Pebble Beach 2026: Car and Driver Launches Live Coverage of Monterey Car Week

Car and Driver is providing comprehensive live blog coverage of the 2026 Pebble Beach and Monterey Car Week events, bringing real-time updates from California’s premier automotive gathering. The coverage will capture new model reveals, industry announcements, and the world’s most valuable collector cars as they compete at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

According to Car and Driver’s announcement, the publication will deliver minute-by-minute updates throughout the week-long celebration, ensuring enthusiasts worldwide can follow developments as they unfold on California’s Monterey Peninsula.

North America’s Premier Automotive Week

Monterey Car Week has established itself as a major automotive event drawing collectors, manufacturers, and enthusiasts from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and across Europe. The annual California gathering serves as both a marketplace for multimillion-dollar transactions and a showcase for automotive craftsmanship spanning more than a century.

The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance anchors the week’s activities, presenting the world’s rarest and most meticulously preserved vehicles on the 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links. This premier event attracts entries that have claimed awards at events from Villa d’Este to Amelia Island, with vehicles often valued in the tens of millions of dollars.

Beyond the Concours, Monterey Car Week encompasses multiple auctions where collectors exchange rare Ferraris, Porsches, and pre-war classics. Manufacturers traditionally use the week to debut concept vehicles and announce special editions targeted at high-net-worth buyers, making it a crucial calendar date for luxury automotive marketing.

What to Expect From 2026 Coverage

Car and Driver’s live coverage will track activity across multiple venues, from the auction houses operated by major firms to manufacturer displays and private viewings. The publication’s team will document new vehicle unveilings, report hammer prices from significant sales, and provide context on historically important vehicles appearing at the Concours.

Previous years have seen manufacturers launch limited-production hypercars, bespoke coachbuilt models, and heritage-inspired special editions during Monterey Car Week. Marques including Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Bugatti, and Pagani have all used the California event to reach ultra-high-net-worth collectors gathered in one location.

The live blog format allows enthusiasts unable to attend in person to follow developments throughout each day, from early morning auction previews through evening receptions. Real-time reporting provides international audiences access to an event that remains geographically exclusive despite its global significance.

The Collector Car Calendar’s Crown Jewel

The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance maintains its position as the most prestigious automotive event in North America, with Best of Show winners joining an elite roster that includes some of the most significant automobiles ever constructed. Judging criteria emphasize authenticity, preservation, and historical accuracy, with teams of experts examining each entry’s documentation, components, and finish.

Classes at the Concours typically celebrate specific marques, eras, or coachbuilders, with 2026 likely to feature curated groupings that tell stories of automotive design evolution. Featured classes have previously honored everything from brass-era American tourers to 1990s supercars, ensuring diversity across the show field.

Restoration shops often spend years preparing vehicles for Pebble Beach competition, with winning entries sometimes representing investments exceeding original purchase prices by substantial margins. The event’s influence on collector car values remains significant, with Best of Show winners and class champions seeing immediate appreciation.

What This Means for Buyers

For prospective buyers of Concept Car Heads to Bonhams Laguna Seca Auction”>collector vehicles, Monterey Car Week auctions provide market-setting price discovery on significant examples. Results from California sales influence valuations globally, establishing benchmarks that dealers and private sellers reference throughout the following year. Buyers unable to attend can monitor Car and Driver’s live coverage to track market sentiment and identify value trends across different segments.

Those interested in new limited-production vehicles should pay close attention to manufacturer announcements during the week. Allocation for special editions often gets distributed to clients present at reveals, with some marques requiring buyers to place deposits before leaving California. Live coverage ensures enthusiasts learn of these opportunities as they emerge, rather than discovering sold-out models weeks later.

For the broader enthusiast audience, Monterey Car Week sets automotive conversation topics for months afterward. The vehicles displayed, sales achieved, and trends observed during the California gathering influence magazine coverage, YouTube content, and forum discussions well into autumn. Following live coverage provides cultural context for understanding where the collector market and luxury automotive segment are headed.