Salon Privé London Car Show Returns

Salon Privé London, the annual automotive festival, officially returned this week. Hosted at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, the event transformed the historic setting into a quintessential English garden party – albeit one with an unusual, high-performance motoring twist.

Drawing around 18,000 guests, Salon Privé celebrates design and craftsmanship, as well as features exhibits, displays and luxury cars. Visitors can get up close and personal, as SPHERE did, with some of the world’s finest and rarest hypercars, supercars, classics and everything in between.

Iconic brands such as Maserati, BMW, Lotus and Porsche were on show, yet there was one standout among the field. The winner of Salon Privé London 2026 Concours De Vente was a 1970 Monteverdi 375L, shown by Alan Carrington Classic Cars, awarded the Prix d’Honneur for rarity, elegance and above all, restoration.

The vehicle was crowned by motoring writer, Keith Bluemel, owner of Maranello Concessionaires Archive, Tony Willis, motoring content creator, Thomas Howarth and photographer, Freddie Atkins, after being judged against 80 other automobiles.

In keeping with tradition, a judging team of pensioners from the Royal Hospital Chelsea also awarded the Pensioners’ Trophy to a 1949 Jaguar XK120, and Joe Macari’s 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB was presented with the People’s Choice Trophy.

Other companies that displayed their high-end vehicles included Furlonger, Hilton & Moss, Tom Hartley, Dylan Miles and Howard Wise.  

SPHERE Spotlight 

Cars weren’t the only draw this year. Along with an impressive collection of vehicles, the event hosts many other experiences for guests to enjoy. From fine dining, luxury shopping and Champagne hospitality, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

One brand which made a special appearance was VERTU, a luxury mobile producer known for its cutting-edge technology and exceptional craftsmanship. This is more than your typical iPhone. Based in Harrods, these smartphones use AI technology, making the simplest of tasks even simpler. By incorporating materials like sapphire crystal and even gold and diamonds, every aspect of VERTU is designed with luxury in mind and done so with meticulous attention to detail. 

Andrew Bagley, Chairman and co-founder at Salon Privé, said about the event: “From the success of the Concours de Vente to the buzzing atmosphere on Ladies’ Day, it is clear there is a genuine appetite for an event that brings together automotive excellence with a broader lifestyle experience, and we are excited to keep growing that in the years ahead.” 

From cars to boats, Ventura Yachts also made waves at the event, showcasing its classic Riva Super Florida – inspired by the golden age of wooden boats. Originally produced between 1953 and 1968, the Riva arrived in response to customer demand for a model that was easy to use for water skiing. Over 60 years later, the Riva Super Florida is still a head-turner, having charmed the rich and famous – everyone from European Royalty to household Hollywood stars.

Salon Privé London will be followed by its sister event at Blenheim Palace, which returns to Oxfordshire on 2-6 September 2026.

For more information, visit salonpriveconcours.com