Saturday, Sept. 12 – 2026 Des Moines Concours Charity Gala
The weekend began with the highly anticipated 2026 Des Moines Concours Charity Gala on Saturday, September 12, beginning at 5:30 pm at the beautiful Krause Gateway Center in Des Moines. Tickets were $250 per person or $1,800 per table of 8.
Photo: Troy Eiffert @ Studio U
Featured rare Porsche! Plus renowned automotive designer Kip Wasenko was our special guest speaker. Hors d’oeuvres, open bar and dinner were provided by Allora. It also included silent and live auctions with high value items.
This year’s live and silent auctions were packed with one-of-a-kind experiences, luxury items and automotive favorites. Highlights included:
- Rides in a McLaren P1 and Lamborghini Revuelto
- A ride in a Lotus race car
- A one-week stay at an Oregon cabin, valued at $2,000
- A Gucci purse, valued at $6,000
- Des Moines skyline paintings
- A Dooney & Bourke hobo bag
- A Hanson Auto Spa ceramic coating package, valued at $1,400
- A $1,000 Protective Solutions gift certificate
- Automotive detailing and car-care packages
- Automotive artwork, memorabilia and more
Whether you’re hoping to take home an unforgettable automotive experience, a luxury item or something special for your own vehicle, these elegant evenings feature special experiences — all while supporting Children’s Cancer Connection and the Des Moines Concours Automotive scholarship program.
The Concours has worked closely with Children’s Cancer Connection since 2014. We continue in 2026 to support their mission of CCC’s mission is to connect Iowa families affected by childhood cancer by providing opportunities that encourage relationships and strengthen community. The Des Moines Concours has provided more than $185,000 to the organization.
Des Moines Concours Automotive Heritage Grant administered by the Iowa Automotive Heritage Foundation provides financial assistance for tools, project funding, equipment, or training that supports high school automotive education across the state of Iowa. These grants were funded in part by the Red Flag Tour of Iowa.
Featured Speaker: Kip Wasenko
The Des Moines Concours d’Elegance welcomed renowned automotive designer Kip Wasenko as the featured speaker for the 2026 Des Moines Concours Charity Gala.
During an extraordinary 40-year career with General Motors, Wasenko helped shape some of the company’s most recognizable vehicles while holding leadership roles as Chief Designer for Saturn, Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, and Cadillac studios, as well as Director of Design for GM’s Performance Division and Specialty Vehicles. His work also included design assignments throughout the United States, Europe, and Australia.
Wasenko is perhaps best known for creating the award-winning Cadillac EVOQ concept car, which launched Cadillac’s celebrated Art & Science design philosophy and influenced iconic production vehicles including the XLR-V, CTS-V, and STS-V. His innovative designs also include numerous Indy 500 and Daytona 500 pace cars, the groundbreaking Mid-Engine Buick Wildcat concept, and championship-winning Cadillac race cars.
In recognition of his influence on the automotive industry, Motor Trend named Wasenko to its prestigious Top 50 Power List, crediting his work with helping spark the renaissance of the Cadillac brand.
Beyond his design career, Wasenko is a lifelong Ferrari enthusiast, accomplished concours judge, and amateur race car driver with more than three decades of competition experience. His passion for automotive design, racing, and collector vehicles has made him a sought-after speaker and respected authority within the collector car community.
Guests attending the 2026 Des Moines Concours Charity Gala had the opportunity to hear firsthand stories from one of the industry’s most accomplished automotive designers and visionaries.
Tickets for the 2027 Gala will open up in Spring 2027. Questions? Email us at [email protected]
Check out the 2025 Charity Gala photo gallery!
