Station wagons seemingly of every type – every era, brand and subculture filled the grounds of the Petersen Automotive Museum on May 3 as WagonFest Los Angeles returned for its 2026 edition. Organized by Avants, the Southern California stop once again brought together modern performance wagons, vintage longroofs and increasingly rare estates in what organizers describe as “the largest gathering of station wagons in the universe.”
photos: Denis Podmarkov / Avants
Most Audi owners know the term “Avant” to be Audi speak for “station wagon”. The name stems from the French word for “forward” or “front”, and in this particular case also marks the title of a general automotive owner’s club known for its rich partner discounts and graphically pleasing magazine. So, while Avants is for car enthusiasts well beyond the ownership circles of Audi Avants, one could say that their natural draw to station wagons is something Audi owners in particular might seem rather obvious.
The event then was founded around the idea that wagons deserve the same enthusiast recognition traditionally reserved for sports cars and exotics. Since its inception, WagonFest has steadily grown into one of the more recognizable longroof-centric gatherings in the United States. The event now spans multiple regional meets including Arizona, Portland and Seattle, though Los Angeles has become one of its most visible destinations due to its location at the Petersen and the density of Southern California car culture.
As in previous years, the show field reflected how broadly the modern enthusiast definition of a wagon has expanded. Audi Avants and RS models remained heavily represented alongside BMW Touring variants, Mercedes-Benz estates, Volvo wagons, Subaru longroofs, Porsche Sport Turismos and even a Ferrari wagon built for the Sultan of Brunei. Vintage American wagons including several aligned with L.A.’s rich lowrider culture as well as some obscure JDM variants also broadened the offerings showing just how deep and international the wagon genre reaches.
Audi enthusiast presence at WagonFest continues to mirror the broader shift in enthusiast demand toward Avants and longroof performance cars. Models like the B5 and B8 S4 Avant conversions, C5 RS 6 builds and newer RS 6 Avant examples have become central fixtures at events like this, especially as Audi has gradually reintroduced factory Avant performance models to the U.S. market. The growing visibility of the RS 6 Avant and RS 6 Avant GT in North America has also helped reinforce wagon enthusiasm among younger audiences that largely missed the genre’s earlier heyday.
The event itself remained intentionally accessible. Spectator admission was free while registered vehicles received show parking, commemorative materials and museum admission. Organizers capped participation at 400 registered wagons, with proceeds benefiting the Petersen Automotive Museum.
WagonFest also continues to offer proof of a broader embracing of wagons in enthusiast circles. Once viewed more widely as utilitarian family transport, wagons have increasingly become enthusiast halo cars, especially as manufacturers move away from traditional sedan and estate offerings in favor of SUVs and crossovers. In Europe, performance wagons never fully disappeared, but in the United States they have evolved into something closer to enthusiast niche products. Events like WagonFest aim to shift that perspective, reminding car enthusiasts just how relevant wagons can be.
In Los Angeles in particular, this event has been a great conduit through which the community comes together. The Petersen Museum is always a central and relevant spot to make it happen. In the meantime, prominent owner groups like Audi Group Los Angeles and shops like Pacific German were familiar faces we weren’t the least bit surprised to encounter in the space.
Additional WagonFest events are scheduled throughout 2026 in Arizona, Portland and Seattle.
PHOTO GALLERY
