Photos provided by Cobble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
Presented in partnership with Cobble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

In conversation with Robert McLeese, the founder and Chair of the Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

1. What exactly is the Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance?

The Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance is a show of elegant and rarely seen automobiles, often viewed as art. It is a three-day motoring festival held the 2nd weekend after Labor Day (September 18–20, 2026), culminating in the Concours d’Elegance on Sunday. Where some of the finest and rarest automobiles from Canada, the United States and beyond are displayed and judged on the 18th fairway of Cobble Beach Golf Resort overlooking Georgian Bay. The weekend combines exceptional cars with tours, community events, automotive seminars and social experiences.

2. What inspired it?

The original inspiration came from Willis McLeese and his son Robert McLeese (Founder and Chair of the Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance), who envisioned a procession of spectacular antique and classic automobiles travelling down Cobble Beach Drive toward the Clubhouse. That vision began in the late 1990s and eventually became reality in 2013 with the inaugural Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

3. What can guests expect this year?

This year is our 12th anniversary, and guests can expect a full weekend of automotive experiences. The festivities begin with the Tour d’Elegance through Grey Bruce starting on Friday at 10:30pm. Followed on Saturday by Cars & Coffee presented by Brackett Auto Group in downtown Owen Sound, OBLIVION AVENUE presented by Hagerty and OBLIVION Car and Culture Show, Automotive Seminars; featuring legendary Automotive Designer Peter Brock, at the Roxy Theatre and other community activities. Sunday is the main event, with the Concours d’Elegance show featuring extraordinary & rarely seen automobiles, judging, opening ceremonies and the awards presentation. The Concours d’Elegance show includes over 120 vehicles spanning over 14 decades that will fill the 18 judged classes and 4 display classes

4. How many cars will there be this year?

We expect approximately 120 exceptional automobiles on the Concours show field this year, representing more than a century of automotive history. The 2026 classes range from Brass Era and Full Classic automobiles, vary rare Mercedes-Benz, Pininfarina-designed cars, American performance cars, traditional hot rods and customs, Japanese sports cars and modern supercars.

5. What else is there to do in the area?

Grey Bruce is an incredible destination in its own right. Visitors can enjoy the shores of Georgian Bay, downtown Owen Sound, including the famous Tom Thomson Art Gallery, local restaurants and shops, scenic drives, hiking and waterfalls, as well as the Bruce Peninsula and nearby communities. The Concours weekend is a great opportunity to turn a day at the show into a full weekend getaway and explore everything the region has to offer. To plan your visit please visit https://visitgrey.ca/

6. Is there food/drink provided?

There are a variety of food and beverage options available for purchase throughout the weekend and on the Concours grounds. Grey Country has diverse restaurants, wineries, breweries, and cideries that guests can enjoy. The Concours d’Elegance show has some of the best food trucks for guests to grab a bite. Guests are welcome to pack a picnic lunch. General admission guests often make a day of it and enjoy the beautiful setting, while VIP guests receive an elevated experience that includes additional food and beverage offerings and exclusive amenities. The weekend also includes social events such as the Afterglow Cocktail Reception presented by Jablonsky, Ast and Partners following the Concours.

7. Which cars will be featured?

Note: Concours cars can only apply once every 4 years but will not necessarily be accepted.

1898 Beeston Quadricycle.
1906 Russel Model B (built in Leaside Ontario.)
1930 Rolls-Royce Phantom 1 Transformable Phaeton by Hibbard & Darrin (gold leaf paint owned by Marlene Dietrich.
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Sport Cabriolet by Erdmann & Rossi (MB 1937 Berlin Auto Show display car. 1st time shown in North America.)
1938 Delahaye 135 MS Teardrop Coupe (2018 Best in Show winner at Cobble Beach Concours)
1956 Monarch Richelieu Convertible
1958 Pontiac Bonneville

2025 Mercedes-AMG GT 63 APXGP (F1 movie inspired of 52 built.)

8. How has Concours d’Elegance brought the local community together?

Community has always been a major part of the McLeese vision. While the Concours d’Elegance brings world-class automobiles and visitors to the region, the event extends well beyond the Cobble Beach Resort property through activities in Owen Sound and Grey Bruce, local businesses, volunteers, sponsors and community partners. Most importantly, the event has raised more than $1.46 million to date in support of the Brightshores Health System Owen Sound and Sunnybrook Foundations. It has become an event that gives the community something to be proud of while also creating a meaningful charitable impact.

9. How has the show evolved since its inception?

The event has grown tremendously since the first Concours d’Elegance show in 2013. What began as a prestigious one-day celebration of collector automobiles has evolved into a full three-day Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival. We have expanded the types of vehicles and classes represented, introduced tours and seminars, brought automotive events into downtown Owen Sound, and continued to attract increasingly significant and rare automobiles from major private and institutional collections from around North America.

At the same time, we have worked to make the event appeal to more than just the traditional collector-car enthusiast. Today, Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival is about automotive history, design, innovation, education, tourism and community. The cars remain at the heart of the event, but the attendees and experience surrounding them have become much bigger.