Imola Mostra Scambio 2026: the thrill of discovery at the racetrack
There is no denying that modern convenience has spoilt us: we open an app, scroll across a screen, pay with a gesture and wait for the courier to knock at the door. Convenient, certainly, but one wonders: where has the thrill of discovery gone? What became of that subtle pleasure of rummaging through the stalls of a market, of getting your hands dirty to bring home the unique, unexpected piece that becomes indispensable the moment you touch it?
For enthusiasts who have never lost their passion for the hunt there is the Mostra Scambio, literally the “exchange show”, Imola’s great fair for classic vehicles, taking place from 11 to 13 September 2026 at the Enzo e Dino Ferrari Racetrack in Imola. Faced with stalls overflowing with mechanical components, vintage badges and unobtainable small parts, this is where the thrill of discovery comes alive: you stop, examine every detail with care and swap opinions with experts of the field until you recognise the rare piece to take home.
Spare parts and rare finds: what awaits among the stalls
Every edition offers an immense exhibition landscape, designed to satisfy the needs of collectors and restoration lovers. Exhibitors arrive from all over Italy and half of Europe and unload decades of motoring history from their vans. The variety is astonishing: motorcycles and cars of every era, extremely rare mechanical parts, clothing, retro helmets, race suits, iconic memorabilia, original number plates, vintage technical literature and countless other hidden treasures. Among so many objects you might find the weathered bonnet ready to be reborn under your expert hands, or the yellowed magazine whose crumpled pages preserve the technical secrets of another age, or the vintage bicycle that carries you on a journey back in time. If you are busy restoring a classic vehicle, the Imola Mostra Scambio is the right place to track down the essential items you need to finish the job.
A gathering of enthusiasts at the racetrack since 1977
The event was born in 1977 from the idea of a group of passionate friends and has kept growing ever since, until it filled the legendary Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, a true icon for lovers of speed. It is organised by CRAME, the Club Romagnolo Auto e Moto d’Epoca (the Romagna club for classic cars and motorcycles). At the Mostra Scambio passion is in the air: it is a friendly environment where you immediately feel among friends. Here, between one object and the next, people exchange advice, share anecdotes and compare notes with others who see engines and restoration as a true art form. Every chat, every smile, every opinion becomes a memory to take home. So what are you waiting for? Dive into the stalls, surrounded by people who share your very same enthusiasm, and let your instinct guide you towards the object of your desires.
Useful information at a glance
- Where: Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, piazza Ayrton Senna da Silva 1, Imola (Bologna)
- When: from Friday 11 to Sunday 13 September 2026
- Edition: the 48th, with over 2,000 exhibitors
- Tickets: on sale at TicketOne
- Getting around: free shuttle train along the route
- Organisation: CRAME, Club Romagnolo Auto e Moto d’Epoca
Where to stay near Imola during the Mostra Scambio
Days at the fair fly by, and in the evening you need a quiet place to go and rest. At Podere Zampiera Vecchia we await you in the Imola countryside, a few minutes’ drive from the racetrack and right by the A14 motorway exit. You will find five rooms with independent entrances and an organic breakfast, both sweet and savoury, served with jams and juices made from the fruit of our farm. The Jacuzzi spa pool soothes your back after hours spent among the stalls. Book your stay and enjoy your “treasure hunt” setting off well rested every morning.
Read also: all the events in Imola in 2026, the 4 Hours of Imola and the Historic Minardi Day at the racetrack.
Photo credits: the images of the racetrack and of vintage swap meets come from Wikimedia Commons, by Monia Mascagni, Aliimagic, DanTD and Danysan1, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; the photos have been resized.
