del Sol Concours d’Elegance, it was not confined to an exhibition space.

Its participation in road activities made Marbella one of the first settings where the new Bugatti could be seen moving as part of an event of this kind.

Eight prototypes reveal how a Bugatti evolves

Another unusual feature was the presence of several Bugatti development prototypes.

These vehicles offer a glimpse into intermediate stages of engineering, testing and design.

Cars of this type are normally kept within manufacturers’ technical departments and are rarely brought together in public.

Their appearance gave the event a dimension that goes beyond displaying finished collector cars.

It also showed how much work takes place before a production model reaches its final form.

Koenigsegg Jesko named Best Hypercar

Bugatti was far from the only modern hypercar manufacturer represented.

The Koenigsegg Jesko received the award for Best Hypercar, one of the main prizes of the event.

The Swedish model was judged alongside other high-performance cars selected for the category.

The jury considered factors including design, engineering, exclusivity, history and significance within the world of collector automobiles.

The Jesko ultimately took the category in a field featuring some of the most advanced road cars currently in existence.

The Bugatti Veyron enters the collector-car era

One of the most interesting aspects of the results was the recognition of a car that is still relatively modern.

The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 was awarded Best Vintage Supercar.

When it was launched, the Veyron redefined expectations around speed, power and engineering complexity in a production car.

Two decades later, early examples are increasingly being treated as modern classics.

Its award in Marbella reflects that transition from contemporary hypercar to collector car.

Ferrari 250 S Vignale wins motorsport category

Historic competition machinery also played a major role.

The Best Motorsport award went to the Ferrari 250 S Vignale, a car associated with the history of the Mille Miglia.

The model belongs to an important period in Ferrari’s early development as a racing manufacturer.

At an event filled with modern hypercars, cars like this provided essential historical context.

Motorsport heritage was one of the key areas considered throughout the judging process.

Hispano Suiza Alfonso XIII wins Best Pre-War

Another significant winner was the Hispano Suiza Alfonso XIII.

The car received the Best Pre-War award, reserved for vehicles built before the Second World War.

It also holds particular importance within the history of Spanish motoring.

Its presence created a striking contrast with the latest hypercars, showing how performance and luxury were understood at the beginning of the 20th century.

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster takes the top prize

The event’s highest honour went to one of the great German classics.

The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster won Best Post-War and was later also named Best of Show, the top award at the 2026 Costa del Sol Concours d’Elegance.

The 300 SL is one of Mercedes-Benz’s most recognisable models and a major reference point in international car collecting.

Its combination of design, engineering and historical importance ultimately impressed the jury.

Its victory also showed that, even at an event packed with modern hypercars, a classic can still take the overall crown.

Totem GT recognised as Best Fuera de Serie

The category for special creations and reinterpretations was won by the Totem GT Alfa Romeo.

It received the Best Fuera de Serie award.

This type of category reflects a growing trend within the collector-car world: reimagining classic models using modern engineering, materials and technology.

The idea is not simply to restore an old car.

Instead, the original identity is preserved while performance, construction and driving characteristics are extensively updated.

Porsche Le Mans Tribute Collection arrives in Marbella

Another major attraction was the Porsche Le Mans Tribute Collection belonging to the Piëch family.

The collection includes vehicles developed through Porsche’s Sonderwunsch programme, which specialises in bespoke and highly personalised projects.

The Le Mans theme connects the cars with one of the most important chapters in Porsche’s motorsport history.

The German brand has built much of its reputation through endurance racing, particularly its long record at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

From the Lamborghini Aventador J to McLaren P1 chassis 001

The list of special vehicles gathered in Marbella was extensive.

Among the cars present were:

• Lamborghini Aventador J
• Morgan Midsummer
• Zagato Twintail
• Spyker C8 Aileron
• Porsche 996 GT1
• McLaren P1 chassis number 001

Many of these cars are unique or were produced in extremely limited numbers.

The McLaren P1 chassis 001 has particular significance as the first numbered example of one of the defining hypercars of its generation.

Modern hypercars meet major classics

The philosophy of the event is based on bringing together different eras of motoring.

Modern hypercars represent the current limits of performance and technology.

Supercars from the 1990s and 2000s show how the concept has developed over recent decades.

Historic cars, meanwhile, reveal the origins of many of the ideas that later became standard.

The result is more than a display of expensive vehicles.

It becomes a journey through different periods of automotive design and engineering.

An international jury linked to major concours events

The winners were selected by a jury made up of experts in motoring, design and collecting.

Members included figures connected with organisations and events such as Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Hagerty, Petersen Automotive Museum, Ferrari Classiche, Italdesign and Pininfarina.

Designers including Fabrizio Giugiaro and Carlo Bonzanigo also took part.

Judging considered aspects such as design, engineering, history, rarity, preservation and overall significance.

From Marbella to Ascari Race Resort

The programme was not limited to static displays.

One of the days took owners and cars to the Ascari Race Resort in the Serranía de Ronda.

The circuit gave participants the chance to experience some of the cars in motion and take part in driving activities.

For vehicles designed around performance, being able to demonstrate them on track adds a dimension that cannot be appreciated when they remain parked.

The Concours therefore combines the traditional elegance format with dynamic driving experiences.

An unusual experience at Gibraltar Airport

Another part of the programme took participants to Gibraltar Airport.

Using locations of this kind turns the journeys themselves into an important part of the event.

The idea is for owners and collectors not simply to look at their cars, but to use them in carefully selected surroundings.

That philosophy helps explain why the event lasts four days rather than being concentrated into a single exhibition.

Higuerón Marbella Golf Resort hosts the exhibition day

Higuerón Marbella Golf Resort hosted the main exhibition day.

A large part of the collection was assembled there in a setting designed to allow judges and guests to examine the vehicles in detail.

Bugatti took part as the event’s Main Partner for 2026.

The display brought together modern hypercars, historic sports cars, competition machinery and one-off creations.

A private event rather than a public motor show

One of the main differences between the Costa del Sol Concours d’Elegance and a conventional car exhibition is its format.

The 2026 edition was organised as a private, invitation-only event, primarily for collectors, owners and people connected with the automotive world.

It was not a traditional show where members of the public could simply buy a ticket and walk around the display.

Exclusivity forms part of the identity of the Concours.

For the general public, photographs, videos and media coverage provide the main opportunity to see many of the cars involved.

Marbella strengthens its position on the international collector-car scene

The event also reinforces Marbella’s links with the global collector-car market.

The Costa del Sol is home to a significant community of high-end car owners and attracts visitors from European and Middle Eastern markets with strong traditions of luxury and automotive collecting.

The area also offers a concentration of luxury hotels, villas, golf resorts and premium services.

The Concours uses that environment to create an event combining motoring, tourism and lifestyle.

A young event now in its second edition

The Costa del Sol Concours d’Elegance is still a relatively new event.

The 2026 gathering was only its second edition in the current format.

Its ambition is to establish Marbella and the Costa del Sol as a regular stop on the European calendar of concours events and collector gatherings.

Organisers have already indicated plans to return to Marbella in September 2027.

Costa del Sol Concours d’Elegance 2026 winners

The main awards included:

• Best Hypercar: Koenigsegg Jesko
• Best Vintage Supercar: Bugatti Veyron 16.4
• Best Motorsport: Ferrari 250 S Vignale
• Best Fuera de Serie: Totem GT Alfa Romeo
• Best Pre-War: Hispano Suiza Alfonso XIII
• Best Post-War: Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
• Best of Show: Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster

The Mercedes therefore became the biggest winner of the event, taking both its category and the overall title.

A gala dinner closes four days of exceptional cars

The event concluded with a gala dinner and awards ceremony held at a private villa in Marbella.

The winners of the different categories were announced there, including the prestigious Best of Show.

The ceremony brought four days of motoring activity to a close, with Marbella and the Costa del Sol providing the backdrop for some of the world’s most exceptional vehicles.

For a few days, cars separated by more than a century of automotive history shared the same event, from the Hispano Suiza Alfonso XIII to the latest Bugatti Tourbillon.