Auto Classics, next weekend in Bruges

Bruges always has something special at the end of January. The crowds have subsided, the chill hangs in the streets, and it's precisely then that a classic car event like this feels like a warm refuge. Auto Classics returns to the BMCC at Beursplein on January 24th and 25th, 2026, for its third edition in this format, and anyone who attended previous years knows what that means by now: no rush, no fuss, just cars with substance and an audience that truly cares.

The relaunch of Auto Classics in Bruges proved an immediate success. The previous editions were well-attended, but appreciated primarily for the atmosphere. Calm, well-organized, almost subdued. Not a hall where you'd flee exhausted after twenty minutes, but a place where you naturally linger. That's partly due to the location. The BMCC is bright, spacious, and logically laid out. But it's also a matter of the organizers' choices. They prefer fewer cars with a story to an abundance without direction.

For 2026, the focus is on three brands, each striking a completely different chord. Lamborghini, Jaguar, and Saab… on paper, an odd combination, but in practice, a beautiful cross-section of automotive history.

Lamborghini undoubtedly draws the most attention. Not with obscure variants or marketing stories, but simply with the essence. A Miura and a Countach. You don't really need to say more. The Miura remains one of those cars you never look at casually. The lines, the proportions, the idea that this was already possible in the sixties. This was the moment the supercar was invented, not as a marketing term but as a reality. Next to it is the Countach: angular, extreme, uncompromising. The kind of car that once populated posters and now, above all, demonstrates how shamelessly creative car manufacturers dared to be back then. Together, they tell the story of Lamborghini in its purest form.

Jaguar takes a more subtle, yet equally impressive approach. The E-Type remains a crowd-pleaser, but here it's all about the Lightweight. A car you rarely see in person, and for good reason. Only a handful were ever built, designed for competition, with aluminum bodies and everything focused on weight and speed. This isn't a shiny museum piece, but a Jaguar that shows where the brand comes from. Racing DNA, technology before comfort. A car like this works perfectly at a show like this… you have to stand there for a moment to understand it.

And then Saab. Perhaps the most appealing choice of the three. No supercars, no million-dollar values, but cars with character. Saab always did things a little differently. Technology from aviation, safety as a priority, turbos before they became fashionable. The selection on display in Bruges reflects precisely that. From early models to later classics that now have a loyal fan base. Saab cars often evoke stories. About winters, long journeys, and a sense of individuality. That's remarkably fitting for an event in January.

What makes Auto Classics so strong is that it looks beyond just the cars. The mix of literature, miniatures, and automobilia feels logical and unforced. No flashy stands, but things that naturally linger. Conversations arise spontaneously, often between people who don't know each other but notice the same detail.

Previous editions already proved that this works. Visitors didn't just come to see, but also to stay. That's perhaps Auto Classics' greatest strength. It's not a show you tick off, but one you experience. Outside, cold Bruges, inside, warm stories, metal, and memories.

It's happening again on January 24th and 25th, 2026. Take your time. The cars here take their time too. For more information, please visit autoclassics.be.

(Below are some more photos from the previous edition.)