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#  Bring a Trailer Kicks Off 2026 with Palm Springs Meet-Up, Awards, and Big Momentum

January 19 2026

Written by CityWatch.

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CAR EVENT - As we roll into 2026, there’s plenty for car enthusiasts to be excited about—especially here in the Coachella Valley. The online automotive community **Bring a Trailer (BaT)** is launching the new year with events, awards, and a strong sense of momentum, including a major in-person gathering right in Palm Springs.

### BaT Meet-Up Comes to Palm Springs – February 21

BaT’s first Meet-Up of the year will take place **Saturday, February 21, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.**, at the future home of **Desert Dunes Preserve**, a project of the Oswit Land Trust in Palm Springs. The event is **free and open to the public**, offering local residents and visiting enthusiasts a chance to connect over great cars in a uniquely Palm Springs setting.

The Meet-Up marks the official start of BaT’s 2026 event season, and attendees can expect a relaxed, community-focused gathering that reflects the brand’s growing emphasis on bringing its online culture into the real world.

### 2025 BaT Awards: Celebrating Cars, Creators, and Community

Each January, BaT looks back at the previous year to recognize standout listings, contributors, and moments from its ever-expanding community. The **2025 BaT Awards** honored six winners, highlighting everything from memorable vehicles to the people who keep the comment sections lively and insightful.

Among this year’s honorees:

- **Success Story of the Year:** Bigmotorssmallcar’s Transatlantic Sportomatic Triumph
- **Video of the Year:** cbjeep’s “Three-Legged” 911S Project
- **Photo Gallery of the Year:** Fantuzzi Maserati 200SI
- **Cognoscenti Award:** BaronVonZeppelin
- **People’s Choice – Best Listing:** The Flintstones-style Flintmobile Golf Cart
- **Most Valuable Commenter:** Fleche\_dOr

The awards reflect what BaT does best—combining serious automotive knowledge with creativity, humor, and a sense of shared enthusiasm.

![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Jan-2026/006b2.jpg)

*Photo Gallery of the Year: Fantuzzi Maserati 200SI*

###

### A Strong Finish to 2025—and Confidence Heading into 2026

BaT closed out 2025 with another banner year, continuing a long streak of growth and engagement. Buyers, sellers, local partners, commenters, and dedicated watchers all contributed to a vibrant marketplace that remains as much about community as it is about cars. BaT’s year-end snapshot of sales included a standout top sale—hint: it was blue—underscoring the strength of the platform as it heads into 2026.

### Giving Back: Holiday Tire Giveaway with Michelin

Rounding out the year, BaT hosted its **Second Annual Holiday Tire Giveaway**, in partnership with Michelin USA. BaT Co-Founder and President Randy Nonnenberg personally awarded sets of Michelin or BFGoodrich tires to winners from six auctions, closing out 2025 on a festive and generous note.

### From Auctions to Friendships

BaT is also inviting alumni to share how their vehicle purchases helped them find new friends or join new enthusiast communities. Selected stories may be featured in an upcoming **Success Story in Motion** video, reinforcing the idea that BaT isn’t just about transactions—it’s about connection.

### The BaT Podcast Keeps Rolling

For those who want more, recent episodes of the **BaT Podcast** cover everything from the “One-Year Garage: 2026” to year-end stats, awards, and holiday chaos. New episodes are released weekly and are available on major podcast platforms.

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