The Concorso d’Eleganza has become one of the standout events on the Alfa Romeo Club of South Africa (ARCSA) annual calendar and the 2026 edition will continue to cement its place for local Alfisti.

Reasons for this are the visual celebration of automotive artistry and elegance which makes Alfa Romeo models of old and new instantly recognisable. In this South African context, the Concorso d’Eleganza brings the best of expressive Italian design, driver-focused engineering and a motorsport heritage stretching back more than a century. This year’s Concorso will celebrate a multitude of classics, with a particular focus on 60 years of the timeless Duetto Spider, alongside modern models, showing how that character has carried through even as the cars have evolved in form, technology and performance.

Complementing this celebration of heritage, Alfa Romeo will also showcase a selection of its latest performance-focused models, demonstrating how the marque’s distinctive character continues to evolve. The display will feature the all-new Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce and the high-performance Stelvio Quadrifoglio. Together, these modern Alfa Romeo models embody the brand’s enduring commitment to Italian design, exhilarating performance and driver-focused engineering, creating a compelling link between its storied past and dynamic future.

Just as importantly, the Concorso will celebrate South Africa’s Alfisti: the owners and enthusiasts who keep the cars on the road and the knowledge around them moving.

The 2026 Concorso is a club gathering and Paul Williams, Alfa Romeo Owners of South Africa National Chairman, encourages all owners and members of the general public to spend the day on the shore of the Flamingo Dam in the presence of Italian timelessness.

A heritage kept in motion

Alex Shahini, Brand Communications Manager of Alfa Romeo at Stellantis South Africa , says seeing the cars together brings facets of the 116 years of history into a central scope. “Even when a newer Alfa is placed alongside its senior, their identities and origins become ever apparent. The Concorso lets the cars tell that story, but the owners are just as important because they know where these vehicles have been, the history they have lived through and meticulously preserve them, bolstering the fascinating and intertwined history between Alfa Romeo’s Italian roots and the fruitful branches of South Africa.”

Behind every well-kept car is a considerable amount of patient work. Caring for an older Alfa Romeo requires practical knowledge and, often, the advice of someone who has dealt with the same question before. For newer owners, the Club opens the door to that know-how and to people willing to pass it on.

The people who keep the story going

The Club’s own story began in Johannesburg on 27 March 1973. At the request of Dr Vito Bianco, then Managing Director of Alfa Romeo South Africa, Star Motoring editor Harvey Thomas placed an advertisement inviting Alfa Romeo owners to meet at the Balalaika Hotel. Sixty-three Alfisti arrived, and the Alfa Romeo Club of South Africa was born. It has remained active ever since.

Today, the Club has grown to a community of around 220 members. It is affiliated with the Alfa Romeo Owners Association of South Africa and, through it, the South African Motor Club Association. ARCSA is also listed in Alfa Romeo’s official global directory of approved clubs, placing the local community within a wider network where enthusiasts exchange information and share events.

“A model owners’ club keeps practical knowledge moving from one person to the next. That helps older cars stay on the road and gives people who are new to Alfa Romeo somewhere to learn. At the Concorso, you see the result in one place.” adds Shahini.

From Milan to Modderfontein

The cars gathered at the Concorso will carry more than a century of history with them. Alfa Romeo began in Milan on 24 June 1910 as A.L.F.A. (Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili), before taking the Alfa Romeo name after Nicola Romeo assumed control of the company. In 1923, Ugo Sivocci drove an Alfa Romeo RL to victory in the Targa Florio, the first of 10 victories for the marque in the famous Sicilian Road race.

The badge carries that Milanese identity too. Its red cross comes from the city’s emblem, while the Biscione (the big grass snake) was inspired by the Visconti symbol on the Castello Sforzesco. At the Concorso, those century-old symbols will sit on cars that South African owners continue to preserve, maintain and drive, turning heritage from something static into something that can still be seen and heard.

The Concorso is one expression of the Club’s year-round life. Its calendar includes monthly social gatherings, breakfasts and lunches, insurance valuations, track days, dyno days and a monthly newsletter, while members can also draw on Alfa experts for technical advice. That mix of friendship and practical support helps people enjoy their cars while passing knowledge on to the next generation.

“Alfa Romeo’s story began in Milan, but it stays alive wherever owners care for the cars, drive them and share what they have learned. The Alfa Romeo Club of South Africa has been doing exactly that for more than 50 years and the Concorso brings that history together in one place and gives members the simple pleasure of seeing a field full of Alfas,” concludes Shahini.

Event information

Date: Sunday, 20 September 2026

Time: 09:00 – 15:00

Venue: Modderfontein Bird & Sculpture Park, Queen Street, Modderfontein, Johannesburg

Admission: Free entrance for all public and Alfa Romeo owners into the venue. Club members are free to enter their vehicle into the concourse, while non-members are required to pay a concourse entry fee.