RETRO CLASSICS® will celebrate its 25th anniversary from 19 to 22 February 2026 and is deliberately placing strong emphasis on content for the anniversary. The focus will be on extraordinary special shows, brand-defining milestones and moving personalities from automotive and motorsport history. The anniversary edition combines technology, history and emotion, allowing visitors to experience driving culture in all its depth.
The large special exhibition ‘Hans im Glück – HH 97’, located in the central atrium at the east entrance, forms the emotional core of the fair. The exhibition pays tribute to the life’s work of Hans Herrmann, one of the most important German racing drivers of the post-war period, who died on 9 January 2026 at the age of 97. Hans Herrmann raced against legends such as Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss, repeatedly pushing the boundaries between talent and driving physics, and influenced an entire generation of motorsport enthusiasts. His greatest triumph came in 1970 with overall victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a Porsche 917.
With the support of the Mercedes-Benz and Porsche museums, the most important exhibits from his racing career are on display in a 650-square-metre space. Curated and organised by his biographer Tobias Aichele, the exhibition invites visitors to take another in-depth look at an icon of international motorsport and bid him farewell.
Motor racing history on two wheels takes centre stage in Hall 5. The Allgemeine Motorradsport-Club Leonberg e.V. (AMSC) is presenting a special exhibition entitled ‘Racing motorcycles of the Solitude era’, which is dedicated to one of the most traditional chapters in southern German motor racing history.
Around 40 historic racing motorcycles will be on display, offering a unique cross-section of more than a century of racing history. From the early hill climbs at the beginning of the 20th century to the Grand Prix era of the 1960s and modern cult events such as Glemseck 101, the technical and sporting development of motorcycle racing is impressively documented. The track-like presentation and a specially designed pit lane allow visitors to experience the dynamics of the Solitude race track in a spatial way.
Another highlight of the anniversary edition is the grand appearance of the BMW Classic & Type Clubs in Hall 7. Several important anniversaries in the brand’s history will be celebrated there in their own presentation areas. The focus will be on 40 years of the BMW M3, 50 years of the BMW 6 Series, 60 years of the BMW 02 and 110 years of BMW. The presentation will be complemented by the 25th anniversary of the BMW Mini Club with classic Mini vehicles. Selected rarities from the BMW Collection, the well-known BMW Classic Truck with exclusive exhibits, and contributions from BMW Classic Parts Service and the BMW Museum and Archive with special engine exhibits will make the area a meeting place for brand enthusiasts.
In Hall 10, Automobil-Park Auwärter is dedicated to the world of historic commercial vehicles. The exhibition shows rare coaches, lorries and tractors from around 70 years of commercial vehicle history and illustrates the development of commercial transport. Special attention is paid to the Mercedes O 319 and other historic vintage buses and lorry exhibits.
Edited and translated press release
Pictures courtesy Laurent Missbauer, Tim Havermans
