Rare and Historic: Excitement in the Eternal City as Anantara Concorso Roma Sees World’s Finest Italian Cars Return Home
Over 70 of the world’s rarest historic Italian cars were brought together in Rome to celebrate La Dolce Vita delle Automobili.
Visitors were treated to a sensational curated display of coachbuilt cars from the 1920s to the present day, in 16 classes—while enjoying the best of Roman hospitality at historic locations across Rome.
The Concorso was hosted by Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome Hotel, organized by Anantara Hotels & Resorts, and presented by UBS.
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Anantara Concorso Roma 2026 – Class I: Pre-War Zagato winner, the 1932 Maserati V4 Sport Zagato, pictured during the award ceremony.
April 21, 2026: The inaugural Anantara Concorso Roma, presented by UBS, took place over the weekend, bringing together over 70 historic Italian cars in the heart of Rome for a weekend of competition and celebration. In the spirit of La Dolce Vita della Automobili, owners, guests, and visitors enjoyed a stunning combination of Roman hospitality and the nation’s finest cars, all set against the historic backdrop of the Eternal City.
On Sunday, the 1932 Maserati V4 Sport Zagato was crowned Best of Show. Known as the “Sedici Cilindri,” this Maserati features a 4-liter, 16-cylinder engine, and in September 1929, the car set a world speed record over 6.2 miles. The car returned to Rome this weekend for Anantara Concorso Roma for the first time in 90 years.
The first Concorso d’Eleganza in Rome in 60 years, Anantara Concorso Roma turned the city into a curated open-air experience. The show field glistened with immaculate examples of historic cars from Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, and many more. Judging took place on Saturday, with the awards presentation held on Sunday afternoon.
The event intertwined the highly competitive Concorso with Italian food, luxury lifestyle experiences, and the exploration of Rome’s marvelous sights. Guests stayed at Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome Hotel, while the show field was held at Casina Valadier and Piazza Bucarest in Villa Borghese, overlooking the city.
Over the weekend, many locals and tourists took advantage of this unique opportunity, securing day passes to see some of the world’s rarest and most interesting Italian cars. Anantara Concorso Roma has become an instant success and a world-class automotive event, thanks to the leadership of Jeremy Jackson-Sytner, the oversight of Chief Judge Adolfo Orsi, and the dedicated hospitality and expertise of the team at Anantara Hotels & Resorts.
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Partners and Supporters for 2026
Anantara Concorso Roma was organized by Anantara Hotels & Resorts and presented by UBS. It was hosted by Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome Hotel and supported by event partners Richard Mille and Lockton Wattana. It also received support from partners: Maserati, Schedoni Modena, RM Sotheby's, American Express, Gulfstream, Sanlorenzo, Globeair, Tenute Lunelli, Whispering Angel, Veuve Clicquot, Lavazza, Acqua di Parma, Technogym, Renauld, CARS, Octane, Cover Car, Ripense, Antica Manifattura Cappelli, La Dolce Vita, FICOFI, Automobile Club D'Italia, ASI, Comune di Roma, and ACLI.
William E. Heinecke, Founder & Chairman of Minor International, parent company of Anantara, and a long-time classic car collector and enthusiast, commented: “This weekend’s inaugural Anantara Concorso Roma has exceeded what I ever could have imagined for our launch event. We were able to curate a quite remarkable collection of historic Italian cars, we had the support of incredible partners, and the event had the perfect backdrop of the Eternal City, combined with blue skies every day—it was truly exceptional.”
Benjamin Cavalli, Head of Strategic Clients & Global Connectivity, UBS Global Wealth Management, and Co‑Head EMEA OneUBS, commented: “UBS is proud to sponsor the inaugural Anantara Concorso Roma, an event that captures the essence of La Dolce Vita delle Automobili at its very finest. In close partnership with the exceptional team at Anantara Hotels & Resorts, and alongside a select group of distinguished partners, we helped bring to life an unforgettable celebration dedicated to automotive heritage and craftsmanship. The event marked a remarkable weekend in Rome, recognizing not only the enduring artistry and legacy of Italian automobiles, but also the value of collaboration in creating an experience truly unlike any other.”
Alessandro Onorato, Councillor for Sport, Tourism, Fashion, and Major Events of Rome Capital, commented: “This event is not just about luxury; it is a celebration of the Italian lifestyle admired around the world, and a concrete example of how major international events can create real, lasting benefits for our communities. Through initiatives like this, Rome is strengthening its global image as an open, dynamic city that embraces development, investment, and social responsibility.”
Minor Hotels is a global leader in the hospitality industry with more than 640 hotels, resorts and branded residences in operation and committed development across 63 countries. The group crafts innovative and insightful experiences through its hotel brands including Anantara, Elewana Collection, The Wolseley Hotels, Tivoli, Minor Reserve Collection, NH Collection, nhow, Avani, Colbert Collection, NH, Oaks, and iStay, as well as a diverse portfolio of restaurants and bars, travel experiences, and spa and wellness brands. With over four decades of expertise, Minor Hotels builds stronger brands, fosters lasting partnerships, and drives business success by always focusing on what matters most to our guests, team members and partners.
Minor Hotels is a proud member of the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) and recognizes its guests through one unified loyalty program, Minor DISCOVERY, part of GHA DISCOVERY.
Discover Anantara Concorso Roma 2026, Rome’s premier Italian classic car show, featuring 70 rare vehicles, expert judges, and exclusive event partners.
