Brussels Motor Show sees more than 300,000 visitors

More than 300,000 people visited the Brussels Motor Show between 10 and 19 January this year. The organizers consider this a great success and are already speculating on a new edition in 2026.

With these visitor numbers, the BMS is the largest indoor event in Belgium. Frank Van Gool, the CEO of the organizer federation Febiac, is pleased with the enthusiasm of the public, the press, and the exhibitors.

“BMS is alive and kicking again,” he says. “The car is not only the number one individual mobility tool; many young and old people still dream about cars. The visitors could discover a large panoply of cars these last ten days. It gave them the drive to buy a new car again.”

Of course, there were supercars, shows, and animations, but in the first place, the BMS remained the most important economic boost for the whole automotive sector at the beginning of the year.

“According to our regular polls on-site, 32% of the visitors came with a direct buying intention for a car. Our exhibitors are seriously pleased about the public’s interest. These expectations will materialize in the coming weeks, as the special motor show conditions will probably last until the end of February or even further.”

Next edition in 2026?

As the BMS 2025 has been successful for many participants, the automotive sector seems ready to return next year. “In the coming weeks, together with our motor show partners, we will see the possibilities for next year. It may be clear that we will continue to organize this in January and stay an event focused on selling cars. The international character the BMS now gets is a welcome surplus,” Van Gool concludes.

In the past, the Brussels Motor Show has often been considered as a sales fair and not as an international motor show. As so many other, more prestigious shows have stopped or are obliged to reconsider their options, the BMS seems to find its second, more international breath.

In 2023, the award ceremony for the Car of the Year election was already hosted in Brussels; this year, they were again at the rendezvous. It seems they are willing to return in the years to come. The BMS gladly welcomes these international boosts of media attention, but in the end, it will stay a large and well-organized sales fair. Nothing is wrong with that when the most significant car shows worldwide struggle to survive.

Environmental protest

On the last day, some 30 activists of the climate movement Extinction Rebellion were active at the show. They wanted to show the lack of responsibility of car manufacturers “despite the dear necessity for climate change.”

Manufacturers kept producing bigger and heavier cars, primarily SUVs, and the activists sprayed a badly smelling product around some of the most oversized SUVs on the show. “For SUVs, one needs bigger batteries, and they also occupy more public space. Car accidents with SUVS are more dangerous, especially for pedestrians and bikers.”