73rd Meguiar’s Detroit Autorama coming to Huntington Place

Since 1953, Detroit Autorama has been a full-throttle experience that feels like stepping into a world of imagination, featuring cars that are transformed from machines into a rolling piece of art, that are shaped by vision, patience, and passion.

This is the premier event showcasing the craftsmanship performed on vehicles with classic bodies that are reimagined, engines that become sculptures, and interiors that are all custom designed to bring together nostalgia and innovations with more dramatic and deliberate details than anything you will ever see on the street.

The 2026 Detroit Autorama is set for Feb. 27 through March 1 at Huntington Place in downtown Detroit.

This event truly has something for everyone: from the most devout gear heads to those looking to see displays of cars and celebrate the emotion and creativity that these custom car builders have crafted into creating something that you could never imagine seeing come to life.

Huge display of spectacular cars

Spanning nearly one million square feet, the show takes over every inch of Huntington Place.

More than 800 spectacular works of art create an immersive experience that blends the most revered one-of-a-kind custom hot rods, trucks, modern and muscle cars, and motorcycles with activities of all interests like: Celebrity appearances, live music and entertainment, movie vehicles, Toy-A-Rama featuring nostalgic toys, Miss Autorama pin-up contest, and the Maven’s Pinstriper Panel Jam with exclusive one-of-a-kind auction items that benefit The Leader Dogs for the Blind, and much more.

The Detroit Autorama is the only event in the world that is home to the two most coveted honors in custom car building, the BASF Great 8 and The Meguiar’s Ridler Award. The mystique of the competition for this award is world renowned because the vehicles built to compete for the Ridler award must be shown for the first time ever at the Detroit Autorama.

Any photos or physical viewing of the vehicle will disqualify the vehicle for this competition. This rule creates unmatched intensity and excitement. These eight vehicles, collectively known as the BASF Great 8, are widely regarded as the best-built custom cars in the world for that year. Earning a Great 8 designation alone is considered a career-defining achievement for builders and owners alike.

Times of award announcements

The 2026 BASF Great 8 winners are announced on Friday, Feb. 27 at 10 a.m. prior to public opening and The 2026 Ridler Award winner is announced on Sunday afternoon, March 1, in front of a global audience of fans, builders, and industry leaders.

Another prestigious award giving at Detroit Autorama is The Preservation Award, which recognizes historically significant vehicles that have been carefully maintained to their integrity, showcasing materials and finishes that are authentic to its era and all come together with the vehicle’s story of ownership history, and originality.

The 2026 Preservation Award recipient at this year’s Detroit Autorama is Len Palmeri of Lenox Township, with his hand-built 1929 Mercedes built on a 1956 Chevrolet Frame, named “Andare”.

Len started building the car in 1968 at the age of 18, in his home garage in East Detroit alongside of his father, Tony Palmeri. On the back of the classic cruiser it reads: “In memory of Tony and Jean”, for both of his parents who he credits as being a big part of the car creation.

Additional honorable and prestigious awards given out throughout the weekend include: the Traditional Rod Pick Awards, The Liqui Moly Master Builder Award, The Autorama Extreme Celebrity Pick, the CASI (Championship Auto Shows Inc.) Cup, and The Circle of Champions 2026 inductees, which include Tom Bresnahan (2025 Ridler Award Winner), Peter Toundas (CASI Owner) and Butch Patrico (former Michigan Hot Rod Association President).