Global auto shows: Europe fades, Asia and the Middle East rise

An era that stretched over 118 years, is now over.

GIMS was held in Doha for the first time in October 2023, marking the first time the prestigious event took place outside of Switzerland in its history, as part of a biennial agreement with Qatar Tourism.

After its brief return in 2024, the Geneva show was permanently discontinued in Switzerland due to waning manufacturer interest. The brand has since shifted to Doha in Qatar, marking a decisive pivot towards the Middle East.

This change reflects a broader trend: Asia and the Middle East are becoming the new centres of gravity for global exhibitions, driven by strong consumer demand and government-backed electrification programmes.

The Tokyo Auto Salon 2026 at a glance

Unlike Geneva, Tokyo’s Auto Salon which was held last week, has remained a fixture every January, blending tuner culture with mainstream manufacturer debuts. The 2026 edition confirmed Japan’s enduring passion for performance cars while also offering previews of future production models.

Highlights included:

Toyota GR GT & GR GT3 – Toyota Gazoo Racing’s new flagship sports car and its GT3 racing counterpart.

Toyota GR Yaris MORIZO RR – A performance-focused special edition headed for production.

Nissan Nismo Auro RS Concept and the refreshed Z – Updated styling and mechanical tweaks for Nissan’s iconic sports car and Auro a new performance breed for the future.

Honda Prelude Concept and Civic e:HEV RS – A revival of the Prelude nameplate alongside production-linked hybrid prototypes.

Subaru WRX STI Sport – A manual-gearbox prototype signalling a return of the STI brand.

Stellantis (Peugeot, Citroën, DS) – First public showings of French brand models in Japan.

BYD Sea Lion 6 – Part of BYD’s upcoming EV and PHEV line-up for Japan.

The mix of Japanese and international launches underlined Tokyo’s growing role as a platform for production-ready vehicles, not just aftermarket modifications.

The 2026 calendar:

The year ahead offers a packed schedule of international events, reflecting the industry’s global spread and its focus on electrification, performance, and connected technologies.

North America:

• North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), commonly called the Detroit Auto Show. Held at Huntington Place, Detroit from 14 - 25 January.
• Canadian International Auto Show (CIAS), Canada’s largest auto show, staged at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from 13 - 22 February.
• New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) organised by the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Centre from 3 - 12 April.
• Vancouver International Auto Show (VIAS), Western Canada’s premier automotive event, at the Vancouver Convention Centre West from 25 - 29 March.

Asia:

• Beijing International Automotive Exhibition (Auto China 2026) – officially titled Auto China 2026, held at the China International Exhibition Centre (Shunyi Hall) and Capital International Exhibition Centre from 24 April - 3 May.
• EV Japan: 17th International Exhibition for EV, HV & FCV Technologies, part of Automotive World Tokyo, held at Tokyo Big Sight from 21 - 23 January.
• The Tokyo Auto Salon 2026 was held from Friday, 9 January to Sunday, 11 January 2026 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan.

Europe:

• Brussels Motor Show (Salon de l’Auto / Autosalon), the 102nd edition, at Brussels Expo from 9 - 18 January.
• Warsaw Fleet Expo 2026 - Industry Trade Fair for Automotive Fleet, held at Ptak Warsaw Expo, Nadarzyn (near Warsaw) from 3 - 5 February.

Middle East:

• Erbil Auto Show (EAS) 2026: 11th Erbil International Exhibition of Automobiles, Commercial Vehicles and Spare Parts, at Erbil international fair ground, Iraq from 5 - 8 February.
• Geneva International Motor Show Qatar (GIMS Qatar 2026): officially branded as Geneva International Motor Show (GIMS), Qatar 2026, at the Doha Exhibition & Convention Centre (DECC) from 25 February - 2 March.

Africa:

• Automechanika Johannesburg 2026: South Africa’s leading international trade fair for the automotive service industry, at the Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand (Johannesburg) from 27 - 29 October.

The global auto show map is being redrawn. With Geneva’s legacy now tied to Qatar and Tokyo’s Auto Salon thriving as a hybrid of tuner culture and mainstream debuts, Asia and the Middle East are increasingly central to the automotive calendar.

For 2026, enthusiasts and industry insiders alike can look forward to a truly international spread of events, reflecting the industry’s pivot towards electrification, performance, and new markets.