The Amelia will kick-off concours season on 5-8 March 2026, for another glamorous four-day weekend of rare and historically significant classic cars at the Ritz-Carlton in Amelia Island, and quadruple IndyCar Champion and three-time Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti will feature as the honoree.
Best known for his open-wheel racing exploits, Franchitti also won the Daytona 24 Hours in 2008 and currently serves as director of brand and product for Gordon Murray Automotive. By being selected as an Amelia honoree, the Scottish driver joins an illustrious list of past recipients, including the likes of Dan Gurney, Hurley Haywood, Stirling Moss, Brian Redman, Richard Petty and Jackie Ickx.
‘I’ve been coming to The Amelia for many years, not just to admire the incredible cars, but also to celebrate those who’ve been honoured before me,’ Dario said. ‘My love for all things automotive continues to grow every day, and I’m thrilled to share that passion with thousands of fellow enthusiasts in March.’
First held in 1996, The Amelia is a mainstay of the international concours calendar. The event has grown significantly since being acquired by Hagerty in 2021 – and more changes are on the way for 2026. For the first time in the event’s history, The Amelia Concours d’Elegance contest will be staged on Saturday 7 March, with 250 vehicles across 30 classes vying for the coveted Best of Show title.
Classes confirmed so far include Porsche Aluminum-Bodied Racers, Can-Am Racers and Corvette Factory L88. The Dallara DW12 Franchitti piloted to Indy 500 glory in 2012 will appear in the Cars of the Honoree class.
The Concours d’Elegance will take place alongside the RADwood celebration of ‘80s and ‘90s cars and culture, while the expanded Cars & Community show will take place on Sunday 8 March.
Complementing the concours is Broad Arrow Auctions’ annual Amelia sale. At this year’s edition, the Hagerty-owned auction house achieved $61.7m in total sales, $9.5m of which came from a 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spyder Competizione.
Further concours classes will be confirmed later this year. For tickets and more information, click here.
