Veterama Mannheim will take place for the 51st time in 2026: from Friday, October 9, through Sunday, October 11, as usual at the Maimarktgelände on Xaver-Fuhr-Strasse in Mannheim. Following last year’s 50th edition, the organizer is foregoing major changes and focusing on what has sustained the event for decades: space, selection, and audience.
Sometimes, happiness can be found in an old box
The focus is on parts and vehicles. On offer are replacement parts and accessories for cars and motorcycles, restoration projects, tools, technical literature, and automobilia. The organizer reports that there will be around 4,000 exhibitors in Mannheim. According to the press release, approximately 260,000 square meters of outdoor space and 15,000 square meters of indoor space are available.
This means that Veterama remains what it is for many restorers: the most realistic chance to find a part that no longer appears in any online catalog. Those arriving with a specific list would be wise to plan for Friday. Although admission is higher on setup day, all the merchandise is still fully displayed on the tables. Prices are still negotiated at the booth.
A new musical program has been announced: a band is scheduled to play starting at 6 p.m. The organizer has not yet specified the date in the announcement.
Where Generations Come Together
The event’s history dates back to 1975. At that time, collectors Winfried A. Seidel and Walter Metz founded a parts market on the old Maimarkt grounds, which was initially known as “Mannheimer Fugger.” Following an objection from the Fugger family, the name “Veterama”—short for “Veteranen-Markt-Mannheim”—was agreed upon. The inaugural event drew around 30 dealers with folding tables and approximately 1,500 visitors.
In 1985, the event moved to its current location, the 260,000-square-meter Maimarkt grounds. In the 1980s and 1990s, additional dates were added, including a spring edition in Ludwigshafen starting in 1983, which took place for the last time in 2012. Since 2013, the spring event has been held at the Hockenheimring, featuring approximately 2,500 exhibitors across 120,000 square meters. Mannheim has always remained the larger of the two events.
Dates: October 9–11, 2026
Venue: Maimarktgelände Mannheim, Xaver-Fuhr-Straße—260,000 square meters of outdoor space, 15,000 square meters of indoor space
Admission on Friday: 30 euros (setup day)
Admission Friday through Sunday: 40 euros
Admission Saturday/Sunday: 15 euros
Contact: +49 6203 13507, [email protected]
You can find more information here on the website
