From Friday 27th February to Sunday 1st March 2026, the industrial majesty of Cockatoo Island will transform into Australia’s most exclusive automotive playground as the Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance returns – bigger, bolder, and more breathtaking than ever.
This is not just a car event. It’s a curated celebration of design, engineering, and lifestyle, set on a UNESCO World Heritage listed island with views across one of the world’s most iconic harbours. For three days, guests will experience a rare assembly of vehicles, from vintage legends to futuristic hypercars.
A collection of more than 50 vintage, classic and unique automobiles across categories that pay homage to motoring’s most beautiful chapters will be meticulously assessed by an international judging panel. Concours vehicles will parade daily, with commentary from a panel of experts and discussions with owners. The rare and refined line-up for 2026 includes:
- Interbellum Elegance: Featuring a 1934 Bugatti Type 57 Graber Roadster and the 1936 Delage D6-70 Figoni et Falaschi Cabriolet.
- The Ashes: Classic British and Aussie rivals go head-to-head, from a 1971 Ford XY Falcon GT-HO Phase III to a 1957 Aston Martin DB2/4.
- Disegno Italiano: Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Maserati – the masters of Italian style come together in a visual feast.
- Carrozzeria Touring: Three Lancia Flaminia GTs by Touring, Aston Martin DB6s bring Italian coachbuilding flair and grand touring elegance.
- Plastic Fantastic: Lightweight innovation and composite cool, featuring the 1957 Buchanan, 1958 Chevrolet Corvette C1, 1969 McLaren M12 Can-Am M6GT, 1974 Bond Bug and more.
- Catch My Drift: Cult Japanese heroes, including the 1999 Subaru Impreza WRX 22B, 2011 Lexus LFA and Honda NSX R
- Generation Alpha: The future of speed and design – think McLaren Senna XP, 2023 Ford GT, and the new 2024 Porsche 911 Dakar.
Some of the world’s most prestigious and respected marques will also be showcasing the latest in modern motoring. With luxury brand showcases, VIP hospitality, and one of the most photogenic venues in the world, the Sydney Harbour Concours blends automotive heritage with lifestyle.
Beyond the cars and motorcycles, you can watch artist Simon Cavelle creating a live artwork, painting a vehicle over the three-day event, or view Camilla Albertini’s photography exhibition “Women and Motors? Just Joy,” a high-impact cultural project conceived at the Fratelli Cozzi Museum in Italy.
From Champagne Pommery and extraordinary cuisine to bespoke tailoring by Renkhoe Jordan and haute jewellery by Calleija, this is the event for those who appreciate the finer things, on four wheels and beyond. Limited public access tickets available – reserve your place here.
But before the main event over the weekend, car lovers and curious Sydneysiders are invited to a special preview of rare and historically significant vehicles at Bennelong Lawn, Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney, on Thursday 26 February 2026, from 10:00am to 1:00pm.
This one-off, free public display offers a chance to view more than 25 classic, historic and unique automobiles before they make their way to Cockatoo Island for the 2026 Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance, the southern hemisphere’s premier concours event. Visitors can expect to see a selection of standout vehicles, including an Austin 1800 (stay tuned for a special feature on this vehicle), Lancia Flaminia, Ferrari 250 GTE, Bond Bug, Aston Martin DBS, Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster, and a Rolls Royce Silver Ghost.
The cars will be on display for a few special hours before heading off in convoy past the Sydney Opera House and across the Sydney Harbour Bridge, marking the 70th anniversary of the famous Ampol Trial motor rally.
It will be a busy time on Sydney Harbour over this particular weekend, so you may even catch a glimpse of the futuristic SailGP boats racing around the harbour for Event 03 of the Rolex SailGP championship.
Photographs of Concours d’Elegance vehicles Supplied and other photographs are by Driven Women Magazine.