Essen Motor Show

Essen Motor Show — Europe's Festival for Car Enthusiasts

When the exhibition halls at Grugapark Essen are running at full speed in the final days of November and the pit lane atmosphere fills the halls, it's that time again: the Essen Motor Show opens its doors. From November 27 (Preview Day) to December 6, 2026, the 58th edition of Europe's largest show for sporty vehicles will take place — an event that draws the international tuning, motorsport, and classic car scene to the Ruhr region for ten days.

Seven Themed Worlds Under One Roof

The Essen Motor Show spreads its program across all 110,000 square meters of exhibition space at Messe Essen. Seven major themed worlds create the overall picture:

• Performance & Racing — Sports cars, high-performance vehicles, latest performance premieres
• Tuning & Lifestyle — the international tuning scene with customizers, wheel, exhaust, and performance tuning providers
• Motorsport — Race cars from Formula 1, DTM, GT racing series, Rallye; driver talks on the Motorsport Stage
• Classic Cars — Europe's largest classic car hall with pre-war models, youngtimers, and classic car dealers
• Bikes & Motorcycles — Sports and custom motorcycles, accessories
• tuningXperience — the special exhibition featuring private tuners showcasing their personal show cars
• Lifestyle, Merchandise, Entertainment — Show acts, influencer meet-and-greets, merchandise

New in 2026: Car Market in Hall 1A

A new feature for the 2026 edition: a dedicated Car Market will be established in Hall 1A, where vehicles will be offered directly for sale — from used classics and nearly-new sports coupés to rare imports. This bridges the gap between exhibition and marketplace.

Preview Day — Friday, November 27, 2026

The Preview Day is the premiere for industry professionals, press, and die-hard enthusiasts. Those present on Friday, November 27, will see the new releases first and find the stands still relaxed — before the weekend crowds arrive. Preview Day opening hours: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM.

360,000 Visitors — The Exhibition City in Tuning Mode

With around 360,000 visitors over ten days, the Essen Motor Show is one of Europe's most attended automotive events. It surpasses classic car shows in Geneva or Frankfurt in its reach to automotive enthusiasts. 500 exhibitors from 13 countries make the show an international platform for the performance scene.

Essen — The Exhibition City in the Ruhr Region

The independent city of Essen, with around 580,000 inhabitants, is one of Germany's largest cities and the economic center of the Ruhr region. Messe Essen is located close to the city center, adjacent to Grugapark, with optimal connections to the A40 and A52 motorways and public transport (U11 direct from the city center). During the Motor Show, the entire city is in automotive mode — hotels are fully booked, and the city center is bustling with car fans from all over Europe.