Autoworld closes its season with “Mercedes, The Story of the Star”, a Brussels exhibition until 22 February 2026 that gathers 140 years of automotive history, innovation and understated elegance beneath the museum’s iconic roof. Designed as a walk through the brand’s DNA, from early breakthroughs to today’s most advanced performance engineering. It’s the kind of show that appeals to collectors, design devotees and anyone with a soft spot for mechanical excellence.
In 2026, the story gains extra resonance: Mercedes-Benz celebrates 140 years, while the Daimler–Benz merger turns 100, an alliance that united not only two pioneering names, but also their symbols, with Daimler’s three-pointed star (land, sea and air) framed by Benz’s laurel wreath. The result became a global shorthand for prestige, quality and technological progress.
The exhibition traces that evolution from the earliest Benz three-wheeler of 1886 to the spectacular AMG ONE, with more than fifty significant cars presented together in Belgium for the first time. The route is divided into thematic zones that highlight the many faces of Mercedes-Benz, from timeless luxury to boundary-pushing innovation.
Highlights
Iconic road cars set the tone, from pioneers such as the 540 K Cabriolet and the 300 SL “Gullwing” to today’s halo machines, including the AMG ONE. Innovation runs throughout, with milestones like the 260 D, recognised as the first series-produced diesel model, alongside breakthroughs in safety and comfort that helped define modern motoring. Motorsport and performance heritage take centre stage too, with legendary race cars on display, including a Silver Arrow, a Lewis Hamilton Formula 1 car, the 300 SEL 6.8 “Rote Sau”, and the Sauber‑Mercedes C9. The narrative is completed by a spotlight on the S‑Class and SL lineages, plus a head-turning supercar selection that bridges circuit and road, spanning from the 300 SL “Gullwing” to rare exotica such as the CLK GTR and modern icons like the SLS AMG Black Series.
An Autoworld initiative
The exhibition is an Autoworld production, created with the support of Mercedes‑Benz Belgium Luxembourg. An exceptional set of loans, made possible through collaboration with the Mercedes‑Benz Museum in Stuttgart, the Loh Museum, SAGA Classic and private collections from Belgium and abroad, brings together a line-up presented as a unique, one-off moment for Belgium.
Activities
Beyond the main display, a Kids Zone invites younger visitors to build their own Mercedes‑Benz with LEGO, draw, and see creations brought to life digitally during weekends and holiday periods. For a final flourish, a Cars & Coffee will take place on Sunday 22 February 2026 on the museum esplanade, bringing enthusiasts together in a celebratory closing-day atmosphere. There is also an exhibition catalogue featuring exclusive photography, and an Autoworld shop with Mercedes‑Benz items, books and scale models to take a little of the experience home.
Practical information
Dates: Until 22 February 2026.
Opening hours: Monday–Friday 10:00–17:00; weekends 10:00–18:00.
Address: Autoworld (South Hall), Jubelpark 11, 1000 Brussels.
Tickets: Adults €18; reduced €14 (students, 65+, children 4–12, and groups of 15+).
