Rétromobile is the traditional kick-off to the European show season, and this year’s event on January 28-February 1, 2026 should be even more special than its usual high standard. It’s the 50th anniversary of the show’s formation – and this will be a big year for the organising team.
After all, not only is 2026 the first year of Rétromobile’s new partnership with Gooding Christies (you can read more about that here), but the organising team, Comexposium, is joining forces to launch an American version of Rétromobile in New York in November. However, that’s the autumn – Paris is on its way in just a few weeks’ time, and there’s plenty to see.
It’s a packed auction period; while Gooding Christie’s takes the prime spot within the show with its auction (with the above 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spyder being one of the highlights) there are satellite sales from Artcurial, Bonhams and RM Sotheby’s. You can find our guide to the lots to look out for here.
The show itself will be placing a large focus on rallying, celebrating all the key eras from the 1960s move into professionalism and cars such as the Alpine A110, Mini Cooper S and Ford Cortina Lotus Mk1, before the birth of the World Rally Championship proper in 1973. You can expect big tributes to the Lancia Stratos and Fiat 131 Abarth, and a major demonstration of arguably rallying’s most emotive era – the power struggles of the Group B era (pictured above).
However, the display will also cover rallying from Group A through to its current renaissance. There will be talks with the likes of Ari Vatanen, Alain and Sylvie Oreille, Bruno Saby, Jean-Claude Andruet, Didier Auriol and other rallying luminaries on the live stage.
Rétromobile 2026 will also be hosting the French round of the BMW Art Car World Tour, which will see cars such as the Jeff Koons M3, Julie Mehretu M Hybrid V8, Warhol M1, Lichtenstein 320 and Stella CSL in attendance, among others. There will be a guided tour of the collection on Wednesday, January 28.
DS Automobiles returns to Rétromobile with a four-strong celebration of presidential cars. Built at Citroën’s Javel factory in Paris on September 29, 1965, the above DS 21 Pallas was used by General Charles de Gaulle during his presidency. Registered as 1737 RX 75 on October 2, 1965, it was equipped with special features for official duties, including rear side sun visors, front bumper flag holders and dashboard-mounted document and roundel holders.
The car was primarily used for journeys between the Élysée Palace and Colombey-les-Deux-Églises, before being sold in 1967 to a local dairy cooperative manager, whose family retained it until 2021. It was auctioned in October 2023 for €59,040 and has since undergone a faithful two-year restoration, culminating in its display at the Élysée Palace during European Heritage Days.
Elsewhere there’s an elongated DS 21 built in 1968 on an extended chassis, with the stipulation that the car had to be bigger than the one used by the President of the United States. It was designed by the Quai de Javel team and fitted out by Henri Chapron, and features novel equipment such as four headlights, including two long-range auxiliaries, scrolling lights at the rear for the indicators, as well as illuminated side flags and a light roundel integrated into the bonnet.
Another highlight is the Presidential SM of 1972, one of two new ceremonial cars built for the visit of Her Majesty the Queen of England’s visit to France. Lengthened to 3.47m, it also had adapted gear ratios to allow it to drive at low speeds for a long time, and featured a hydraulically operated soft-top – there was also a folding seat for the interpreter.
Finally, the new-for-2025 DS Nº8 built for the French Head of State, Emmanuel Macron, will be on display.
Mazda will celebrate 35 years since its 787B took victory at the Le Mans 24 Hours by bringing together a display of rotary-powered legends. Alongside 787B number 55 – a genuine reserve chassis and replica that lives at the Museum of the Le Mans 24 Hours – there will also be a 1969 Cosmo Sport 110S, a 1969 Luce R130 and a 1979 RX-7.
Rétromobile 2026 also shines a light on some of Ettore Bugatti’s more unusual diversions. In partnership with the Cité du Train, the Musée National de l’Automobile, and Eiffage Rail, Rétromobile 2026 will show off the last-surviving Bugatti Autorail; however there’s also an F1 single-seater with a rear transverse engine, a prototype Type 73 Sports Sedan and Ettore Bugatti’s personal Type 56 electric-powered vehicle. Nine vehicles from the Schlumpf Collection will be on show, including the Type 64 Coach one-off produced by Jean Bugatti.
Elsewhere, the Armoured Vehicle Museum of Saumur, one of the largest collections of armoured military vehicles in the world, will be bringing along the LVT A1 amphibious tank of 1944, used by American forces.
At the time of writing, most of the dealers in attendance are keeping their cards close to their chest – but Europe’s leading dealers and brokers always put on a big show for the event. You can expect to see Girardo & Co, Niki Hasler, Kidston, Fiskens, Joe Macari, Gallery Aaldering, Axel Schuette, Ivan Dutton and many more . There are also motor-racing organisations such as Peter Auto and Motor Racing Legends, plus clubs bringing the unique, the glorious and often the strange. If you’ve never been to Rétromobile, it’s highly recommended.
Find out more about Rétromobile 2026 here.
