In the running

The finalists for the 2026 World Car of The Year Awards have been announced, with Audi represented in the overall category as well as in an additional two sub categories.

Now in its 22nd year, the prestigious World Car of The Year Awards represent the exhaustive culmination of vehicle evaluations by a panel of 98 automotive journalists from 33 countries. 

For the 2026 awards, Audi has been shortlisted in the top five finalists for the World Electric Vehicle of the Year with the Audi A6 e-tron/S6 e-tron. These same Audi models have also been shortlisted in the top five World Luxury Car finalists, along with the Audi A6/S6 models in the same category.

Audi is also represented in the top 10 vehicles overall from which will be chosen this year’s World Car of the Year (WCOTY) winner, with the all-new Audi Q5/SQ5 selected by judges.

While the Top Three in the World finalists will be announced virtually in early March (3.3.26), the final winners will have to wait until April 1st, when the announcement will be made live during this year’s New York Auto Show.

Audi has a long and successful association with the World Car of the Year Awards, having won the coveted overall title twice in the past as well as an additional nine other awards. In 2005, the Audi A6 was crowned the overall winner, while in 2014 it was the Audi A3 which dominated the show overall. The brand has also been recognised by the panel on numerous occasions for excellence in design, performance and luxury. 

In 2007 and again in 2008, Audi was awarded the honour of World Car Design of the Year for the Audi TT and Audi R8 respectively.

In 2008 the Audi R8 also ran away with the World Performance Car of the Year title, a feat it repeated again in 2010 and 2016 with the R8 V10 and then the Audi e-tron GT in 2022.

In 2018 and 2019, the Audi A8 and A7 Sportback each received World Luxury Car honour.