For four days, RETRO CLASSICS® in Stuttgart once again lived up to its reputation as a permanent fixture in the international trade fair calendar for classic mobility. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, around 83.000 visitors flocked to the grounds of Messe Stuttgart from February 19 to 22, 2026, to experience approximately 2,800 vehicles spanning more than a century of automotive history across seven halls, the East Entrance, and the Atrium. Particularly pleasing was the increased share of international guests – especially from Switzerland, Austria, and France.
The atmosphere was characterized by enthusiasm, in-depth professional discussions, and a strong willingness to buy – not least at the popular entry-level market, which attracted many new and young enthusiasts with classics priced under €10,000. A strong signal for the “next generation” of classic car enthusiasts was also sent by the ceremonial graduation event of the Stuttgart Region Motor Vehicle Guild: more than 750 newly qualified automotive mechatronics technicians and automotive management assistants were officially welcomed during the fair.
The expanded free classic car parking area with more than 500 vehicles at P27 near the West Entrance was also very well received. The visit of Friedrich Merz, who briefly stopped by the fair on Thursday during his stay in Stuttgart and took a close look at a historic Mercedes-Benz 300 (“Adenauer Mercedes”), underscored the event’s national significance.
Tribute to a Legend: Hans Herrmann in the Atrium
At the heart of the anniversary was an emotional tribute to Hans Herrmann. Under the title “HH 97,” an impressive exhibition was curated in the East Atrium and organized by his biographer Tobias Aichele. Thirteen significant racing cars from Herrmann’s life’s work were presented with the support of the Mercedes-Benz Museum and the Porsche Museum. Thanks to this collaboration, visitors were able to experience, among other highlights, the legendary Porsche 917, with which Herrmann made history at Le Mans in 1970.
Colors of Racing: When Racing Colors Tell History
In Hall 10, the special exhibition “Colors of Racing” captivated thousands of visitors. Spread across more than 2,000 square meters, over 30 original racing vehicles from a wide range of disciplines were assembled. Iconic designs and historic national racing colors told stories of eras, rivalries, and technical progress.
Whether the spectacular Mercedes-Benz CLR or an Audi Sport Quattro, each exhibit represented a story of its own. The high-caliber selection was also supported by the Loh Collection and the Hans-Peter Porsche Traumwerk. Panel discussions with contemporary witnesses and drivers added further authenticity to the exhibition.
Automotive Culture in All Its Facets
The wide range of themed special exhibitions in Halls 3, 5, and 7 also received strong acclaim. American street culture – from historic COE trucks to famous movie vehicles – impressively showcased the diversity of the US car era. Modern performance icons such as the new Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, presented by Karl Geiger, bridged the gap to the present day.
The young performance scene also made a strong statement: the special exhibition “JDM Tuning & Motorsport” featured a selection of authentic JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) vehicles from the 1990s and 2000s. Models such as the Nissan Skyline GT-R R34, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII, and the Honda NSX built a bridge between classic automotive culture and the modern tuning and motorsport community.
Brand anniversaries such as 75 years of Porsche Motorsport, 50 years of the BMW 6 Series E24, 40 years of the Opel Omega A, and 60 years of the Opel Rekord C underscored the historical depth of the fair. Clubs, collectors, and brand experts brought the respective model histories to life, showcasing rare variants as well as perfectly preserved everyday classics.
Trade, Craftsmanship, and Highlights
Economically, the anniversary edition also generated positive momentum. Numerous exhibitors reported successful sales and high-quality contacts. The Classicbid live auction on Saturday created excitement with around 69 vehicles on offer and attracted international bidders.
With “Retro Works – Restoration Up Close,” traditional craftsmanship became tangible: live demonstrations showed how much expertise, patience, and precision go into professional restoration. The program was complemented by a parts market, automobilia, and a diverse club presence. The opening evening, featuring the RETRO NIGHT®, already set a festive tone and underlined the special character of the 25th anniversary.
Looking Ahead to Upcoming Highlights
Following this successful anniversary, attention is already turning to the future: from April 8 to 12, 2026, RETRO CLASSICS ESSEN® will take place at Messe Essen, bringing driving culture to the Ruhr region. The next RETRO CLASSICS® in Stuttgart will be held from April 29 to May 2, 2027.
After 25 years of trade fair history, it remains what it has been from the very beginning: a vibrant meeting place for enthusiasts, collectors, dealers, clubs, and everyone who shares a passion for automobiles – across generations and with an eye firmly on the future.
Exhibitor Voices from RETRO CLASSICS® 2026
Philipp Ehle, Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG
“We used this year’s Retro Classics as the official launch of our anniversary ‘Raceborn – 75 Years of Porsche Motorsport.’ In addition to its international significance, the strong regional roots of Retro Classics are particularly appealing to us. The fair always serves as a meeting point to engage with fans of the brand, former employees, and long-time companions. Alongside four special racing vehicles, visitors this year were also able to meet overall Le Mans winner and brand ambassador Timo Bernhard as well as Porsche works driver and DTM champion Ayhancan Güven – a successful start to our anniversary year!”
Lukas Wegener, Mercedes-Benz Brand Clubs
“As the association of Mercedes-Benz brand clubs, we look back on an extremely successful RETRO CLASSICS® Stuttgart 2026. The 25th edition of this fair for driving culture in Stuttgart once again demonstrated how vibrant and diverse the classic car scene is – with high visitor quality, engaging personal conversations, and passionate exchanges with Mercedes-Benz fans, club members, and classic car enthusiasts. Especially in this anniversary year, it became clear that Retro Classics is an outstanding meeting point for tradition, enthusiasm, and automotive passion.”
Heinz Raab, Raab Automobile
“Thursday was already well attended, and Friday was – after many years – once again a day with an enormous rush of visitors at our stand. The fair was a success for us. Many of our social media fans visit us every year at RETRO CLASSICS®, which of course makes us very happy!”
Sarah Dünkel, CCO, Motorworld Group
“For a quarter of a century, Retro Classics has been a fixed date for everyone who lives and breathes automotive passion. We warmly congratulate them on their 25th anniversary and are proud to have been part of this success story for many years. This year’s appearance by the Motorworld Group demonstrated just how vibrant, diverse, and innovative the scene is. We were especially delighted by the visit of Dr. Andrea Zagato, who stands like few others for design culture and automotive excellence. The anniversary provided the ideal setting to present the Motorworld brand as a forum for automotive culture, lifestyle, and trade – with a line-up of exceptional quality in terms of diversity, exclusivity, and brand strength. A big thank you goes to our partners and co-exhibitors, who once again made the Motorworld stand one of the most exciting meeting points at the fair. We look forward to bringing this energy to our Motorworld locations.”
Tobias Aichele, Solitude GmbH
“We were able to fully leverage the great potential and special aura of the Atrium. The special exhibition for Hans Herrmann HH97 was extremely well received by all visitor groups. We were almost always at full capacity – at times we even had to close temporarily. It was truly a complete success, thanks also to the excellent cooperation with the trade fair team. Once again, it showed that when everyone pulls together, something great can emerge. A worthy anniversary year, and we were truly delighted to be part of it.”
Thomas Hientz, SML Car Group
“We are always happy to come to RETRO CLASSICS in Stuttgart each year. As a regionally rooted company, it is an enormously important and effective platform for us to present ourselves – across all our services, from trading and workshop services to storage and event locations. We meet key customers here, maintain existing relationships, and establish many new contacts.”
Matthias Stockinger, Stockinger Fahrzeugtechnik
“I experienced the fair very positively and also noticed growth compared to last year. There were outstanding conversations and genuine emotions sparked by the exhibits. We met great people and were able to establish new contacts. It was simply enjoyable, and the overall atmosphere was very positive – I can only recommend it!”
