The fifth edition of Festival Car, held on 26 and 27 September between the grounds of Castello Cavour in Santena and Revigliasco Torinese, further consolidated its position on the international calendar of events dedicated to historic and collector cars. The 2026 Concorso d’Eleganza Festival Car is officially included in the FIVA calendar as a FIVA Premier Event, within the Touring and Concours categories. 

This recognition reflects a shared vision: to regard the historic automobile not simply as a collector’s item, but as a testament to design, technological evolution, culture and society – a heritage to be preserved and kept alive. 

FIVA operates internationally with the aim of protecting, preserving and promoting the world’s motoring heritage, supporting both the conservation and responsible use of historic vehicles. This approach naturally aligns with the philosophy of Festival Car, which combines the outstanding quality of its selected vehicles with a broader narrative encompassing automotive culture, local heritage and the expertise that has shaped its history. 

This shared commitment was highlighted by Antonio Durso, FIVA Commissioner: 

“Festival Car’s fifth edition successfully brought together the preservation of automotive heritage – a cornerstone of FIVA’s mission – with the promotion of the local area. My heartfelt thanks go to its creator Federico Ferrero, to the organising team, who managed every detail with remarkable expertise, and to all the institutional representatives in attendance, whose support helped make an event of this calibre possible.” 

His words capture one of the event’s defining characteristics: transforming automotive heritage into an experience that is accessible to the public, connecting the cars with the places and the history they represent. 

“Being included in the official calendar as a FIVA Premier Event is a milestone that fills us with pride and confirms the quality of the work we have carried out,” said Federico Ferrero, creator of Festival  

Car and Chairman of the Jury. “We share a very clear vision with FIVA: a historic automobile should not be confined to being a purely static display piece, but should be regarded as a living cultural heritage capable of engaging with places and people. The extraordinary public response to this fifth edition, between Castello Cavour in Santena and the village of Revigliasco Torinese, demonstrates that the spirit of our format works: combining the rigour of historical preservation with the emotion of motoring passion, making automotive history accessible, shared and vibrant for every generation.” 

Over the course of the weekend, Festival Car welcomed more than 10,000 enthusiasts and brought together approximately 95 automobiles, taking visitors on a journey through different eras of automotive history. The 2026 edition also celebrated a number of major anniversaries, including 120 years of Lancia, 90 years of the FIAT Topolino, 60 years of the Alfa Romeo Spider and 100 years of the Maserati Trident.

The relationship with FIVA found one of its most significant expressions during the awards ceremony on Sunday, 27 September, with the presentation of the FIVA Award, dedicated to vehicles holding FIVA certification. 

The award went to the FIAT 1100 Sport Mille Miglia, one of the undisputed highlights of the 2026 edition and also winner of the Best of Show “The Ascent”. The International Jury recognised the car for its historical significance, its connection with a distinguished sporting tradition and its exceptional state of preservation. 

The double accolade therefore carries a significance extending beyond the competition itself: the same car that received the Jury’s highest honour was also selected for the FIVA Award, presented from among the vehicles holding FIVA certification. 

FIVA certification was established precisely to provide independent documentation of the characteristics, history, authenticity and state of preservation of historic vehicles. The FIVA Identity Card is issued following a physical inspection of the vehicle in accordance with the criteria set out in the Federation’s Technical Code, contributing to the knowledge, documentation and safeguarding of international automotive heritage. 

From this perspective, Festival Car provides a setting in which preservation, culture and the enjoyment of automotive heritage can coexist. The cars move beyond the purely static exhibition dimension to become a living heritage once again, as demonstrated by the Tour d’Elegance, which on Sunday travelled through the local area, connecting Santena and Revigliasco Torinese in front of the public. 

The relationship with FIVA is therefore an integral part of Festival Car’s international growth and of the event’s ambition to contribute to safeguarding an automotive culture rooted in the industrial, creative and social history of the region, while recognising international exchange as one of the key means through which this heritage can be promoted and enhanced.