A celebration of automotive culture, design excellence and contemporary art
St. Moritz, February, 2026 – A perfect harmony of timeless elegance and pure automotive passion marked the success of The I.C.E. St. Moritz 2026, the International Concours of Elegance that serves as the benchmark of the winter season for the elite automotive world.
The event transformed the crystalline frozen surface of Lake St. Moritz into an exceptional stage, hosting 50 masterpieces of classic and sports engineering. This selection of rare icons enchanted a multi-generational audience, celebrating the automobile not merely as a vehicle, but as an authentic work of art.
On Friday, 30th January, the international jury selected the Best in Class in the five concours’ categories, awarding the elegance, rarity, and history of each model: Lancia Stratos, 1976 (Legendary Liveries); Maserati 4CLT, 1949 (Open Wheels); Jaguar XJ220, 1993 (Birth of Hypercar); Ferrari 750 Monza, 1955 (Barchettas on the Lake); Talbot-Lago T150C SS ‘Teardrop’, 1937 (Icons on Wheels). The Best Sound award was presented to the Pontiac Vivant, 1965 (Barchettas on the Lake).
Saturday 31st January, the second day of the event, opened with the much-anticipated free laps of the concours cars that enchanted both the participants and the spectators with their moving reflections across the frozen surface of the lake.
In the afternoon, at the closing of the event, the Best in Show award was assigned. The trophy, specially designed for The I.C.E. by renowned architect Lord Norman Foster – who personally awarded the winner along with Peter Harrison, CEO of Richard Mille EMEA – went to the Talbot-Lago T150C SS ‘Teardrop’, 1937 (Icons on Wheels).
Furthermore, the Ferrari Dino 206 S, 1967 (Icons on Wheels) won the Spirit of St. Moritz award, signed by artist Rolf Sachs and handed over by Marijana Jakic, CEO of St. Moritz Tourismus AG. Finally, the McLaren F1 GTR Lark, 1996 (Birth of the Hypercar) was honored with the public award, Hero Below Zero.
Once again, this year, The I.C.E. has involved the whole of St. Moritz community with activities spread between the lake and the city centre, creating an immersive experience that blends motors, art, design and lifestyle. The vibrant atmosphere and tangible excitement made this edition an unforgettable experience, confirming The I.C.E. as a must-attend event.
The shows of the Patrouille Suisse, which we thank for their extraordinary participation, was highly appreciated. The official aerobatic team of the Swiss Air Force flew over St. Moritz frozen lake and the Engadin mountains offering the public an air show of high intensity and spectacle.
The biggest thanks go to the participants who entered their cars, essentials of this event, as well as to the local institutions and our official partners, starting with Title Sponsor Richard Mille; the Main Partners St. Moritz Tourismus AG, Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, Loro Piana, UBS, Bang & Olufsen, VistaJet, Vincenzo Dascanio and Junkers Aircraft; the Automotive Exhibitors Maserati, Pagani Automobili, Bugatti, Rimac, Koenigsegg, Meyers Manx, Aston Martin and RM Sotheby’s. Finally, Campari Group, Eccentrica, Goodwool, MV Agusta, Pininfarina, RUF, coachbuilder Touring Superleggera, Badilatti, Blasto, Blunotte Eventi, HRX, La Marzocco, Les Crêtes, Pirelli and Profumoir.
The I.C.E. St. Moritz – The International Concours of Elegance
The brainchild of Marco Makaus back in 2019, the event has created an unprecedented concept in the world of concours d’élégance: a unique fusion of art and sport, both static and dynamic in a unique location.
The event, inseparable from the lake which hosts it, has always been held with respect for the Engadin’s environmental and natural heritage. Participating cars are carefully selected and public access limited specifically to safeguard their priceless value.
The I.C.E., a classy, spectacular, and charismatic event
I’ve known the owner and CEO of the ICE for many years and had the opportunity to meet him for work and personal reasons.
I’ve always thought of Marco as a highly capable manager, with strategic thinking, and a commitment to achieving his goals. But spending time with him has given me a glimpse into a world of passions and dreams.
Marco Makaus’s great passion is undoubtedly cars, to which he has dedicated a large part of his professional life. But the dark side of this man, let’s call it, is his vision of dreams. I like visionaries, dreamers, because they are a category of human beings to which I believe I also belong. The ICE is the result of a perfect combination of organizational skills, solid knowledge of the subject and the market, but also that pinch of ingenious madness that allows events of this nature and scale to be realized.
Class, creativity, rigor, and a taste for beauty, along with a natural belonging to a certain international lifestyle, and a predisposition for absolute quality. In a world of false myths tied to images of somewhat tacky exteriors, here you can find inspiration of great iconicity linked to images of style and great beauty. The image of waiters twirling on the ice to serve hot drinks, Champagne, and aperitifs is delightfully retro and linked to the splendors of Badrutt’s Palace, a location and meeting place for the nobles and wealthy of the early 1900s.
Knowing beauty, quality, and uniqueness helps make certain moments unrepeatable.
As it is, it has been from the beginning, and it will be for 2027, an appointment that Marco Makause and the staff of THE ICE have already given us for next year.
I raise a thought to a mutual friend, a great lover of events, major gatherings involving all sports, arts, and entertainment, who loved St. Moritz as one of the genius loci of the tribes of happy fews who frequent these special places.
I imagine Makaus agrees with me, sending a greeting to the heavens and a goodbye, see you soon.
