Techno Classica (formerly Techno Classica Essen)
Techno Classica (formerly Techno Classica Essen) takes place Sep 24 - 27, 2026 in Dortmund, Germany. The dress code is Casual - it is an indoor trade fair, and comfortable shoes matter more than anything else. Typical cost ranges from 150 to 500 EUR per person.
One of the largest indoor classic car events anywhere, filling exhibition halls with thousands of vehicles, factory heritage collections, parts specialists and dealer stock. It functions as much as a European marketplace as a show, and prices set here ripple through the season. From 2026 it has moved from its long-standing Essen home to Messe Dortmund under the Techno Classica Salon name.
- When
- Sep 24 - 27, 2026
- Where
- Dortmund, Germany
- Dress code
- Casual - it is an indoor trade fair, and comfortable shoes matter more than anything else
- Cost
- Typical cost ranges from 150 to 500 EUR per person.
- Weather
- 10 - 18C outside; the halls are indoor and heated
- When to book
- Buy online for a small saving; Dortmund hotels need roughly two months' notice, and the Ruhr rail network makes staying in Essen or Bochum easy
- Getting there
- DTM (Dortmund), 20 min to Messe Dortmund; DUS (Dusseldorf) is 1 hr by train
- Where to stay
- L'Arrivee Hotel & Spa, Dortmund, Radisson Blu Hotel, Dortmund, Hotel Esplanade, Dortmund
- Official site
- https://technoclassica.de/en
How to attend
Standard day tickets are sold online through technoclassica.de or at the door, in the region of EUR 25 to 35. It is open to the public with no accreditation required. The venue is Messe Dortmund, well served by rail and U-Bahn - note the change of city, since a great deal of older information still points to Essen.
Insider tip
Dealer halls open first and the serious buying is done before lunch on the opening day - come Thursday morning if you are actually in the market, and save Saturday for the manufacturer heritage displays if you are just looking.
Get inside Techno Classica (formerly Techno Classica Essen)
Booking matters here: buy online for a small saving; Dortmund hotels need roughly two months' notice, and the Ruhr rail network makes staying in Essen or Bochum easy. Members track that window, what it really costs, and 573 more events across the season.
Free while in beta. One email when your invitation is ready, nothing else.