Buckle Up: What’s New at the 2026 Hilton Head Island Concours

The 2026 Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival shifts into an entirely new gear

STORY BY BARRY KAUFMAN

With the notable exception of a certain golf tournament, few events on the calendar can claim to define our community as profoundly as the Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival.

Let’s start with the name itself. Just as the mouthful of sponsors that surround the golf tournament’s name are usually jettisoned in favor of everyone just calling it “The Heritage,” the motoring festival is simply known in local circles as “The Concours.” The difference here is that simply calling it “The Concours” tends to put the focus on the main event: the two days, October 31 and November 1, when more than 200 rare and incredible vehicles pull up to Port Royal Golf Club’s Planter’s Row course, while forgetting that there is far more to the motoring festival.

The first attraction comes October 30, when the Lowcountry Driving Tour serves as one part parade, one part love letter to the island. From 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., you’ll be able to cruise alongside some of these amazing cars on a relaxing journey through the island and its many historical landmarks, immersing yourself in Hilton Head’s culture along the way. That first day’s festivities will culminate in Motorcars & Music, an open-air performance by American Idol winner Taylor Hicks starting at 6 p.m. on the 18th fairway.

Even the main event itself is often misconstrued, even by diehard locals.

“I still think a lot of people assume they come Saturday, see the cars, and Sunday is essentially a repeat. It isn’t,” said spokesperson Kelly Broome-Smith. “Saturday, October 31, is the Car Club Showcase, when clubs and enthusiasts travel to Hilton Head to fill the field with an incredible range of automobiles. Then overnight the field completely transforms. Sunday, November 1, is the nationally judged Concours d’Elegance, with an entirely different collection of vehicles and a completely different experience. So someone can absolutely come both days and have two very different days at the festival.”

Essentially, you drive on Saturday for show, you drive on Sunday for dough. Running through both days, however, are a score of special exhibits that set our Concours apart as a multidimensional celebration of motoring. You’ll note that the word motoring applies to far more than just cars.

“This year we have the boats coming back, which will be a great showing,” said Special Exhibits Chairman Huntley Tarleton. “I introduced the boats 15 years ago, and it’s a group that really loves coming to our show.”

Those boats also add to the experience at Locals Lane (sponsored by this very publication). Dedicated to those who hang their hat here, this special pass gives residents a chance to vote for their favorite boat as well as enjoy special offers and benefits.

“We welcome collectors and guests from across the country each fall, but this event belongs to the Lowcountry,” said Executive Director Rick Sabol. “Locals Lane is our way of inviting Beaufort County residents to experience this hometown event in a whole new way, with special access, exclusive perks and a few well-deserved bragging rights. We want our neighbors on the showfield with us, because they’re not just our guests. They’re the people who make this place, and this event, so special.”

Cruise the Collections

We locals shouldn’t pat ourselves on the back too hard. We know full well that the real draw is the cars, and some special collections that will run both days prove it. This year’s honored collector, Ivan “The Car Nut” Ruiz, will be bringing out a selection of the gorgeous Maseratis that made him famous. Motorsports Collector Robert Dyson will have a curated collection of racing cars, including the world’s first successful six-cylinder racing car, a 1904 Napier L48 “Samson.” And those are just two of the featured collections.

Part of the festival’s mission this year is appealing to a new generation of car collectors who are less enthralled with gas lamps and wooden chassis than they are with American horsepower. Examples include Pinnacle collector Stephen Plaster, who will be showcasing “The Car That Was Too Dangerous to Sell,” a 1969 Chevy Yenko Camaro, as well as Velocity Collectors Mike and Debbie Rogers’ 2017 Lamborghini Huracán.

“Even my son, who’s 24, loves the old stuff but is enjoying seeing these rare cars from the ’80s and ’90s, so with the Velocity Collectors we wanted to have more of those modern vehicles,” said Tarleton. “That’s really what the younger crowd wants to see. And honestly, the older crowd too.”

Those younger visitors will not only find a newer breed of car on the grounds of the Concours, but they’ll also experience an introduction to the broader world of motoring.

“There is a real need for the next generation of restorers, technicians, designers, craftspeople and preservationists. We want a child to leave this event curious, not only about the car they might someday drive but about who designed it, who built it, how it works, who restores it and why preserving these machines matters,” said Broome-Smith. “I think the heart of 2026 is really this: honoring the history of motoring while making sure there is a next generation excited enough to carry it forward.”

That new energy also comes from a new sponsor, Lowcountry GT. Founded by local Steve Menzies, profiled in last month’s edition of LOCAL Life, the organization is all about bringing the Concours to the next level.

“We’re really excited about this year’s event,” Menzies said. “I’m on the board and working with a great team of people who are truly committed to the automotive world. With the 25th anniversary of the Hilton Head Island Concours coming up, it’s a special time to be involved.”

Also See

More Than Just a Car: Inside Mike and Debbie Rogers’ Collection
Meet the 2026 Velocity Collectors and discover the stories behind their remarkable collection.

Way Off the Assembly Line: Honored Nameplates at the 2026 Concours
Take a closer look at Jaguar, Pontiac and Ford Bronco, the three nameplates taking the spotlight in 2026.

2026 Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival Events

Locals Lane Presented by Local Life Magazine

Your Legacy. Your Weekend. Your HHIConcours.

Not Just Guests…You’re the Hosts.

Our event may draw guests from across the country, but you are the heartbeat of this event. The passion. The heritage. The hospitality. This is your invitation to see your hometown event in a whole new light and to help shape what it becomes.

Together, we’ll show the world that Hilton Head doesn’t just host a world-class motoring festival—we fuel it.For the first time ever, the Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival is rolling out the red carpet for the people who make this community so extraordinary…you.

Introducing the Locals Lane Access Pass, an exclusive invitation to experience the events and our way of saying thank you to Beaufort County residents with a package designed to surprise, delight, and celebrate local pride!

This isn’t just about antique cars. It’s about airplanes and yachts. Electric vehicles and motorcycles. Fashion and design. Great food, cocktails, music, and the stories behind the machines. It’s a weekend of legacy, creativity, and connection—and now, it’s your story, too.

WHAT’S INCLUDED WITH YOUR LOCALS ONLY ACCESS

• 🎟️ VIP Lanyard, Presented by Local Life Magazine: Wear it proudly—it’s your all-access badge to exclusive perks and hometown bragging rights.
• 🚗 $20 Off VIP Parking: Park right on the show field and skip the shuttle. You’re local—you deserve the shortcut.
• 🛍️ 10% Off Official Concours Merchandise: From limited-edition gear to collectible keepsakes, take a piece of the Concours home with you.
• ⚓ Locals-Only Voting in “Life on the Water”: Your vote. Your voice. Help decide the very first Fan Favorite Boat Award—only open to locals. Get your exclusive “I Voted” sticker and snag fun giveaways from the Local Life Jeep.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Kids & Students Under 18 Get In Free: Bring the next generation along—future car lovers, engineers, artists, and adventurers welcome.

It Starts Right Here at Home

HOW TO JOIN THE LOCALS ONLY EXPERIENCE

1. Check your zip code. See eligible Beaufort County zip codes listed below.
2. Register online by CLICKING HERE. Receive your exclusive parking code and Locals Only confirmation.
3. Pick up your lanyard at the show entrance and start exploring!

📍 Eligible Zip Codes: 29901, 29902, 29903, 29904, 29905, 29906, 29907, 29909, 29910, 29914, 29915, 29920, 29925, 29926, 29928, 29931, 29935, 29938, 29940, 29941, 29945

Join us on the field this fall and discover what makes the Hilton Head Island Concours so much more than a car show!