The Concours d’Élégance Suisse celebrated its tenth edition since its rebirth in the splendid setting of the Château de Coppet , a few kilometres from Geneva.
An important milestone for an event that, year after year, continues to tell the story of the automobile through the design, engineering, and elegance of the great coachbuilders of the past.
The origins of the competition date back to 1927, when it was first held at the Parc des Bastions in Geneva. After a hiatus in the 1950s, coinciding with the progressive decline of artisanal coachbuilding, the event returned in 2016, after a sixty-year absence.
The 2026 edition therefore celebrated a double anniversary: the tenth edition of the new era and the seventieth anniversary of the last historic event.
For the occasion, a significant portion of the exhibition was dedicated to the automobiles of the 1930s, protagonists of an extraordinary phase of stylistic evolution, marked by the transition from Art Deco forms to the first aerodynamic experiments.
Two days of scenic roads and elegance
Due to the particularly high temperatures, the organization has chosen to concentrate the program into two days instead of the usual three.
Saturday was dedicated to the Tour d’Élégance , while Sunday hosted the actual competition.
The tour route took the crews along the roads and villages overlooking Lake Geneva, alternating the pleasure of driving with some experiences linked to the area.
The planned stops include a visit to a winery, a meeting with a Maître Chocolatier, and stops at dealerships and workshops specializing in the restoration of classic cars.
The event attracted 1,850 visitors, 110 participants, and 50 volunteers , with approximately seventy cars on display. These numbers confirm the event’s growth and the strong interest in historic motorsports.
A journey through the history of the automobile
The cars on display recounted almost a century of automotive evolution, from the 1930s to the most recent productions.
Numerous awards were given throughout the day, for best restoration, best preservation, engine sound, technical innovation, and female crews.
There was also a prize for the participants who most elegantly interpreted the themed attire, helping to recreate the atmosphere of the great competitions of the past.
A special category was also reserved for the centenary of Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera , one of the most prestigious names in Italian automotive design.
The Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B wins Best of Show
The most important recognition of the event, the Best of Show , was awarded to an extraordinary 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Cabriolet , with bodywork by Stabilimenti Farina.
The car originally belonged to racing champion Giuseppe “Nino” Farina and still retains particularly rare details today, including the stingray leather interior.
Today it is part of the Keller Collection at the Pyramids , located in Petaluma, California, and was chosen by the jury as the best car of the entire competition.
The weekend at Château de Coppet brought together collectors, enthusiasts, families, and design lovers, once again confirming the ability of the historic automobile to engage different generations.