2026 Hot Wheels Legends: accepting entries worldwide
Mattel announced that submissions are now open for Mattel’s Hot Wheels Legends Tour presented by Mobil 1. The Hot Wheels Legends Tour is the world’s largest custom car competition and global celebration of automotive culture in search of the next Hot Wheels die-cast car. Entering its ninth year, the Hot Wheels Legends Tour will host in-person and virtual events across 20 countries in 2026, marking its most expansive and internationally diverse event lineup to date. Building on a record-breaking 2025 season that saw thousands of attendees and vehicle entries from around the world, the 2026 Tour continues its global expansion as Canada returns to the schedule and Hot Wheels hosts new events in the Asia-Pacific region including Indonesia, with more locations and dates to be announced.
New partner and on-site experiences
This year’s contest will also welcome a new partner, AriZona Beverage Company, which will join returning partner Mobil 1, to provide new on-site experiences, including sample sessions, a product partnership and a branded custom car build. Additionally, an iconic vehicle from Universal Pictures' Fast & Furious saga will be featured at select North American Tour stops, giving fans the opportunity to see the legendary vehicle up close as the high-octane franchise celebrates its 25th anniversary. Celebrating Mattel’s Masters of the Universe franchise and the live-action film coming to theaters on June 5, 2026, the Hot Wheels Bone Shaker life-size car will be reimagined as the evil Skeletor, which will be on display throughout the Hot Wheels Legends Tour. Lastly, a life-size Hot Wheels Formula 1 2026 Car with custom Hot Wheels livery will be on display for automotive and racings fans to capture photos.
Authenticity, Creativity and Garage Spirit
A panel of Hot Wheels designers and local automotive celebrity judges will assess each entry based on Authenticity, Creativity and Garage Spirit. At every global stop, one winning build will move on to the Regional Finals across Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and North America. The four regional champions will face off at the Global Grand Finale in November where one build will earn the honor to be immortalized as an official Hot Wheels 1:64 scale die-cast car and be sold to fans and collectors worldwide.
20 countries on the schedule
“With 20 countries on this year’s schedule and new partners joining us in 2026, we’re putting the pedal down and making this our biggest Hot Wheels Legends Tour yet for builders and fans around the world,” said Ted Wu, senior vice president of Hot Wheels and global head of Vehicles and Building Sets at Mattel. “Now in our ninth year, the Hot Wheels Legends Tour continues to fuel car culture across continents, throwing down a challenge to builders everywhere. And every year, they answer loud and clear: challenge accepted. With fearless creativity, boundary-breaking craftsmanship and uncompromising passion, they push limits, break rules and transform extraordinary custom builds into the next iconic die-cast legend.”
Starting in April
The North American leg of the 2026 Tour begins on April 25 in Tampa, Florida, followed by stops across the United States, Canada and Europe, Asia and Southamerica. The North American stops will conclude with a special event at Mattel’s headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., ahead of the virtual Regional Finals. Each stop will feature the Hot Wheels Garage of Legends life-size cars, hands-on play spaces, premium die-cast displays and special edition Hot Wheels Legends products available exclusively at Tour events.