It’s official, folks: the Brussels Motor Show is roaring back in January 2026, and it’s gearing up to be one hell of a spectacle. While the world slowly waves goodbye to rumbling combustion engines and dives headfirst into whisper-quiet electric buggies, FEBIAC – the Belgian car federation with a name that sounds like an obscure Eastern European marque – is giving us one more reason to leap out of our armchairs. From January 9 to 18, 2026, Brussels Expo will once again be packed with gleaming machines, testosterone, and probably overpriced ham-and-cheese sandwiches. And honestly? I’m already revving with excitement.
Let’s rewind a bit. Early 2025 saw the Motor Show pull off an unexpected triumph, with over 307,000 visitors drooling over a record number of brands. That’s no small feat in an era where car shows worldwide are dropping faster than a V12 at an eco-conference. But FEBIAC clearly has guts of steel – or at least a well-stocked calendar – because they’ve already greenlit the 102nd edition. Chairman Freddy De Mulder, a bloke who sounds like he fixes tractors in his spare time, said they’re “delighted.” And why wouldn’t they be? In an industry facing more hurdles than a Lada in the Dakar Rally, this is a chance to prove that cars can still set pulses racing.
The 2026 Motor Show will once again descend on the Heizel Palaces, those concrete cathedrals of automotive glory where you can unleash your inner child without anyone batting an eye. What’s on the menu? A overdose of horsepower, shiny rims, and probably a few stands trying to convince you that an electric van “can be sexy too.” FEBIAC promises a stage for the whole industry: from policymakers frowning over CO2 stats to the general public just wanting to sniff the new-car smell of an SUV. Oh, and the press will be there too, ready to dissect every detail like it’s a crime scene.
Details on themes and concepts are still thin on the ground – a bit like petrol at a dystopian fuel stop. But De Mulder hinted that the team will be working their socks off in the coming months to make it something massive. So don’t expect a half-baked show with three cars and a broken coffee machine. This will be a proper car bash, with all the trimmings: roaring engines, hybrids whispering about saving the planet, and maybe even a few motorbikes thrown in so the two-wheel crowd has something to drool over.
What makes this Motor Show special is that it’s become a rare beast. While Paris and Munich watch their shows shrink into pitiful shadows of their former selves, Brussels stubbornly soldiers on. It’s as if the Belgians said, “Give us chips, beer, and cars, and we’ll sort the rest.” And frankly, I salute that. In a time when the car industry is grappling with electrification, chip shortages, and regulations stricter than a nun’s rulebook, the Motor Show is a middle finger to the naysayers. It proves we’re still head over heels for four wheels and a steering wheel, whether they run on petrol, diesel, or batteries.
So, slap those dates in your diary: January 9 to 18, 2026. Dig out your best jeans, polish your shoes (or don’t, no one’s checking), and get ready to gawp at everything shiny, fast, and loud. Because let’s face it: a motor show isn’t some hushed museum where you tiptoe past paintings. It’s a circus, a playground, a place where you can dream of that one car you’ll never buy because your mortgage says no. But dreaming’s free, and in Brussels, they do it with style.
For those already hunting for their next ride – or just something to show off in the driveway – swing by our marketplace. At https://volty.be/nl/buy/cars/overview/, you’ll find a slew of cars to browse and buy. Who knows, you might snag something to flaunt on your way to the 2026 Motor Show!
