Event
Époqu'Auto is one of the largest indoor classic car and motorcycle shows in Europe, held annually in November at Eurexpo Lyon. Organised by Les 3A, the Association des Amateurs d'Automobiles Anciennes, the show brings together around 900 exhibitors across 88,000 square metres of covered exhibition space, attracting an audience of collectors, restorers, traders and enthusiasts from across France and neighbouring countries. The 2026 edition will be the 46th since the show was first held in 1979, and the 2024 edition drew 109,000 visitors over three days.
The show covers the full spectrum of historic vehicles, from pre-war automobiles and postwar classics to motorcycles, racing cars and one-offs. Exhibitors include private collectors, specialist dealers, restoration workshops, parts suppliers and car clubs, making the show as much a marketplace and gathering point as a display event. Each edition is built around a set of featured themes and spotlights, with specific marques, eras or plateaux given dedicated presentation areas within the halls. Live auctions, conducted by Osenat among others, run alongside the main exhibition.
Les 3A, the organising association, was founded with the mission of preserving and celebrating the heritage of historic automobiles. The association runs the show on a not-for-profit basis, relying on around 300 to 350 volunteers drawn from its membership to staff and operate the event across three days. This structure gives Époqu'Auto a character distinct from commercially operated trade shows, with a strong community of enthusiasts at its centre.
Eurexpo is Lyon's main exhibition centre, located east of the city near the Saint-Exupéry airport and connected to the city centre by tramway line T3. Lyon itself is one of France's most celebrated cities for food, architecture and cultural heritage, and the surrounding region includes the northern Rhône wine appellations of Côte-Rôtie and Condrieu within a short drive southward along the river valley.
