The 2026 Concours Scene: Pebble Beach, The Quail, and the Rise of Las Vegas
The year is 2026, and the world of classic and exotic cars is undergoing a seismic shift. The standard definition of a concours d’elegance remains etched in stone: a showcase or contest where vehicles and accessories are judged primarily on their aesthetic brilliance and immaculate presentation. Yet, when discerning enthusiasts gather to admire the pinnacle of automotive artistry, the same question invariably emerges: Is Pebble Beach still the undisputed king, or does another event deserve the crown?
For decades, the Monterey Car Week—culminating in the iconic Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance—has been the undisputed titan of the international automotive circuit. Combining a spectacular array of events into a week-long celebration, it is a convergence of wealth, style, and engineering prowess. Still, the comparison persists. Is the Goodwood Festival of Speed superior? Does the Goodwood Revival hold the edge? How does Amelia Island measure up? Does Moda Miami or Retromobile compete? And now, the freshest contender on the scene: the Concours at Wynn Las Vegas.
Wherever the world’s elite—adorned in bespoke attire and accompanied by their finest automobiles—gather for these exclusive events, the query persists: Is Pebble Beach still the alpha?
The short answer: Yes, Pebble Beach remains the sovereign of the concours. However, the heir apparent, the true challenger to Pebble’s throne, might just be The Quail. But hold onto your bespoke leather gloves, because a new contender has emerged from the desert sands, challenging both The Quail and Pebble Beach for the ultimate title.
Why The Quail Was King
For years, The Quail (officially known as The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering) served as the exquisite appetizer to the main course that is Sunday’s Pebble Beach Concours. For a growing and discerning segment of the automotive world, The Quail had already surpassed Pebble’s Sunday event. This cohort consists primarily of enthusiasts drawn to late-model and cutting-edge supercars and hypercars. I have long since lost count of the number of friends who attend Car Week but depart early Sunday, citing a lack of interest in “a bunch of old cars.”
Furthermore, the demise of the Geneva International Auto Show left a significant void in the global supercar calendar—a vacuum The Quail has filled with impressive flair.
Consider these examples: The Lamborghini Aventador made its world debut at Geneva in 2011, and the ultra-exclusive Veneno followed in 2013. The Aventador’s successor, the Revuelto, arrived via an online reveal, but the Temerario (the Huracán’s successor) was first unveiled to the world at The Quail in 2024. The same holds true for the $7-million-plus Fenomeno, which debuted at The Quail in 2025. Bugatti unveiled the Chiron in Geneva in 2016, but the Divo (2018) and the Mistral (2022) both made their global debuts at The Quail. These patterns hold true for countless other automotive marques. In essence, The Quail has evolved into the world’s preeminent platform for these cutting-edge machines.
The Las Vegas Revolution
Until Halloween 2025, I believed The Quail’s dominance in the global automotive hierarchy was unassailable. Then I attended the 2025 Las Vegas Concours (officially the Concours at Wynn Las Vegas), and I am no longer certain. It is worth noting that I also attended the 2024 Vegas Concours, and while enjoyable, it felt somewhat provincial. It featured the usual suspects, and if it weren’t for a project I was collaborating on with Czinger, I probably wouldn’t have bothered attending this year. But, wow, am I glad I did.
What Is It?
The Wynn grounds hosted a staggering 48 Bugatti Veyrons this year. You read that correctly. Out of the 450 total Veyrons ever produced, and the 100 that were sold in North America, 48 of them congregated in Las Vegas. That count rises to 49, as Bugatti displayed a spectacular white Vitesse Super Sport to commemorate the Veyron’s 20th anniversary. Alongside it were a Bolide, Centodieci, Chiron Super Sport, Divo, Mistral, and a model of the upcoming Tourbillon—the 18-cylinder hybrid set to succeed the Chiron. The act of exhibiting more than 10% of all the Bugatti Veyrons ever built in one location has my head spinning to this day.
Children seem to be partial to Paganis, don’t they? Because there were more than 40 of them in attendance. I didn’t get the exact number—I was too captivated by the Veyrons—but I counted several Zondas, including a Zonda Revolution (one of only five ever produced). I also saw dozens of Huayras, numerous Utopias, and—notably for The Quail—the debut of the Huayra Codalunga Speedster. Pagani plans to build only 10 of these at a price point of $7 million each, excluding taxes and tariffs (if you are interested). The mint-green example seen in Vegas, displayed under cover, belongs to Apple CEO Tim Cook. Even if these carb-titanium extroverts are not your preference, the fact that the 2025 Las Vegas Concours hosted not only the largest gathering of Paganis in North American history but also that Horatio Pagani himself—who was honored on stage by emcee Justin Bell for his contributions to automotive design—and his team chose to debut a vehicle there is profoundly significant. We will discuss this further shortly. Returning to the Pagani display, witnessing more than 40 Paganis is astounding; that number alone exceeds the total production output of the factory for an entire year.
The Lamborghini display was equally spectacular for those who appreciate these types of vehicles. First and foremost, the 2025 Wynn Vegas Concours was the largest gathering of Lamborghinis in history. Yes, ever. Again, I did not count the cars, but the general consensus was around 230. That number represents nearly 40% of the approximately 600 cars present that Saturday. It is simply mind-blowing. Of those 230 vehicles, attendees were treated to a Veneno Coupe (one of only three ever sold to the public; the factory retained a fourth one), a Sesto Elemento (one of only 10), a Centenario coupe (one of 20) and convertible (one of 20), and a Reventón (one of only 21). The last time I recall seeing all those “limited-run” models—as Lamborghini now calls them—together in the same place was at the factory museum. It was a truly astonishing showcase of precious, high-horsepower Italian metal and carbon-fiber composites.
In an attempt to remain concise, I will omit mentions of the Koenigseggs, the Gumpert Apollo, the Czingers, the Nilu, the McLaren Project Endurance race car debut, all the vehicles that were actually judged (including a former and breathtakingly beautiful Pebble Beach Concours-winning 1929 Mercedes-Benz 680 S Barker Tourer 26/120/180 that also won the Pre-War Best of Show award at this event), the HWA EVO, a Mercedes-AMG One, two Oldsmobile Aerotechs, and a McLaren F1. To put it plainly, that alone constitutes one hell of a car show.
What Could Possibly Come Next?
Two conversations dominated the airwaves when I stopped to chat with fellow Wynn Vegas Concours attendees. The most prevalent question: “How on earth are they going to top this next year?” Honestly, I have no idea, but I wish the Wynn the very best of luck. The second, and frankly far more intriguing, query came from the OEM representatives: “Should we even bother participating in The Quail next year?” That is a very valid question. Perhaps I should wish The Quail good luck as well.
A Reality Check: Costs and Convenience
You may not realize that a single ticket to The Quail cost $1,300 last year—and that was the discounted price for “legacy ticket holders” who have attended in the past. For first-time attendees, the cost soared to $1,600. While these prices might seem steep, they pale in comparison to the cost for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). It costs roughly $400,000 for a manufacturer to secure a booth and display a car at The Quail—and that is for only six hours.
The Las Vegas Concours charges approximately 1/20th of that fee. And if you want to attend, tickets cost just $100. That translates to about $2 per Veyron on the lawn. I spoke with three different car manufacturers who openly questioned the necessity of ever attending The Quail again. Perhaps, they mused, Las Vegas and Moda Miami are sufficient?
Moreover, for attendees, you won’t be paying heart-attack-inducing prices for accommodation. I had a friend who stayed at a motel near Pebble Beach that cost $1,100 per night, requiring a five-night minimum stay. You also won’t be stuck navigating soul-crushing traffic between events. Additionally, securing dining reservations is effortless because Las Vegas is architecturally designed to handle large gatherings
