The legend returns. With its sights set on the historic centenary milestone in 2027, 1000 Miglia is revving its engines for its 44th re-enactment. The “most beautiful race in the world” returns to the evocative “figure-of-eight” route, inspired by the first 12 editions of the speed race, once again uniting Italy in an embrace of culture, motoring and unique landscapes.
A UNIQUE TRAVELLING MUSEUM
It is hard to imagine another setting in which to admire, all together and in motion, no fewer than 27 pre-war Alfa Romeo sports cars. The convoy celebrates the brand’s history through the iconic 6C 1500, 1750 SS and GS models that triumphed with Campari and Nuvolari between 1928 and 1930. Among these, the 8C 2600 MM Spider Zagato “SF” stands out for its charm: the Scuderia Ferrari logo evokes the period when the Drake of Maranello, before becoming a manufacturer, personally prepared production engines for races.
The prestige of the selection continues with the line-up of Ferrari race cars, almost all powered by the legendary 12-cylinder engine, including the historic winners 166 MM, 250 MM and 340 America. Alongside the Jaguar C-Types, stars of Le Mans, the fleet of Maserati A6 GCSs (the “Corse Sport” model with a cast-iron block) stands out, a benchmark for performance in the 1950s.
Underlining the significance of the 1000 Miglia 2026 convoy are no fewer than 79 “Participant” cars, i.e. cars that actually took part in the 1000 Miglia speed race between 1927 and 1957.
THE RACE AND THE ROUTE
The 44th edition promises to be a sporting challenge of the highest calibre. Along a route of almost 2,000 kilometres, crews from 33 countries will face 144 Time Trials and 8 Average Trials.
The journey will set off from Brescia in the late morning of Tuesday 9 June, heading towards Val Trompia and Val Gobbia with a first-time passage in Lumezzane for the first lunch of the race; the convoy will then continue through Val Sabbia, Lake Garda and Valtenesi before moving into Veneto via Soave and Vicenza, with the leg concluding in Padua. Wednesday 10 June will be the day of the east-to-west crossing: after passing through Ferrara, Modena and Reggio Emilia, the cars will tackle the Abetone Pass before descending towards Montecatini Terme.
Thursday 11 June the race will dive into the heart of Tuscany, passing through Lucca, Pietrasanta, Pisa, Pontedera and Peccioli, with lunch in the historic Piazza del Campo in Siena and a drive through the Val d’Orcia. The lakes of Bolsena and Vico will then mark the arrival in Rome, the halfway point of the race.
Friday 12 June will see the start of the return journey: the convoy will pass through Terni, Foligno and Assisi to pay tribute to the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis, followed by Gualdo Tadino and Gubbio for lunch. After the stop, participants will cross the Furlo Gorge and the Republic of San Marino, ending the day in Rimini.
Saturday 13 June, after passing through Cervia and Ferrara once more, the cars will stop in Mantua before the triumphant return to Brescia, completing the final Passage Controls at the 4th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment, in Guidizzolo, Castiglione delle Stiviere and Montirone. Only then will the ramp on Viale Venezia and the historic centre of Brescia once again welcome the cars and crews, at the end of a unique experience.
BRESCIA AT THE CENTRE OF THE WORLD
The run-up to the start will feature a series of events that will make Brescia the beating heart of historic motoring. The anticipation for the start will begin as early as Sunday 7 June with the start of technical and administrative checks at the Brixia Forum Paddock and the inauguration of the 1000 Miglia Village in Piazza Vittoria.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Village is scheduled for 4:30 pm, accompanied by the Italian national anthem performed by the Italian Air Force Fanfare. Immediately afterwards, there will be a significant official ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of the Italian Republic, featuring a speech by Prefect Andrea Polichetti.
Sunday will also celebrate the bond with the local area and the younger generation through the award ceremony for the winning pupils of the project “La 1000 Miglia va a scuola”, an initiative which this year involved over 5,400 students from 254 classes and which will return next academic year.
The afternoon will also feature the ninth Roberto Gaburri Trophy, a true prologue of passion involving 100 cars from those entered in the 1000 Miglia and Ferrari Tribute in a series of Time Trials between the historic centre of Brescia and the Castle. At the end of the race, the spotlight will shift to the presentation of the Charity, which, once again in 2026, features La Zebra ODV. Providing the soundtrack and setting the pace for the whole of Sunday in the square will be commentary from Radio Deejay, who will then follow the entire route of the race.
Monday 8 June will be dedicated to Holy Mass in the Cathedral at 11.30 am and the sealing of the checked cars in Piazza Vittoria. The jewels of the race will remain on display until the evening in the squares of the city centre for onlookers and enthusiasts to admire. At 5.00 pm, the foyer of the Teatro Grande will host the second edition of the 1000 Miglia Talk.
Whilst in 2025 the focus was on the design lines that made the Red Arrow cars iconic, this second instalment delves into the very composition of the cars. The discussion will explore the innovations that have defined the history of the Red Arrow and how engineering, testing and experimentation have shaped the design over the decades.
Tuesday 9 June will see the final technical and administrative checks, the final sealing procedures, and the Village Parade (the passage of the cars through the city centre immediately after the start), but above all, it will be time for the official start, scheduled for 11:30 am from the ramp on Viale Venezia.
Statements
“The 1000 Miglia is much more than a race: it is a collective ritual that restores Brescia to its most authentic self every year. When the historic cars gather in the city for technical scrutineering and then race towards the finish line on Viale Venezia, Brescia once again becomes the centre of the world for motoring enthusiasts from every continent. It is a source of pride that does not fade with the years; on the contrary, it grows with every edition. This city has a visceral connection with industry and mechanics: it is in our DNA, in the history of our region, our factories and our people. The 1000 Miglia perfectly embodies this vocation, but enriches it with an additional dimension: that of beauty. The lines of the cars parading through the streets of Brescia – at the same time old fashioned and daring – are an expression of high design, testaments to an extraordinary era in which ingenuity and beauty were able to merge into forms that still stir the emotions today. For Brescia, hosting the start and finish of the forty-fourth edition means opening its doors to crews from 33 countries, to journalists, enthusiasts and tourists from all over the world. It is an unrivalled international showcase that tells the story of who we are: a city that knows how to combine a passion for innovation with respect for its own history and identity. Welcome to Brescia, welcome to the most beautiful race in the world.”
Laura Castelletti, Mayor of Brescia
“Having experienced the 1000 Miglia for decades, I am well aware of the immeasurable heritage of the Red Arrow. Safeguarding this tradition also means securing its future: this is why we have worked with determination on the Fondazione 1000 Miglia project, which has now entered a decisive phase by extending its governance to include institutions. The Foundation will become the official custodian of the brand to protect and promote it, ensuring that Brescia remains the home of the Red Arrow forever. It is the tool for building a network to safeguard motoring culture and the local area, laying the right foundations to ensure we are ready for the historic centenary milestone.”
Aldo Bonomi, President of AC Brescia
“Every edition of the 1000 Miglia is a unique experience that knows how to reinvent itself in the spirit of tradition. In 2026, we will celebrate our history by reviving the iconic “figure-of-eight” route, an ideal bridge towards the centenary in 2027. Today, the race is an ambassador for Italian style around the world, active twelve months a year with events from America to the East. I would also like to mention our renewed partnership with La Zebra ODV, our Official Charity: this year we will be supporting the ‘ZEBRA – Spazio Famiglia’ project to create welcoming spaces for the families of young patients admitted to the Children’s Hospital in Brescia”.
Beatrice Saottini, President of 1000 Miglia Srl
“The 1000 Miglia strikes a perfect balance between respect for historical memory and a development model looking to the future. Our strategic objective is to harmonise all the facets of the event by combining sport, passion and culture into an experience capable of showcasing the excellence of the regions and Italian hospitality. It is a great team effort, led by an increasingly solid corporate structure which, through sustainability criteria and a strong focus on training young people, aims to make the event ever more inclusive and welcoming. This year, this nature of a true industrial ecosystem and collective enterprise is confirmed by the significant recognition of the exhibition currently being held at MIMIT, which reaffirms our ability to generate value for the entire country”.
Fulvio D’Alvia, Managing Director of 1000 Miglia Srl
