Thousands of motoring enthusiasts are gearing up for one of the most action-packed features in the automotive calendar: Monterey Car Week. Each August, California plays host to a dizzying mix of concours, motor sport, gatherings, auctions and more – all culminating in the world-famous Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
Highlights include the ever-popular Quail, the thrilling Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Laguna Seca and major auctions from Bonhams, RM Sotheby’s, Gooding Christie’s, Broad Arrow, Mecum and more.
With more than 25 official events held in 2024, Car Week can be overwhelming – especially for first-timers. And with new additions such as The Paddock joining the 2025 line-up, it’s going to be busier than ever. Whether you’re a seasoned regular or first-time visitor, this guide will help you experience the best of what Car Week has to offer.
Monterey Car Week Kick-Off, August 8, 2025
The curtain is raised on Monterey Car Week with Alvarado Street’s annual display of Historic race cars. Attendees will get the opportunity to meet several of the car’s drivers before festivities continue at Cibo Ristorante Italiano with a public driver reception. Complimentary appetisers will be served from 5:00pm and a live jazz band will perform on the patio from 5:30pm until the event concludes at 7:00pm.
Monterey Pre-Reunion, August 9-10, 2025
The Pre-Reunion is a relaxed event held at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, allowing visitors to get close to more than 200 Historic race cars showcased in the paddock. The grand finale is Sunday’s Corkscrew Hillclimb and Community Day, where drivers attack the California circuit’s famous Corkscrew corner. Tickets can be purchased via the link above.
Automobilia Collector’s Expo, August 11-13, 2025
A must-attend for collectors, this three-day expo offers a vast selection of rare automobilia, vintage posters and model cars for sale. New for this year is the live auction on August 12, featuring highlights from Donald Osborne’s personal collection.
The Porsche Monterey Classic, August 11, 2025
Porsche Monterey returns to Del Monte Boulevard from 4:00pm until 8:00pm with a jaw-dropping line-up of the German marque’s greatest creations. Complementing the cars are live music, food trucks and wine tastings. Tickets can be purchased via the link in the heading.
Monterey British, August 11, 2025
A celebration of Britain’s automotive heritage sees a 100-car contingent of the UK’s finest machines assemble on the lawns of Carmel Valley. This free-to-attend and dog-friendly event will be held from 1:00pm until 4:00pm, and includes awards for MG, Jaguar and Aston Martin.
Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, August 13-17, 2025
The Motorsports Reunion is the first major event of Car Week 2025 – and it’s not to be missed. Headlining this year’s five-day Historic racing extravaganza is a huge gathering of Formula 1 cars to mark the series’ 75th anniversary. Adding to the spectacle, International Race of Champions cars will return to West Coast competition for the first time in more than 20 years, piloted by legends from NASCAR, IndyCar, Formula 1 and IMSA.
One of the newer Car Week events, the popular aviation-inspired Motorlux returns to the Monterey Jet Center with live entertainment and a curated display of cars and aircraft. Tributes to Porsche, Mustang and the late Bruno Sacco lead this year’s proceedings, complemented by Michelin-starred cuisine and the finest Californian wines. This year will also see the debut of Broad Arrow’s major Monterey Jet Center Auction.
Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction, August 13-15, 2025
Hypercars and US performance icons take the spotlight in Bonhams’ annual Quail Lodge sale, with preview days held on August 13 and 14 before lots cross the block on August 15. Held alongside The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, the auction includes the Future Classics Collection of Koenigseggs, Bugattis and more, as well as a range of machines that belonged to the late Vic Edelbrock Jr. Check out the auction catalogue via the link above.
Broad Arrow Auctions Monterey Jet Center Sale, August 13-14, 2025
Broad Arrow returns to the Monterey Jet Center for the fourth edition of its Jet Center Sale with a packed catalogue boasting 170 sought-after collector cars. Highlights include a 2005 Maserati MC12 Stradale, a Koenigsegg CCXR and a Porsche 718 RSK. Click the link above to view the catalogue.
Pebble Beach Motoring Classic, August 13, 2025
World-class classics curated by the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance take part in a 1500-mile rally from Seattle to Pebble Beach in this magnificent rally. The route includes a celebratory procession at Casa Palmero to build up excitement for the main event.
RM Sotheby’s Monterey, August 13-16, 2025
RM Sotheby’s Monterey sale is one of the most significant auctions of the collector car calendar – and this year’s edition promises to be particularly special. The 161-car catalogue includes everything from rare Ferraris and Porsches to German and JDM performance-car icons. Leading the pre-auction estimate hierarchy is a Ferrari F40 LM ($8.5m-$9.5m), followed by a Ferrari F50 ($6.5m-$7.5m). Other highlights include a Ruf CTR Yellowbird ($4.5m-$5m) and CTR Anniversary ($2.8m-$3.4m) formerly owned by marque founder Alois Ruf.
Gooding Christie’s Pebble Beach Auctions, August 13-16, 2025
Gooding Christie’s is poised to sell the most lucrative lot of Monterey Car Week with a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder Competizione. Offered publicly for the first time since the 1960s, it could fetch in excess of $20m. Other highlights include a NART Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Competizione, a 2024 Bugatti Bolide and a 1927 Bugatti Type 35B driven by Louis Chiron in period.
Little Car Show, August 13, 2025
The 15th edition of the free-to-attend Little Car Show provides a welcome contrast to the top-tier collector cars that Car Week is known for. Staged at Lighthouse Avenue in Pacific Grove, the event will showcase 125 pint-sized classics with engines under 1.8 litres of displacement.
Ferrari Owners’ Club Concours Carmel, August 14, 2025
A large selection of Italian cars and motorcycles gather in Dolores Street and Ocean Avenue in Carmel-by-the-Sea for this vibrant concours. This year’s edition honours 50 years of the Ferrari 308 and spectator entry is free.
Legends of the Autobahn, August 14, 2025
Now in its 15th year, Legends of the Autobahn brings the best of Germany to the fairways of the Pacific Grove Golf Links. A must for German car enthusiasts, the free-to-attend event also includes vendor stands and buffet dining. It runs from 9:00am until 3:00pm.
Mecum Monterey sale, August 14-16, 2025
US auction house Mecum is known for large, action-packed sales and this year’s Monterey auction promises to be no exception with more than 600 exciting lots on offer. Headline entries include the unrestored 1973 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS that won the 1975 Cannonball Run, and David Letterman’s 1951 Ferrari 212 Inter. With far too many standout cars to list here, click the link in the heading to explore the full catalogue.
Pebble Beach Classic Car Forum, August 14-16, 2025
The Pebble Beach Classic Car Forum brings together leading figures from the motoring world for three days of fascinating panel discussions. From industry leaders and designers to enthusiasts and collectors, the speaker line-up is impressively diverse. Topics for this year include the Ford vs Ferrari legacy, the preservation of the automotive industry and Virgil Exner’s enduring design influence.
Pebble Beach RetroAuto August 14-17, 2025
The Pebble Beach Concours Village hosts a sale of rare automobilia, motoring literature, artwork, tools and more. RetroAuto is open to the public from 9:00am from Thursday to Sunday.
Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance, August 14, 2025
More than 150 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance entrants take to the Pacific Coast for one of the most spectacular motoring rallies of the year. Winding through 17-Mile Drive and down Highway One to Big Sur, the Tour d’Elegance offers spectators a rare, free opportunity to see these exceptional machines in motion ahead of Sunday’s concours. The event begins with a line-up on Portola Road from 7:00am, with the first cars departing at 9:30am and returning by 12:00pm.
Prancing Ponies Women’s Car Show, August 14, 2025
Carmel’s Ocean Avenue plays host to an event that champions female automotive ownership and empowerment. The eighth edition of Prancing Ponies will feature more than 100 vehicles, a themed fashion show, live music, awards and a charitable mission to support women’s career development and leadership. Running from 10:00am until 4:00pm, it’s free to attend for spectators.
New for this year, The Paddock gets underway on Friday, August 15, at Bayonet Black Horse in Seaside. The event was created as a more inclusive alternative to Friday’s established concours gatherings. The Paddock will showcase a wide variety of machinery, including racing cars, supercars and classics from across the globe. Headlining this opening edition is a celebration of the Saleen S7’s 25th anniversary and a RADwood display. The cars are complemented by live music, a vendor village and VIP cabanas.
Pacific Grove Rotary Concours Auto Rally, August 15, 2025
First held in 1995, the Pacific Grove Rotary Concours Auto Rally is one of Car Week’s most popular free-to-watch spectacles. The event will see an eclectic mix of classic line Lighthouse Avenue from 12:00pm before embarking on a coastal rally towards Pebble Beach. Mercedes-Benz has been selected as this year’s featured marque.
The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, August 15, 2025
The Quail is one of Car Week’s most exclusive and eagerly anticipated events, transforming Carmel’s Quail Lodge and Golf Club into the ultimate automotive garden party. Major OEMs will be out in force, and this year’s edition is headlined by the 30th anniversary of the Ferrari F50, 60 years of the Shelby Mustang GT350 and the Iso Grifo, and a display of Formula 1 liveries.
Werks Reunion Monterey, August 15, 2025
The Werks Reunion sees the Porsche Club of North America bring together a massive selection of the manufacturer’s finest machines to compete in a concours contest. Top billing this year goes to the 911 Targa and 912, and the event is free for spectators.
Monterey Motorsports Festival, August 16, 2025
Drifting displays by Mad Mike and live music bring high-octane entertainment to Car Week. The action is complemented by supercar parades and lifestyle pop-ups as well as the Vino and Vibes wine garden.
Concorso Italiano, August 16, 2025
Now in its 40th year, the Concorso Italiano is a Car Week staple and a must-see for Italian car fans. Staged at the Bayonet Black Horse Golf Course in Seaside, the event is a vast and comprehensive celebration of Italian automotive design. The concours also features live music, Italian cuisine, art installations and fashion shows. The event runs from 9:30am until 4:00pm.
Exotics on Broadway, August 16, 2025
Exotics on Broadway returns to Seaside on Saturday August 16, 2025, running from 11:00am to 4:00pm. Now in its tenth year, the free-to-attend show will once again pack Broadway Avenue with hundreds of hypercars and modified machines. New for 2025 is a ticketed Vendor and Hypercar Showcase along Fremont Boulevard, featuring more than 40 hypercars in an enclosed setting.
Annual Ferrari Owners’ Club Gathering, August 16, 2025
The 27th Annual Ferrari Event at The Barnyard takes place from 4:00pm to 7:00pm at Carmel’s Barnyard Shopping Village. Organised by the Ferrari Owners’ Club and supporting the Big Sur Food and Wine Foundation, the event brings together more than 50 of Maranello’s finest.
Concours d’Lemons, August 16, 2025
Car Week’s most absurd and light-hearted fixture returns to Seaside City Hall to provide a popular antidote to the refined machines seen elsewhere. The event champions some of the automotive world’s most visually challenging creations – to put it lightly. Classes include Soul-Sucking Japanese Appliances, Needlessly Complex Italians and Kommunist Kars. Free to attend, Concours d’Lemons is a must.
Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, August 17, 2025
The 74th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance serves as Car Week’s grand finale, turning the 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links into the most prestigious concours stage on the planet. This year’s featured classes include centennials for Invicta, Chrysler and Moretti, a tribute to Virgil Exner, 75 years of Formula 1 and the 60th anniversary of the Shelby Cobra 427.
