Custom Bike Show 2026

The Harley-Davidson Custom Bike Show returns to the European Spring Rally, European H.O.G.^® Rally and European Bike Week^® with updated categories and two revisited locations

The crowd-pleasing highlight of most Harley-Davidson and H.O.G.^® rallies is the Custom Bike Show – whether you’re a current Harley^® owner or a future one just browsing for the first time. Because, let’s face it, if you’re not drawn to motorcycles by the invention and individualism of professional or amateur customisers, you don’t really have a soul. Well, a biker soul anyway.

The Harley-Davidson Custom Bike Show at Europe’s three major events is sponsored by motorcycle tyre specialists Metzeler – and top winners all receive a set of Metzeler tyres for their bike alongside Harley-Davidson trophies, while all entrants receive free gifts courtesy of H-D and Metzeler.

Come and see the show!
First up is the Custom Bike Show at the European Spring Rally on Friday 1 May in Senigallia, Italy, followed by the European H.O.G. Rally’s Custom Bike Show on 19 June in Cascais, Portugal and finally on Friday 11 September at European Bike Week^® in Faak am See, Austria. See links below to find out more about each event.

Plus, it’s worth it for the kudos of showing off your bike to visitors and getting into the photo galleries. At many events there’s also the added bonus of VIP presence and the opportunity of getting motorcycles and prizes signed or photos taken with them. In 2025, Karen Davidson attended the Custom Bike Show at Euro Festival in Saint-Tropez, France, then Bill Davidson attended the European H.O.G. Rally in Medulin, Croatia. 

Entering the competition
Who can enter? Literally anyone – provided you’ve customised your motorcycle and it is a Harley-Davidson^® or H-D owned brand at its original date of manufacture, although we do make an exception in the Radical Custom category.

Thing is, we try to keep things simple – this is a free-to-enter show, you don’t have to pre-register, just turn up, sign up, pick up your free gifts and you’re in. It’s not a concours event so we’re not scrutinising every nut and bolt and gasket on the bike; judging is mainly based on aesthetic and how it fits a category theme, rather than precision. This is also reflected in the competition categories and in 2026 we’ve expanded a little to make categorisation and judging easier.

We’re also making allowance for consumer customisation versus purely professional, dealership or pro-customiser designed work with an owner-inspired customisation judges’ prize to reward bikers’ creations that haven’t been made on a big budget, but do inspire judges with what the average Harley owner can aspire to. And remember, there is also a public vote: The People’s Choice Award, sponsored by Metzeler and voted for by the public.     

This year there are six categories, reflecting the evolving styles of bike and customisation and acknowledging that some bikes may fit into more than one. When you enter, you can discuss with our entry judge which fits your bike best. However, the judge’s choice is final on this matter. The categories for this year are:

Each category will have a winner and a runner-up, with Best in Show, People’s Choice and Metzeler Judges’ Choice awards complemented by Best Paintwork and Best Detailing awards, should the judges decide there are worthy entries too.     

While it’s a Harley-Davidson bike show, we recognise that sometimes customisation will take people down routes that stray from the Milwaukee path, so within Radical Custom bikes that are only a tiny percentage Harley or even fully other brand can be recognised by a special non-Harley prize. Even if they cannot win Best in Show as a Harley-Davidson, they will be recognised. This is a motorcycle community, after all.

We can’t wait to host the 2026 Harley-Davidson Custom Bike Show at the European Spring Rally, European H.O.G. Rally and European Bike Week. See below for details and accommodation links.

Spring Rally Preview

Spring Rally Official Accommodation Bookings

European H.O.G. Rally Preview

European H.O.G. Rally Official Event Accommodation Bookings

European Bike Week 2026 Accommodation

Please note: all motorcycles are entered into this show at the judges’ discretion and in the categories assigned. It is not a concours show and no other categories will be considered. Judges’ decisions are final. Best in Show is reserved for a Harley-Davidson motorcycles only, non-Harleys will win a separate prize and can only be entered in Radical Custom if they meet the criteria set out above. See release of liability for additional conditions of entry and use.

The categories and prizes in this article refer to the Harley-Davidson Custom Bike Show at the 2026 European Spring Rally, European H.O.G. Rally and European Bike Week only. Shows at other Harley-Davidson or H.O.G. Rallies may differ.     

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