Best in Show
The top concours d’elegance events worth traveling for now.
The concours d’elegance— translating to “competition of elegance”—originates in 17th-century France, when royalty would showcase their decorated, horse-drawn carriages through parks—a spectacle that evolved over time to feature automobiles and the chance to rank them across categories. Today, these competitions happen worldwide, gathering some of the most coveted and iconic creations in auto—and bringing with them plenty of ways to celebrate the collector space and craftsmanship of cars. From an arts-driven weekend in Scottsdale to a design extravaganza across metro Detroit, here are some of the nation’s leading concours d’elegance events now.
Arizona Concours d’Elegance (Scottsdale, Arizona)
January 19, 2025
Presented in partnership with Scottsdale Arts, this event will showcase more than 100 rare automobiles and motorcycles at the Scottsdale Civic Center. Under the theme “The Art of Automotive Engineering,” entrants will compete for awards in 16 classes, featuring impressive examples that include Duesenberg, Bugatti, Pierce-Arrow, Ferrari, and Jaguar.
Photo Courtesy of Arizona Concours d’Elegance
Original, restored, and period custom automotives span decades and will see two coveted Best of Show trophies: one for pre-World War II and one for post-war.
Awards extend to the audience, as well. As they’re designed to emulate a stylish garden party, the concours encourages period costumes for all attendees, with special honors for the most enjoyable outfit. The event’s philanthropic roots offer even more reason to celebrate in style: proceeds benefit local artists and art programs, and longtime partner Make-A-Wish® Arizona.
Keels & Wheels Concours d’Elegance (Seabrook, Texas)
May 3-4, 2025
Photo Courtesy of Keels & Wheels Concours d’Elegance
This annual concours brings together classic cars and vintage boats for a two-day, waterfront spectacle. The largest event of its kind, the competition features more than 60 boats and 200 vehicles, a world-class collection that includes antiques and pre-war cars, along with supercars, hot rods, and European makes (plus boats like Chris-Crafts, Centuries, and Yellow Jackets). Plans are being made for the marques of 2025, and the weekend gets even more exciting with a visit from My Classic Car’s Dennis Gage, who plans to film an onsite episode for the long-running television show.
EyesOn Design at Ford House (Metro Detroit, Michigan)
June 13-15, 2025
This event began in 1988 as a fundraiser for the Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology (DIO), an organization that was formed a few years earlier to serve the visually impaired. The connection between vision and the appreciation of automotive design remains central to the event today—it is the only car show in the country dedicated entirely to design.
Photo Courtesy of EyesOn Design at Ford House
All vehicles are judged strictly on design by designers, a student panel, and “Visionaries,” blind individuals who judge a class of cars entirely by touch. Next year’s theme—The Art of Design—will showcase the specialized artform of automobile design across the decades, connecting art styles with their automotive equivalent and featuring renderings and finished illustrations from the design process.
Held across three days in Metro Detroit locations, the weekend will feature a gala, design symposium, and tours leading up to Sunday’s headlining car show and Champagne brunch. Both take place at the historic Edsel & Eleanor Ford Estate in Grosse Pointe Shores.
Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance (Pebble Beach, California)
August 17, 2025
Since its origins in 1950, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance has helped to inspire and set the standard for concours events around the world. In its early days, the event broke European concours tradition by awarding Best of Show to a collector car rather than a new car.
Photo Courtesy of Pebble Beach Councours d’ Elegance
It’s one of the concours’ many notable firsts—others being its gatherings of iconic cars (including the three original Alfa Romeo BATs or all of the Ford GT40s that have raced), or its incorporation of a driving event into the judging process with the Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance (when attendees can witness these automobiles in their element, following the iconic 17-Mile Drive and Highway One).
The 2025 competition will celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Formula 1, the centennials of Chrysler and Invicta, and the creations of designer Virgil Exner (with more details announced soon). When tickets are released later this fall, consider opting for one of the VIP packages for the full experience—and come showtime, plan to arrive before sunrise for Dawn Patrol, a chance to be among the first to see the cars pulling onto Pebble Beach Golf Links’ famed 18th fairway.
This story appears in One Adventures, Berkley One’s digital magazine celebrating creators, experiences and stories. Read the issue here.
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