RM Sotheby's Monterey Auction 2026
August 13–15, 2026 at the Monterey Conference Center / Portola Hotel: RM Sotheby’s flagship Car Week evening sale for its 29th Monterey year.
- Aug 12–2026 (day: 15)
- Monterey Conference Center / Portola Hotel
Monterey, CA - paid
The short version
RM Sotheby’s The Monterey Auction returns August 13–15, 2026 to the Portola Hotel and Monterey Conference Center for its 29th year — Car Week’s downtown blue-chip evening sale. Public preview typically opens the day before evening sessions; local calendars list Wednesday, August 12 preview windows and evening auctions from Thursday through Saturday. Bidder registration and preview admission are separate purchases on rmsothebys.com.
Background
RM Sotheby’s Monterey sale sets much of Car Week’s market tone for prewar and blue-chip sports cars. It is the opposite logistics problem from Laguna Seca: downtown parking, hotel density, and evening dress rather than track dust.
Verified details
- Auction evenings: August 13–15, 2026 (per RM Sotheby’s).
- Venue: Monterey Conference Center, 1 Portola Plaza, Monterey, CA.
- Official hub: rmsothebys.com/auctions/mo26/.
- Preview: commonly opens August 12 — confirm hours and admission on the sale page.
Planning tips
- Preview passes and bidder numbers are not Concours or Quail tickets — buy RM’s products directly.
- Evening sale start times are often around 5:30 p.m.; eat early and budget rideshare surge after the session.
- If you are also walking Bonhams at Laguna Seca Thursday morning, leave a hard buffer — the peninsula punishes optimism.
- Catalog estimates are not out-the-door costs; add premium, tax, and transport before you raise a paddle.
Common questions
- When is RM Sotheby's Monterey 2026?
- Auction evenings run August 13–15, 2026 at the Monterey Conference Center / Portola Hotel, with preview typically beginning August 12. Confirm exact hours on rmsothebys.com.
- Is this inside Pebble Beach gates?
- No. RM Sotheby’s stages downtown at the Monterey Conference Center. Gooding Christie’s Pebble Beach Auctions are the sale inside the Concours / 17-Mile Drive campus.
- Can I attend only the preview?
- Yes in typical years — RM sells preview admission separately from bidder registration. Check the 2026 sale page for current pricing.