Tokyo Auto Salon 2026

Tokyo Auto Salon 2026 ran from January 10 to 12 at Makuhari Messe, just outside Chiba City. Now in its 44th year running, it remains Japan’s top tuning and aftermarket show: equal parts cultural barometer and engineering testbed for what’s next in performance, materials, and style. Roughly 850 vehicles were displayed across halls packed with builders, suppliers, and OEMs showing prototypes and collaboration models. The turnout reached 272,383 visitors over three days, in line with recent strong years, confirming the show’s rebound as Asia’s centerpiece for automotive customization.

Heading into this year’s edition, the talk centered on electrification and aero development under stricter Japanese road regulations. Expectations leaned toward subdued styling and incremental updates. Gazoo Racing, NISMO, and HKS were tipped to dominate headlines, while overseas suppliers aimed to highlight EV conversion platforms and light-weighting solutions. There was also curiosity around the softening yen and how that might affect parts pricing and European tuner participation.

Once the halls opened, the floor was abuzz of activity, Toyota revealed its GR GT3 Concept built closer to GT3 competition specs than past mock-ups. Nissan pulled strong attention with the Hyper Force concept, this time with a clear motorsport linkage. Liberty Walk drew crowds with a full-body R35 farewell kit that balanced nostalgia with proper panel fitment, while domestic workshops showed revived kei-truck builds and full electric swaps. The event pace never sagged: media unveilings each morning flowed smoothly into test-bench demos and live tuning sessions. A few major OEMs quietly used the show to gauge reaction to modular EV drive-unit packaging; a sign that Auto Salon’s technical credibility has widened beyond styling.

When the lights dimmed Sunday evening, the 2026 Best Car of the Show went to the GR GT3 Concept, followed by RE Amemiya’s updated FD RX-7 and VeilSide’s Supra kit. It reinforced that Japanese tuning still experiments at the edges, even in an electrified decade.