Biggest Car Shows in New Zealand in 2027
New Zealand's big car events cluster in the summer and early autumn, from January to April, and many of them are festivals that take over a whole town. This guide covers the main shows for 2027, says what kind of event each is, and is clear about which dates are confirmed and which are not.
The year opens with the Kumeu Classic Car and Hot Rod Festival at Kumeu Showgrounds in West Auckland. The organisers list 15 to 17 January 2027, with Friday from 1pm to 7pm, Saturday from 7am to 6pm and Sunday from 8am to 1pm. They describe it as a family-owned festival for the classic car and hot rod community, with indoor and outdoor displays, trade stands, swap sites, live bands and a food hall.
The Ellerslie Car Show and Concours d'Elegance follows on Sunday 14 February 2027 at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland. It is billed as New Zealand's premier classic car show since 1972, with judging by the Intermarque Concours d'Elegance and about 80 car clubs in the club displays. The 2027 theme is World of Motorsport. Judging starts at 10am and prizegiving runs from 2pm.
Americarna is a celebration of American car culture across Taranaki. The 2027 event is listed for 23 to 27 February, with registration on the Tuesday and the main activities from Wednesday 24 to Saturday 27. It has run since 2007 and welcomes classic, vintage and modern cars, pickups, hot rods and American-themed motorcycles. The programme includes organised cruises and a closed-off New Plymouth city centre for entrants and public viewing.
In March, the Repco Beach Hop takes over Whangamata on the Coromandel. It is a rock and roll festival that has run since 2000, with car and motorcycle shows, live bands, dancing and a parade. The organisers list 17 to 21 March 2027, with passes on sale and hop spots in Waihi, Pauanui and Onemana before the weekend in Whangamata. Straight after, the NZHRA Street Rod Nationals are listed for 26 to 29 March 2027, hosted by the Te Awamutu Rod and Custom Club in Te Awamutu. The association also lists the Kruzin Kustoms Pre-49 Nationals at Whitianga running straight after them; the dates on that listing are ambiguous, so check with the host club before planning.
Some events had no 2027 dates at time of writing. CHROME, the NZ Horsepower Festival at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park in the Waikato, ran from 31 July to 2 August in 2026. It is open to any vehicle and combines show and shine with burnouts, drifting and drag racing, with speed sessions by invitation. The Leadfoot Festival is an annual hill climb and motorsport festival at Leadfoot Ranch in Hahei, hosted by Rod Millen, but its site lists no current dates. And a note for readers who remember it: Wheels at Wanaka was held for the fourth and final time at Easter 2025, so it will not return.
Planning tips. Most of the best events are in a tight window between mid-January and the end of March, so you can see several in one trip, since Auckland, Taranaki, the Coromandel and Te Awamutu are all in the North Island. Book accommodation early for festival weeks. If you plan to enter a car, check each event's entry deadline and eligibility, because festivals like Americarna and the Nationals have their own entry processes.
Running your own show? Car Show Expert handles registration, check-in, judging and awards in one place, from a club day to a regional festival. See our guide for New Zealand clubs at /car-show-software-new-zealand, create a free account at /sign-up, or try the demo at /demo. For the basics, see /discover/guides/how-to-run-a-car-show. Across the Tasman, our Australia guide is at /discover/blog/biggest-car-shows-australia-2027.
Dates are as announced by organisers at time of writing and can change. Confirm with each organiser before you book.