[Image credit: Goodwood Revival, Charlie Brenninkmeijer]
September’s concours season brings one of the busiest stretches in the British collector-car calendar, with three major events in quick succession: Salon Privé at Blenheim Palace, the Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace, and Goodwood Revival later in the month.
For owners taking a car to any of them, preparation matters just as much as what’s happening on the day. With the first two events overlapping, September’s concour season is particularly worth planning for in advance.
Salon Privé, Blenheim Palace: 2-6 September
[Image credit: Chris Cooper, ShotAway]
Now in its 21st year, Salon Privé returns to the lawns of Blenheim Palace for five days of concours cars, supercars, club displays and the garden-party atmosphere on which the event has built its reputation.
The judged Salon Privé Concours takes place on Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 September, with classes spanning everything from the Golden Age of Motoring and 80 Years of Bristol Cars to Glorious GTs and Passione Ferrari.
Two new classes have also been introduced for 2026: Limited Production Supercars and Hypercar Heaven, reflecting the growing importance of modern supercars and hypercars within the collector-car world.
One of the headline cars already confirmed is a Bugatti Bolide, one of only 40 produced, which will remain on display throughout all five days.
The weekend then changes character. Saturday’s Club Trophy is expected to bring well over 1,500 privately owned sports cars, supercars and hypercars to Blenheim, while Sunday’s programme includes the Concours de Vente for significant collector cars currently offered for sale. Richard Hammond is also due to return across the weekend and will help judge the Concours de Vente on Sunday.
Concours of Elegance, Hampton Court Palace: 4-6 September
[Image credit: Tom Shaxson]
Just two days after Salon Privé begins, the Concours of Elegance opens at Hampton Court Palace. At its heart is a carefully selected field of around 60 of the world’s rarest cars, many of which are rarely – if ever – seen in the UK.
There are some particularly interesting displays planned for 2026. Sixty years of the Jensen Interceptor will be marked with a collection tracing Jensen’s post-war history, while Club Lotus is celebrating 60 years of the Europa.
Maserati design will also feature prominently, alongside a substantial Aston Martin presence. A new ‘Finest Aston Martin’ award has been created specifically for this year’s main Concours.
Among the individual cars already confirmed are an exceptionally original Ferrari 330 GTC that has remained largely untouched since 1967, a Ferrari 275 GTB/4, a 1936 Bugatti Type 57 Atalante and one of only six surviving Siata 208 CS Balbo Berlinettas.
There is activity before the palace gates open too. The 2026 Concours of Elegance Tour of the Cotswolds is already sold out, taking participating cars out on the road ahead of the main weekend. For owners entering these events, it’s a useful reminder that preparation can start several days before the concours itself.
Goodwood Revival, Goodwood Motor Circuit: 18-20 September
[Image credit: Goodwood]
Two weeks later, the focus moves to West Sussex for Goodwood Revival. Rather than a static concours, Revival recreates the Motor Circuit’s racing years from 1948 to 1966, with historic cars and motorcycles being driven competitively around the circuit.
There are several major themes for 2026. Goodwood will celebrate Maserati’s competition history, marking 100 years since the marque’s first major motorsport success at the 1926 Targa Florio.
The life and career of Sir Jack Brabham will also be celebrated in the year of his centenary – and 60 years after his extraordinary 1966 Formula 1 World Championship, when he became the only driver to win the title in a car bearing his own name.
There will be an Italian flavour elsewhere too, with around 300 period Vespas and other contemporary Italian scooters expected to take part in the Revival’s opening parades.
On track, familiar Revival fixtures return including the St. Mary’s Trophy, Stirling Moss Memorial Trophy and Barry Sheene Memorial Trophy. One notable change comes on Sunday, when the flagship RAC TT Celebration moves to the end of the day’s programme, giving the weekend a particularly strong finale.
For an owner taking a car to Revival, that’s an important distinction. A concours car needs to arrive impeccably presented; a car that is actually going onto the Goodwood circuit also needs to arrive mechanically prepared for what can be a demanding weekend.
How far in advance should you prepare a car for concours season?
The honest answer is: earlier than most people think.
Between transport logistics, valeting, mechanical checks and the inevitable last-minute weather forecast, a car destined for Blenheim on 2 September should really be coming out of storage, not going in, by the final week of August.
A few of the basics are worth building into the timeline:
- Book transport early. With Salon Privé and the Concours of Elegance taking place over the same weekend, demand for specialist enclosed transport is likely to be particularly high.
- Factor in a proper valet or detail, not a quick wipe-down. For a car being presented at a major concours or collector-car event, the small details matter.
- Check tyres, battery condition and fluids before the car leaves storage. It is far better to identify anything requiring attention while the car can still be dealt with properly.
- Allow time for servicing or minor remedial work. If a car has been stored for an extended period, discovering an issue a day or two before an event leaves very little room to resolve it.
- If the car is going to Revival, prepare for a different kind of weekend. A car destined for track use should have the appropriate specialist mechanical checks as well as cosmetic preparation.
What does this mean if you're storing with Windrush?
For clients with cars booked into any of September’s events, this is exactly the sort of moment the Windrush way is built for.
Windrush can manage pre-event preparation, valeting and detailing, collection and delivery, servicing where required and enclosed transport, allowing a car to arrive at Blenheim, Hampton Court or Goodwood prepared and presented as it should be.
It also removes some of the logistical pressure around events that sit so close together. A car can be prepared while in storage, transport coordinated in advance and collection timed around the event, rather than leaving everything until the final few days.
If you already know which events you’re attending this year, it’s worth flagging collection and transport dates with the team sooner rather than later – particularly with Salon Privé and the Concours of Elegance falling across the same weekend.
A month to plan around
With Salon Privé beginning on 2 September, the Concours of Elegance following just two days later and Goodwood Revival rounding off the major events later in the month, September’s concours season rewards a little forward planning.
Whichever events are on your calendar, getting the car prepared – and out of storage – in good time means that when the day arrives, the only thing left to do is enjoy it.
