Concurso de Elegancia Costa del Sol Aims to Carve Its Place Among the Greats
Pebble Beach is the standard-bearer, Villa d’Este the definition of tradition. Now Marbella wants in on the game, bringing Spanish coastal glamour and a backdrop of luxury villas to the concours circuit with the Concurso de Elegancia Costa del Sol.
From October 2–4, more than 150 supercars and hypercars are set to gather on the Costa del Sol, with organisers positioning the event as a Mediterranean counterpart to the likes of Pebble Beach and Amelia Island. First launched in 2017, the concours has been given new impetus under the stewardship of Franziska and Gregor Piëch, scions of the Porsche dynasty, who now lead the organising team.
Participation is anything but open. Only hand-picked entries that pass a rigorous application process will make the cut, with the focus squarely on historically significant supercars and ultra-limited-production hypercars. The judging criteria are familiar—design, engineering, rarity and, though left unspoken, stratospheric value.
The three-day programme centres on Marbella Magna Golf, where the opening day assembles owners, collectors and connoisseurs of high-end motoring and lifestyle. The following days bring a blend of scenic coastal drives, a private track session at the Ascari circuit and a gala dinner that combines prize-giving with charitable fundraising.
In its messaging, the event leans heavily on “maximum exclusivity” and “unique experiences”—in other words, a playground for the inner circle. Marbella, Mijas and Málaga authorities provide the civic seal of approval, but the format is unmistakably crafted for an international elite eager to showcase the treasures of their garages against a suitably opulent backdrop.
Photos from the 2024 edition underscore the ambition: a concours determined not just to borrow prestige but to create a stage of its own.
