The Future of Judging

Here’s what the future of concours judging looks like:

• Traditional concours judging focuses intensely on authenticity, condition, documented provenance, and historical relevance — with scores deducted for the smallest flaws. Judges often include designers, historians, racing figures, and journalists to ensure deep expertise.

• Going forward, there’s growing interest in diversifying classes and judging perspectives, including categories that celebrate vehicles outside the classic pre-war and post-war norms (e.g., newer classics, preservation cars, and culturally significant “ordinary” cars). The Festival of the Unexceptional, for example, highlights everyday classics that traditionally wouldn’t be considered for high-end concours.

Next-Generation Judges

• A key trend is bringing in younger judges and enthusiasts alongside longtime experts. Seasoned concours organizers are deliberately mentoring emerging judges to sustain quality, relevance, and continuity as the hobby’s demographics shift.

• This helps reduce insularity and brings new perspectives — especially as collectors increasingly value different eras and types of vehicles.

Evolving Event Formats

• Concours events themselves are experimenting with broader engagement and hybrid experiences (including digitally supported communication, storytelling, and social media outreach) to connect with wider, younger audiences — something judges and participants will increasingly need to integrate into the concours experience.

• Virtual components and hybrid judging support for remote audiences could influence how presentations and judging narratives are shared, even if the actual vehicle assessment stays in person.

Evolving Role of Story and Context

• While technical correctness remains vital, storytelling and cultural context are gaining weight. Judges will increasingly balance strict authenticity with a car’s place in automotive culture, its restoration journey, and its significance — not just its factory-perfect specs.

Balancing Tradition With Fresh Perspectives

• Organizers emphasize honoring concours traditions while “keeping things fresh” — adding new classes, appealing to a range of age groups, and encouraging family-friendly participation.

• Expect classic concours to continue anchoring prestigious events (like the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and Amelia Island Concours) while more casual or alternative formats gain traction.

In short, concours judging will stay rooted in deep automotive scholarship and exacting standards, but it’s likely to become more inclusive in who judges, what gets judged, and how the story behind the car is valued — blending heritage with broader cultural relevance.