The standard definition of “concours d’elegance” is “a show or contest of vehicles and accessories in which the entries are judged chiefly on excellence of appearance and turnout.”
Spending enough time in the fancy car game, and inevitably you’ll be asked if one of these shows or another is better than the famous Pebble Beach Concours. The latter, of course, usually is understood to mean the full annual Monterey Car Week that’s loaded with events including the proceedings at Pebble proper. Combined, those events comprise a moneyed orgy of all things four-wheeled and expensive that culminates on Sunday with the greatest concours d’elegance of them all. Still, we’re asked: Is the Goodwood Festival of Speed better than Pebble? What about the Goodwood Revival? Amelia Island? Moda Miami? Retromobile? The Audrain?
Indeed, wherever the well-heeled and well-dressed gather to gawk at blue-chip automobiles, someone wants to know if Pebble is still tops. Here’s the truth: Pebble Beach is still king of the concours. But the prince, the proper heir to Pebble’s kingdom—The Quail—might just have a new rhinestone and crab leg challenger to the throne.
Why The Quail?
The Quail (full name, The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering) has always been an incredible appetizer to the main course that is Sunday’s Pebble Concours. In fact, for a certain and growing segment of the car world, The Quail has long since eclipsed Pebble’s Sunday event. These folks tend to be quite into late-model/brand-new supercars and hypercars. I’ve lost track of the number of car friends who make the schlep to Car Week but leave Sunday morning because they have no interest in “a bunch of old cars.” Moreover, the death of the Geneva International Auto Show left a premium hole in the supercar calendar, a hole The Quail has filled nicely.
A few examples for you. The Lamborghini Aventador made its debut at Geneva in 2011, and the big $$$ Veneno did so in 2013. The Aventador’s replacement—the Revuelto—made its official public entrance via an online unveiling, but the Temerario (the Huracán’s successor) was first seen at The Quail in 2024. The same is true for the seven-figure Fenomeno, which made its debut at the 2025 Quail. Bugatti pulled the sheet off the Chiron in Geneva in 2016; however, the Bugatti Divo (2018) and Mistral (2022) were both first shown to the world at The Quail. The above is true for dozens of other cars, too. In other words, The Quail has grown into the best show in the world for these sorts of machines.
Until this past Halloween, I thought The Quail’s standing in the global automotive kingdom was secure. Then I attended the 2025 Las Vegas Concours (officially known as Concours at Wynn Las Vegas), and now I’m not so sure. I should preface this by explaining I also attended the 2024 Vegas Concours and, while I had fun, it struck me as regional if not provincial. There were some pretty cool cars, but more like the usual suspects. In fact, if it weren’t for a project I was working on with Czinger (which brought me along as its guest), I probably wouldn’t have bothered going this year. But man, am I glad I went.
What Could Possibly Be Next?
Two threads of conversation kept coming my way when I stopped and chatted with fellow Wynn Vegas Concours attendees. The big question: “How the hell are they going to top this next year?” No clue, but godspeed to the Wynn. The other and frankly far more intriguing query kept coming from the OEM carmakers: “Should we even bother doing The Quail next year?” Good question. Perhaps I should say godspeed to The Quail, too.
Things you may not know about The Quail: A single ticket cost $1,300 last year. That’s $1,300 as a courtesy if you’ve attended in the past (“legacy ticket holders,” I think they call ’em). It was $1,600 for first-time attendees. Yes, that’s expensive, but it costs OEMs about $400,000 to put a car on a show stand there. For six hours. The Vegas Concours charges about 1/20 of that. And if you want to attend, tickets are $100 a pop. That’s about $2 per Veyron. I spoke to three different carmakers that openly questioned the need to ever attend The Quail again. Perhaps, they mused, Las Vegas and Moda Miami are enough? Moreover, for attendees, you won’t be paying heart-attack-inducing prices for hotels (a friend stayed at a motel near Pebble that was $1,100 a night, five-night minimum), nor running around from event to event in soul-crushing traffic. Also, making dinner reservations is easy because Las Vegas is literally built for big gatherings.
The above might sound far-fetched, but just a few years ago Geneva was the center of the supercar world. I can’t predict the future, but I can assure you the Concours at Wynn Las Vegas is now on my must-attend list. You should stick it on yours, too.
2026 Las Vegas Concours: The Quail’s Kingdom Under Siege
The standard definition of a “concours d’elegance” usually translates to “a display or competition of motor vehicles and accessories judged primarily on aesthetic quality and presentation.” For automotive enthusiasts familiar with the premium car circuit, the term is almost synonymous with Monterey Car Week—a prestigious gathering that culminates in the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. While the latter remains the gold standard for collectible and vintage vehicles, the question is increasingly being asked: Is The Quail, its formidable challenger, still king?
For those who appreciate the allure of classic machinery, there is no doubt that Pebble Beach holds the undisputed crown. However, a rising demographic of collectors and enthusiasts who favor cutting-edge hypercars and brand-new supercars often bypass the Sunday event. These individuals are increasingly drawn to The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering as their primary destination during Car Week. The Geneva International Auto Show’s demise left a void in the supercar calendar, a space that The Quail has expertly filled.
In the luxury auto sphere, Pebble Beach is still the king, but the heir apparent—The Quail—now has a serious challenger that rivals its allure and prestige. This article explores why The Quail remains a pinnacle event while also examining the meteoric rise of the Concours at Wynn Las Vegas, the new powerhouse in the high-end automotive world.
Why The Quail Remains at the Apex
The Quail has historically been a magnificent preamble to the main event on Sunday at Pebble Beach. However, for a growing segment of the automotive world, The Quail has surpassed the significance of Sunday’s proceedings. This audience is primarily interested in late-model supercars and hypercars. Many enthusiasts who travel to Car Week opt out of the traditional concours, choosing instead to attend The Quail to catch the newest, most exclusive vehicles.
The luxury car market has seen a significant shift in how manufacturers unveil their flagship models. The Geneva International Auto Show’s closure has created a substantial gap in the supercar release calendar, a gap that The Quail has filled with remarkable success.
Key Reveals at The Quail
Several groundbreaking vehicles have made their worldwide debuts at The Quail, underscoring its importance in the automotive industry:
Lamborghini: While the Aventador predecessor was unveiled at Geneva in 2011, and the ultra-exclusive Veneno launched in 2013, the Aventador’s successor—the Revuelto—debuted online. However, the Temerario, the Huracán’s successor, premiered at The Quail in 2024. Similarly, the seven-figure Fenomeno was first shown to the world at the 2025 Quail.
Bugatti: The Bugatti Chiron debuted at Geneva in 2016. Yet, the Bugatti Divo (2018) and Bugatti Mistral (2022) were both unveiled to the public at The Quail.
These examples demonstrate that The Quail has become the world’s premier venue for unveiling groundbreaking, high-end sports cars. Dozens of other marques have similarly chosen The Quail to launch their latest automotive masterpieces.
The Rise of the Las Vegas Concours: A New Contender Emerges
Until this past Halloween, I believed The Quail’s position was unassailable. However, my experience at the 2025 Las Vegas Concours (officially Concours at Wynn Las Vegas) left me questioning its dominance. While the 2024 Vegas Concours was enjoyable, it felt somewhat provincial and regional. The lineup featured many of the same usual suspects. Had it not been for a project with Czinger, which sponsored my attendance, I might not have bothered going this year. But I am certainly glad I went.
This event represents a paradigm shift in automotive gatherings, offering a fresh alternative that challenges the traditional concours format. For buyers, collectors, and investors, the Las Vegas Concours presents a unique opportunity
