TL;DR
The 2026 World Car Awards have announced the top contenders across six categories, with winners to be revealed on April 1, 2026.
The 2026 World Car Finals, powered by Brembo, have officially commenced with the World Car Awards announcing the top contenders across six distinct categories. This marks the beginning of the countdown to the final winners' announcement, scheduled for April 1, 2026, at the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS).
A jury comprising 98 automotive journalists from 33 countries evaluated a diverse range of eligible vehicles. The main category, 2026 World Car of the Year, started with an initial list of 58 models, which has now been narrowed down to a top ten that includes a mix of electric, hybrid, and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles such as the Audi Q5/SQ5, BMW iX3, Hyundai Ioniq 9, Kia EV4, and Mercedes-Benz CLA.
