The Rolls Royce Cullinan luxury SUV on display during Monterey Car Week in Monterey, California. (Max Earey/Dreamstime)Monterey Car Week has wrapped for another year, and 2026 delivered exactly what enthusiasts, collectors and the automotive industry have come to expect from one of the most important gatherings in the car world: extraordinary vehicles, major product debuts, record-breaking auction results and some of the most exclusive automotive events anywhere.Every year, collectors, manufacturers, designers, enthusiasts and media descend on Monterey and neighboring Carmel, California, for a celebration that spans nearly every corner of automotive culture. The vehicles range from historic race cars and rare prewar automobiles to modern supercars, hypercars, custom builds and the newest concepts from some of the world's most prestigious manufacturers.What makes Monterey Car Week unique is that it is not simply one event. It is a collection of experiences, each with its own audience and personality. Some are open to the public, while others are invitation-only or come with a significant price of admission. Together, they create an automotive week unlike anything else in the world.AdvertisementAdvertisementOne of the highlights that kicks off the week is Motorlux, held at the Monterey Jet Center. It remains one of my favorite ways to begin Monterey Car Week because it combines automobiles, aviation, technology and entertainment in a setting unlike a traditional car show.Hundreds of significant vehicles and aircraft are displayed along the runway, creating an atmosphere where rare classics can sit alongside exotic supercars and the latest automotive innovations. Motorlux has become more than just a preview of the week ahead. It is an experience that reflects the changing nature of Monterey Car Week, where automotive history and the future of the industry increasingly share the same stage.The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, remains one of the most exclusive and influential events of the week. Held on the manicured grounds of The Quail Lodge, the event brings together collectors, manufacturers, media and some of the world's most significant automobiles.For automakers, The Quail has become an important venue for unveiling new vehicles and concepts to a concentrated audience of enthusiasts and industry insiders. This year, BMW ALPINA, Gunther Werks, BRABUS, Lamborghini, Acura and Koenigsegg were among the brands drawing significant attention with elaborate displays and new vehicles.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Quail is also one of the most expensive events of Monterey Car Week, with admission exceeding $2,000, but the exclusivity is part of its appeal. For media, collectors and manufacturers, it remains one of the most productive environments of the week, offering access to major automotive news in a setting that is far more intimate than a traditional international auto show.For those who prefer the sound and smell of historic race cars to the polished lawns of a concours, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is difficult to beat.The event brings together classic racing machines, Le Mans legends, historic IMSA competitors and other significant race cars for a weekend of on-track competition. Unlike a static display, these cars are driven as they were intended, giving enthusiasts the opportunity to see, hear and experience automotive history in motion.Access to the paddock also allows visitors to get close to many of the cars and learn more about their histories. Owners, drivers and teams often share stories behind the vehicles, making the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion as much an educational experience as an entertainment event.AdvertisementAdvertisementOf course, Monterey Car Week would not be complete without the auctions, and 2026 produced numbers that rewrote the record books.Five major auction houses, Broad Arrow, RM Sotheby's, Mecum, Gooding Christie's and Bonhams, generated enormous attention across the peninsula. Combined sales reached an astonishing $755.6 million, setting a new Monterey record and surpassing the previous record of $471.2 million established in 2022.The headline number, however, tells only part of the story.The 2026 market demonstrated a growing divide between exceptional, historically important automobiles and more common collector cars. The very best vehicles, particularly those with rarity, competition history, originality or cultural significance, commanded extraordinary prices. At the same time, a number of more common collector vehicles from the 1950s and 1960s sold for less than some sellers may have expected.AdvertisementAdvertisementModern supercars were among the strongest performers, accounting for more than half of total auction sales. But historic American automobiles also produced some of the week's biggest headlines.A 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe sold for $42.9 million, establishing a record for an American automobile at auction. A 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport brought $18.7 million, setting a new record for a Corvette.The international market was equally strong at the top. A highly anticipated 1996 McLaren F1 GTR sold for $34.7 million, establishing a record for a British automobile sold at auction. Prewar automobiles also regained some momentum. A 1935 Duesenberg Model JN sold for $9.1 million, making it the third-highest price ever achieved for a Duesenberg.Those extraordinary sales helped push the overall total to record territory, but they also illustrated an important shift in the collector car market. Buyers continue to pay extraordinary amounts for the rarest and most desirable examples, while vehicles that are more readily available face a more selective marketplace.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe week concluded with the event many consider the ultimate stage for collector automobiles, the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.Celebrating its 75th anniversary, the 2026 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance brought together 218 exceptional automobiles representing some of the most important eras in automotive history. The event remains the pinnacle of concours competition, where provenance, originality, restoration quality and historical importance are judged at the highest level.This year's Best of Show winner was a true piece of Hollywood and automotive history. Harry Yeaggy's 1935 Duesenberg SSJ Special Speedster took the top honor. One of only two examples ever built, the spectacular automobile was originally owned by Hollywood legend Clark Gable. The competition was particularly strong. The other Best of Show nominees included a 1938 Delahaye 165 Figoni et Falaschi Cabriolet, a 1955 Ferrari 375 MM Pinin Farina Berlinetta and a 1954 Ferrari 375 America Vignale Cabriolet.Other notable winners included a 1935 Duesenberg J Rollston Convertible Coupe, a 1937 Talbot-Lago T150 C-SS Figoni et Falaschi Teardrop Coupé, a 1937 Bentley 4¼ Litre Vanden Plas Sports Tourer and a striking 1953 Fiat 8V Ghia Supersonic.AdvertisementAdvertisementPebble Beach remains an extraordinary display of automotive design, engineering and preservation. While the values of many of the vehicles are measured in millions of dollars, the significance of the event goes well beyond price. These automobiles represent decades of design innovation, racing history and craftsmanship that might otherwise disappear from public view.Monterey Car Week 2026 demonstrated that the passion for exceptional automobiles remains as strong as ever, even as the collector market becomes more selective. From the latest hypercars and concepts at The Quail to historic racing machines at Laguna Seca, record-breaking auction sales and the elegance of Pebble Beach, the week offered a complete picture of where automotive culture has been and where it may be headed.The record $755.6 million in auction sales will make headlines, but Monterey Car Week is about much more than money. It is one of the few places in the world where a century of automotive history can be experienced in just a few days, from prewar classics and legendary race cars to the newest generation of supercars and technology.That combination is what continues to make Monterey Car Week one of the most important automotive events in the world, and why enthusiasts from around the globe continue to make the journey to California every August.AdvertisementAdvertisement_______________Lauren Fix is an automotive expert and journalist covering industry trends, policy changes, and their impact on drivers nationwide. Follow her on X @LaurenFix for the latest car news and insights.© 2026 Newsmax Finance. All rights reserved.