Duisburg in Lack und Chrom — Car Show

Duisburg — Industrial City on the Rhine with Automotive Tradition

Duisburg, with around 502,000 inhabitants, is the fifth-largest city in North Rhine-Westphalia. Located at the confluence of the Ruhr and Rhine rivers, it is home to Europe's largest inland port — Duisport. Characterized by the steel and logistics industry (ThyssenKrupp Steel, Duisport Logistics), the city also boasts a distinct car culture: commuter Europe, a cruising scene, classic car enthusiasts, and one of NRW's densest networks of workshops and tuning shops. The "Duisburg in Lack und Chrom" car show is the annual manifestation of this culture.

Duisburg Kontor as Organizer

Duisburg Kontor is the city's official city marketing and tourism company. It organizes a variety of major events — from the Christmas market and Rhine-side events to the annual car show. Over the years, the Kontor's event department has developed a concept that uses Duisburg's city centre as a stage: no separate exhibition hall, but rather the pedestrian zone and public squares.

Concept — City Centre as a Showroom

What makes "Duisburg in Lack und Chrom" special is its city centre open-air format instead of a traditional exhibition. The Königstraße, the central pedestrian zone, and the adjacent squares (Theaterplatz, Burgplatz, Sonnenwall) become a car-free car exhibition for two days. Visitors stroll from vehicle to vehicle, talking to dealers, owners, and brand representatives — an accessible format with no admission fee, no hall, and no air conditioning.

2026 Programme — The Diversity of Mobility

Around 200 Vehicles — The Spectrum

• Compact cars from current model ranges — VW Golf, Opel Astra, Ford Focus, BMW 1 Series, Mercedes A-Class
• Sports cars — Porsche, BMW M, Mercedes AMG, Audi RS, Ferrari, Lamborghini (often presented by local collectors/dealers)
• Electric cars — Tesla Model 3/Y/S, VW ID series, BMW i, Mercedes EQ, Polestar, Korean models (Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6) — the growing share of modern mobility
• Classic cars — Mercedes Pagoda, Porsche 911 (all generations), VW Beetle and Bus, Citroën DS, BMW 2002, Opel Manta — the emotionally charged section

Atmosphere and Meeting Point

Unlike pure sales fairs, "Duisburg in Lack und Chrom" is a meeting event: owners share the stories of their vehicles, dealers explain technical innovations, and the tuning scene showcases custom modifications. Families with children (children's eyes in front of sports car rears), car enthusiast communities, seniors reminiscing about their first cars — a broad audience meets around the common theme of mobility.

Gastronomy and Supporting Programme

Duisburg's city centre restaurants and cafés extend their outdoor seating. Pop-up bars, food trucks, and catering stands complement the offerings. The retail shops' Sunday opening hours ensure that the weekend is also attractive for non-car enthusiasts.

Duisburg Kontor — The Event Calendar

The car show is part of a packed event calendar that Duisburg Kontor manages annually: City Festival on the Rhine, Christmas Market, Harbour Festival, Light Art Festival "Duisburger Akzente". Anyone spending a day or weekend in Duisburg will likely find an open-air event — the city has deliberately positioned itself as an event city.

Duisburg as an Excursion Destination

Before or after the car show, Duisburg offers worthwhile attractions: the Inner Harbour with its Harbour Culture Mile, the Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord (one of Germany's most spectacular industrial heritage sites — a former steelworks, now a park and climbing area), the Lehmbruck Museum for sculpture, and the Botanical Garden Hamborn. For longer stays: the northern Ruhr area with Oberhausen, Bottrop, and Essen is just a few minutes away by train.