Classic Cars and Motorbikes 2026: everything you need to know

One of the main new features for 2026 is ‘Icons of Speed – Endurance Legends’, an exhibition dedicated to the history of endurance racing. Twelve cars will be on display in the entrance hall on Via della Costituzione, whilst other models will be spread throughout the exhibition centre.

The line-up includes some of the best-known cars from endurance racing, starting with the Porsche 917 in Gulf livery and the Porsche 956 Rothmans, a star of the World Sportscar Championship in the 1980s. Also on display is the Sauber C9, winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the world title in 1989, alongside the Bentley EXP Speed 8, which finished third overall in the 2001 French race. Among the Italian cars are the Lancia Beta Montecarlo Turbo, the LC1 and the Alfa Romeo Tipo 33. There is also a place for the Bugatti EB110 LM, the sole example of this supercar built to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the Maserati MC12 Corsa, of which just 15 were produced. The exhibition also includes the Nissan NPT-90, the Rondeau M382 and the Courage C52 Pescarolo. Several cars come from the Nationales Automuseum – The Loh Collection and the Gino Macaluso Foundation for Historic Cars.

It’s not just about cars and motorbikes. ‘Time on Show’, an event organised by BolognaFiere and dedicated to fine watchmaking – in particular rare, vintage and collectable watches – is also returning as part of Auto e Moto d’Epoca. Now in its fourth edition in Bologna, the event takes place in the Gallery Hall, between Halls 25 and 26, where specialist Italian and international dealers will be showcasing watches of historical and collectable interest. Time on Show runs from 22 to 25 October and is accessible with a ticket to the main event.

Hall 31 will host the exhibition dedicated to motorbikes, with a significant presence from Honda. Four motorcycles will be arriving directly from the Honda Collection Hall in Motegi, Japan, including Eddie Lawson’s and Mick Doohan’s NSR500s, Valentino Rossi’s RC211V and the RVF750 RC45. The Honda exhibition will also feature competition models, road sports bikes and off-road motorcycles, ranging from the 1973 Elsinore CR250 to the Africa Twin XRV650, including the CBR900RR FireBlade and the VFR750R RC30. One section will be dedicated to small-capacity sports bikes produced at the Italian factory in Atessa, including the NS125F and NSR125R, alongside a Sport Production model linked to Lucio Cecchinello. Alongside Honda, Best Bikes Garage will be showcasing around twenty Grand Prix bikes, including a Cagiva 500, a Suzuki 500 ridden by Kevin Schwantz, the last two Paton 500s used in the World Championship and a Suter 500. New additions this year include Prestige Bikes, a section dedicated to motorcycles from private collections, whilst the Youngtimer Dreams area will feature models such as the Honda RC213V-S. Also returning is the Italian Motorcycle Championship – Custom Bike Show, dedicated to custom builds based on motorbikes manufactured before 2006, divided into categories such as Café Racer, Scrambler, Streetfighter and Bagger.

The programme also includes an exhibition dedicated to Group B rally cars, organised in collaboration with Rallylegend. On Sunday 25 October, the European Corvette Day – Italy is scheduled to take place – a gathering dedicated to the American sports car, featuring models from various generations, from the 1953 C1 right up to the latest C8. For the first time, there will also be an official stand from the National Corvette Museum in Kentucky.

Another key part of the event is the market for spare parts for classic cars and motorbikes, featuring original components, accessories, technical documentation, scale models and motoring memorabilia.

The ticket price varies depending on the day chosen. On Thursday 22 October, admission costs 58 euros; on Friday 23 October, 35 euros; whilst on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October, a day ticket costs 27 euros. Thursday is traditionally the preview day, aimed primarily at collectors, dealers and industry professionals who wish to be the first to visit the market for cars and motorbikes on sale. Admission is not restricted to professionals only, but the price is higher and no concessions are available. For those wishing to visit the event over several days, multi-day passes are available: 50 euros for Saturday and Sunday, 60 euros for Friday and Saturday, 85 euros for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and 143 euros for all four days. The reduced-price ticket costs 22 euros and is reserved for young people aged 13 to 17. Entry is free for children aged 12 and under. Standard tickets can be purchased online via the official website autoemotodepoca.com, or directly at the event’s ticket offices.

The Bologna Exhibition Centre is situated at 20 Viale della Fiera and can be accessed via several entrances, including Piazza della Costituzione, Michelino, Nord and Aldo Moro.

For those arriving by car, the Bologna Fiera exit is available from the A14 motorway, whilst exits 7 and 8 can be used from the ring road. The main pay-and-display car parks are Fiera Nord-Michelino, at 38 Via Michelino, and the one in Piazza della Costituzione.

For those travelling by train, the main station is Bologna Centrale. From here, you can reach the exhibition centre by taking Tper bus routes 28, 35 and 38, or by taxi. Route 28 also connects the exhibition centre with the city centre. For those arriving by plane, Guglielmo Marconi Airport is approximately 8.5 kilometres from BolognaFiere. The Marconi Express provides a direct link to Bologna Centrale station, whilst from the station you can continue by bus or taxi to the event entrances.