This year, the Grand Meeting is celebrating its 20th anniversary - and the road to getting there has been anything but quiet. After an enthusiastic reception at Retro Classics in Essen, where the festival was presented to a broad specialist audience for the first time this year, its appearance at the Ultrace recently caused a stir - far beyond the classic car scene.
From July 31 to August 2, 2026, the Grand Meeting, formerly known as Classic Days, will open its doors near Düsseldorf for the twentieth time. Two decades of automotive garden parties, motorsport history and a vibrant lifestyle - with a program that will break all previous standards this year.
For the first time, the Grand Meeting presents the sons and daughters of the greats under the title "Next Generation" - and they are in no way inferior to their famous fathers. Freddie Hunt is on site in the 50th year after his father James Hunt's world championship title - and meets Jacky Ickx and his daughter Vanina, among others, at the Grand Meeting. An encounter with special historical appeal: Jacky Ickx drove for Ferrari in Formula 1 in 1976 - as one of James Hunt's fiercest opponents in that legendary World Championship duel. And the connection goes even deeper: the Belgian later sat behind the wheel of a Hesketh 308 C himself - the very chassis that James Hunt presented to the public together with Lord Alexander Hesketh at the launch of the 308 C on the Hesketh Racing estate in Easton Neston. The Stuck and Ludwig racing families are also expected to attend, as well as Eckard Schimpf and many others.
Two motorcycling legends who are coming to the Grand Meeting deserve special mention: Giacomo Agostini - the 15-time motorcycle world champion - and Gianfranco Bonera - both of whom made world championship history on two wheels, both of whom shaped the golden era of MV Agusta. In keeping with this, the Grand Meeting is delighted that the MV Agusta Club Deutschland e.V. has agreed to host a special exhibition and dynamic presentation of 25 historic racing motorcycles. Horst Lichter - a self-confessed car guy and motorcycle fan of the MV Agusta brand - will also be riding in the brand's special races on the weekend days. For the first time, younger motorcycles built after 1950 will also be officially represented at the Grand Meeting.
Further information can be found on the Grand Meeting website.
