Wilton House in Wiltshire to host exciting new Wilton Legends in June 2026

A brand-new concours is set to take the classic scene by storm this summer. The Wilton Legends will feature sensational cars and their owners, and uniquely will bring to life their stories over a weekend of festivities in a spectacular setting.

The event will take place on June 19-21, 2026 at Wilton House near Salisbury, UK, the home of petrolhead William Herbert, 18th Earl of Pembroke. The venue is already host to the Wilton Wake Up breakfast clubs, as well as previously holding the popular Wilton Classic & Supercar festivals.

It is these stories that give a car its true value, far beyond its material worth. Every dent and scratch tells a tale

It is these stories that give a car its true value, far beyond its material worth. Every dent and scratch tells a tale

Familiar to millions through The Crown, Bridgerton and much more, the Inigo Jones-designed Palladian mansion set in idyllic landscaped gardens will now host a very different type of event. Wilton Legends will not only showcase scores of exotic, rare and unique cars, but it will really focus on the rich history behind the cars and their owners. It will be all about their stories.

The Wilton Legends will have a main marquee hosting panels with authors, historians, owners, racers, artists and designers, along with smaller, more intimate stages for personal storytelling sessions and book signings, plus curated reader stories, presented by Hagerty.

Visitors can expect a stellar line-up of special guests, with the likes of Formula 1 star turned artist Stefan Johansson, designers Peter Stevens and Ken Okuyama, legendary test driver Valentino Balboni, Le Mans winner Richard Attwood plus a raft of other big names already expressing a desire to be there.

There will be narrated car displays as visitors go around the event, with guided tours by experts highlighting select cars. There will also be displays of F1 helmets, motoring art, an artisan and skills showcase plus a classic car, automobilia and watch auction run by celebrated sale house Dore & Rees, which has signed up as the official Wilton Legends auction partner.

Visitors will also have access to Wilton House, which houses a globally revered art collection including many old masters from the likes of Rembrandt and van Dyck, while the relaxed atmosphere of the event will be soundtracked by live music and there will be tea salons, local artisan vendors and themed treats inspired by different automotive eras.

Lord Pembroke, who has owned the likes of a Bugatti Veyron, a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing and a Low-Chassis Invicta (Octane 195), explained the event’s concept: “I love cars. Cars of all shapes and sizes, powers and eras. I love driving them, racing them and taking them on adventures; and the older the car, the more likely that every journey is an adventure.

“It is these stories that, for me, give a car its true value, far beyond its material worth. Every dent and scratch tells a tale. That is why we cherish patina, and why seeing great cars left in suspended animation in museums feels like a tragedy.

“I often feel the same about concours: rows of spectacular machines, often hugely valuable, admired for their beauty and rarity, but often with their history polished away.

“Their extraordinary lives are rarely to the fore, so I wanted to create an event that celebrates those stories. Tales of adventure from great pioneers, legendary race battles, entrepreneurs who built their own cars or even marques, and the engineers, craftsmen and designers who turned their visions into moving works of art.

“These are the stories we want to share, and the ones that truly bring the cars I love to life.”

His partner in the Wilton Legends will be Hothouse Media, which also runs Concours on Savile Row and the International Historic Motoring Awards, and publishes Octane, Magneto and The Concours Year.

Hothouse Media managing director Geoff Love said: “Wilton Legends will combine the elegance of a classic car show with the charm of a literature festival.

“So many events attract historic vehicles with amazing provenance or engineering, but visitors are often left knowing little of their histories.

“Wilton Legends will bring those stories to life through workshops, keynote speakers and an affectionate focus on every car.”

For details, see www.concoursdeslegendes.co.uk; suitable car owners and potential exhibitors should email info@concoursdeslegendes.co.uk.