Zoute GP Car Week 2026: A preview
From 7 to 11 October 2026, Knokke-Heist will once again become a magnet for collectors, enthusiasts and lovers of automotive design as the Zoute Grand Prix Car Week returns for five days of classic cars, contemporary performance, art and lifestyle. This year’s edition promises to be broader in scope than ever, extending beyond the familiar streets of Het Zoute to bring more of the Belgian seaside resort into the celebration.
The expansion is one of the defining themes of 2026. The event will be organised around four complementary zones, linking the Zoute Grand Prix Gallery by EY at Albertplein and the Green Grounds with new locations around the Grand Casino and in Heist. The Car Boulevard will provide a visual and experiential connection between Albertplein and the casino, creating a more continuous route through the event.
For enthusiasts of historic machinery, the Zoute Iconic Rally opens proceedings on Wednesday 7 October. Dedicated to iconic cars from 1976 to 2005, the one-day rally combines carefully selected roads through Flanders with precision challenges and culinary stops before returning to Knokke-Heist. It sets an appropriate tone for a week built around the idea that great cars should be admired, but also driven.
The flagship Zoute Rally follows from 8 to 10 October, bringing classic cars and their crews together for a more traditional rally experience. Regularity tests, scenic routes, gastronomic stops and an overnight stay at Destination X form part of the programme, culminating in a return to Knokke-Heist for the prize-giving and gala dinner.
There is also a distinctly modern side to the 2026 programme. The Zoute GT Tour by Curbstone, running 10–11 October, is aimed at modern and youngtimer GTs, with participants able to choose between a one-day Sunday experience and a full weekend format. Winding roads, speed tests, curated stops and a parade and finish on the Knokke-Heist dyke give the tour a more performance-oriented character.
Perhaps the most intriguing newcomer is the Zoute 4×4 Rally by Gommaire on Saturday 10 October. Designed around Flanders’ fields and Dutch polders, it introduces an element of adventure to the otherwise polished Car Week formula. Precision challenges and culinary stops are combined with an off-road experience, while the new 4×4 Village on Heist beach will showcase premium off-road models.
Away from the rallies, the Zoute Concours d’Elegance remains a key attraction, while the Marquee beside the Grand Casino will place modern luxury cars and automotive innovation in the spotlight. Together with auctions, exhibitions and the broader lifestyle programme, these elements reinforce the event’s evolution from a classic-car rally into a fully fledged automotive festival.
For five days in October, therefore, Knokke-Heist will offer a particularly compelling combination: exceptional cars in exceptional surroundings, serious motoring alongside relaxed seaside glamour, and a meeting point between automotive heritage and the future of performance and luxury. The 2026 Zoute Grand Prix looks set to make the entire town its stage.
Broad Arrow Auctions
A major highlight of this year’s Zoute Grand Prix Car Week will be the return of Broad Arrow Auctions to Knokke-Heist. On Friday 9 October, the Hagerty-owned auction house will stage its Zoute Concours Auction at the Approach Golf, just a short distance from the beach. Around 70 exceptional collector cars are expected to cross the block, spanning a broad mix of marques, eras and price points. The sale follows the success of Broad Arrow’s inaugural Zoute auction in 2025, which generated €26.3 million in sales with 78% of lots sold. With viewing open from Wednesday, the auction is set to be another major gathering point for international collectors.
More information at www.zoutegrandprix.be
Pictures ©Tim Havermans
