The Amelia Concours 2026
Amelia Island Concours 2026 (March 5–8): Saturday judged lawn and RADwood, Sunday Cars & Caffeine, Broad Arrow’s $111M sale, and Dario Franchitti as honoree — plus what to copy for 2027.
- Mar 5–8, 2026
- The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island / Golf Club of Amelia Island
Amelia Island, FL - paid
Recap
Amelia 2026: Saturday lawn, Sunday caffeine, seven-figure auction week
Moving the main Concours to Saturday changed muscle memory for longtime attendees. RADwood’s ’80s/’90s field beside the judged lawn made Saturday the densest day; Sunday’s Cars & Caffeine program closed the weekend on the Golf Club of Amelia Island.
Official results crowned a 1931 Duesenberg Model J Tapertail Speedster Best of Show – Concours d’Elegance and a 1969 McLaren M8B Best of Show – Concours de Sport from a 275-car field. Broad Arrow’s accompanying auction cleared more than $111 million with 13 world records — useful context if you are deciding whether Amelia is a lawn weekend or a bidding weekend.
The practical recap for 2027 (March 4–7 on the organizer site): pick a day for the judged field and a day for town/beach programming instead of assuming one ticket unlocks the island. Lodging and parking still decide whether the weekend feels calm or frantic.
The short version
The Amelia Concours weekend ran Thursday, March 5 through Sunday, March 8, 2026 around The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island — the same event many still search as the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. For the first time the main Concours lawn moved to Saturday (March 7), with RADwood alongside and Cars & Caffeine / Cars & Community programming on Sunday. Dario Franchitti MBE, four-time IndyCar champion and three-time Indianapolis 500 winner, was the 2026 honoree. Official post-event notes list 275 concours entrants and a Broad Arrow auction that topped $111 million with 13 world records. Use this page for verified 2026 results and as the planning template for Amelia 2027 (March 4–7).
Background
Founded by Bill Warner in 1996, The Amelia grew into a major East Coast concours week — auctions, seminars, and a racing-rooted lawn at resort scale. The 2026 Saturday swap broke longtime Sunday muscle memory and is the scheduling detail returning visitors needed to notice early.
Verified details
- Weekend: March 5–8, 2026.
- Main Concours + RADwood: Saturday, March 7, 2026.
- Cars & Caffeine / Cars & Community: Sunday, March 8, 2026.
- Honoree: Dario Franchitti MBE.
- Field: 275 concours entrants (organizer).
- Best of Show – Concours d’Elegance (official): 1931 Duesenberg Model J ‘Tapertail’ Speedster by Weymann.
- Best of Show – Concours de Sport (official): 1969 McLaren M8B.
- Broad Arrow Amelia Auction: March 6–7, 2026; more than $111 million, 92% sell-through, 13 world records.
- Next edition: March 4–7, 2027 (ameliaconcours.com).
Planning tips
- Saturday was the paid Concours + RADwood centerpiece; Sunday’s Cars & Caffeine ticket was a different, more accessible field — do not assume one wristband unlocked both.
- Fernandina Beach free/preview gatherings on Friday (road-tour displays, Concours d’Lemons) remained the on-ramp if you wanted cars without resort pricing.
- Lodging on-island booked out; Fernandina or Jacksonville airport-corridor hotels were the usual overflow plan — the same hierarchy applies for 2027.
- Auction previews and bidding rooms had separate rules from lawn tickets — Broad Arrow hours were their own product.
- Official spectator parking mixed shuttle lots (Lot A on Bailey Road included shuttle service) with closer Golf Club lots at higher day rates. Arrive early; curb improvisation near the Ritz got harder each year.
- Fly JAX, then I-95 North to exit 373 and A1A east onto the island. Budget bridge traffic on Saturday morning.
Common questions
- Why did Saturday matter more in 2026?
- For the first time the main Concours lawn moved to Saturday (March 7), with RADwood alongside. Sunday shifted toward Cars & Caffeine / Cars & Community programming.
- Do auction tickets come with Concours access?
- No. Broad Arrow auction credentials are separate from Concours and Sunday caffeine tickets.
- Who was the 2026 honoree?
- Dario Franchitti MBE — four-time IndyCar champion and three-time Indianapolis 500 winner.
- Who won Best of Show at Amelia 2026?
- Best of Show – Concours d’Elegance went to a 1931 Duesenberg Model J ‘Tapertail’ Speedster by Weymann. Best of Show – Concours de Sport went to a 1969 McLaren M8B, from a 275-car judged field.
- Where should visitors stay and park?
- On-island resorts sell out first; Fernandina Beach and Jacksonville airport-corridor hotels are the overflow plan. Expect official lots and shuttles rather than free curb space beside the Ritz — 2026 Lot A included shuttle service; closer Golf Club lots cost more.
- When is Amelia 2027?
- Organizer materials list March 4–7, 2027. Reconfirm on ameliaconcours.com before you book. Our 2027 planning page tracks tickets and schedule as they publish.
- Is The Amelia the same as Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance?
- Yes for searchers. The modern brand is The Amelia Concours; older guides still use Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. Same Hagerty weekend on the Ritz / Golf Club campus.
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