(Update: May 2026) — The Woodward Dream Cruise, North America’s premier single-day automotive pilgrimage of classic collector cars, is a spectacular automotive tradition that takes place annually on the third Saturday in August (August 15, 2026)
Attracting over 1.5 million visitors and showcasing more than 40,000 historic vehicles, it stands unchallenged as the largest single-day classic car cruise on the planet.
North America’s largest automotive parade of classic collector cars!!!
A Rich Automotive History
The origins of the Woodward Dream Cruise date back to 1994, when Pamela S. McCullough, the mayor of Ferndale, and Nelson House, a local plumber, conceived a modest roadside gathering to raise funds for a children’s soccer field in their community.
What began as a localized charity meet quickly transformed into a monumental celebration of world-class American horsepower and vintage iron.
The inaugural cruise took place in August 1995 and became an overnight sensation. Originally anticipating a turnout of perhaps 30,000 to 40,000 spectators, the event drew an astonishing 250,000 passionate car enthusiasts, setting the stage for an iconic annual celebration of car culture right in Henry Ford’s historic backyard.
[caption id=”attachment_7221″ align=”aligncenter” width=”1024″] Starting in Pontiac and ending in Ferndale, the Woodward Dream Cruise 2026 will parade over forty thousand vintage Detroit muscle cars up and down Woodward Avenue, attracting over 1.5 million visitors.[/caption]
Since its mid-90s inception, the Woodward Dream Cruise has experienced extraordinary growth. Today, showcasing more than 40,000 classic cars each year, it has solidified its status as the pinnacle event for observing investment-grade muscle cars, rare limited-production supercars, and immaculate frame-off restorations in motion.
The cruise is a moving museum dedicated to Detroit’s golden era of automotive manufacturing. Spanning a legendary 16-mile stretch along Woodward Avenue, the event encompasses nine host communities from Ferndale to Pontiac.
For the educated collector, it provides a rare opportunity to evaluate automotive provenance, witness numbers-matching big-block engines firing on the open road, and inspect pristine paintwork under natural sunlight.
The 16-mile asphalt strip becomes a vibrant community hub featuring live music, specialized automotive vendors, and family-friendly hospitality spaces.
As car enthusiasts and prominent collectors from around the globe gather to share their passion, the Woodward Dream Cruise continues to be the ultimate highlight of the summer car season, celebrating the deep-rooted culture and legacy of the American automobile.
Launched in 1995, the 16-mile car parade cruises directly up and down Woodward Avenue, passing through the historic cities of Pontiac, Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Hills, Birmingham, Royal Oak, Berkley, Huntington Woods, Pleasant Ridge, and Ferndale.
The Woodward Dream Cruise is a true testament to the power of community and the enduring appeal of classic automobiles. It’s a celebration of Detroit’s rich industrial history and a premier destination for car collectors from around the world to showcase rare, low-mileage survivors and concourse-level restorations alike.
VIDEO: “WXYZ-TV’s Woodward Dream Cruise Special Live Broadcast”
Over 1.5 million people are expected alongside forty thousand historic ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s classic cars for the famous 16-mile Woodward Dream Cruise in the suburbs of northeast Detroit. Ford Motor Company returns as the proud primary sponsor for this monumental automotive celebration.
Woodward Dream Cruise Board Members & Executive Team
For general comments and questions, please email the Woodward Dream Cruise at
[email protected].
The following is the official listing of the nine participating community board representatives and the WDC Executive Team.
Mailing address: 1200 Kirts, Suite 100, Troy, MI 48084. Phone: (248) 546-1573.
2026 Woodward Dream Cruise Summary
Date: Saturday, August 15, 2026
Hours: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Location: Woodward Avenue in Oakland County (From Pontiac south to Ferndale)
Admission: FREE
Description: Anyone is welcome to participate and spectate. However, drivers not operating a historic or classic vehicle are highly urged to avoid the two right lanes closest to the curb to preserve space for the collector car procession. Visit the official website for localized schedules, route updates, and VIP hospitality details.
OFFICIAL WOODWARD DREAM CRUISE ROAD MAP
[caption id=”attachment_13057″ align=”aligncenter” width=”900″] The 16-Mile Woodward Dream Cruise Travels Through The Above Cities: Pontiac, Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Hills, Birmingham, Pleasant Ridge, Royal Oak, Berkley, Ferndale, And Huntington Woods From Sunrise To Sunset On August 15, 2026.[/caption]
Woodward Cruise Streaming Live Broadcast Schedule
The Woodward Cruise Will Be Broadcast Live Over The WXYZ TV Channel On Saturday, August 15, 2026
WXYZ-TV Channel 7
www.wxyz.com/dreamcruise
WXYZ-TV’s 2026 Woodward Dream Cruise Live Special
Additionally, the Woodward Cruise car show coverage will be broadcast live over the internet and regional radio channels at www.audacy.com/womc/
Cruise in Shoes 5K
The Woodward Dream Cruise is not just about classic big-block V8 engines; it also includes a highly anticipated morning tradition known as the “Cruise in Shoes.”
This event is a professionally timed 5K run/walk that takes place on the morning of the main cruise, offering participants a unique chance to experience the sights and sounds of the route on foot before the vehicle grid takes over.
The “Cruise in Shoes” kicks off at 7:30 AM, guiding runners down a stretch of Woodward Avenue. It is a fantastic community-focused event catering to participants of all ages. Medals are proudly awarded to top finishers across various age brackets, merging athletic wellness with regional car culture.
Whether you’re a competitive runner looking for a scenic race course or a car enthusiast wanting to explore the Woodward layout from a new vantage point, this run is an excellent kickoff to the weekend.
To secure your entry, pre-register online at www.CruiseinShoes.com/registration or sign up on race morning at Royal Oak Shrine High School.
COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY SCHEDULE of EVENTS
City of Berkley
Friday, August 14, 2026:
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM: The Annual CruiseFest Classic Car Parade, running on West 12 Mile Road between Coolidge and Greenfield Road.
4:00 PM – 9:00 PM: Official Woodward Dream Cruise Merchandise and Collectibles Booth open at West 12 Mile Road and Woodward Avenue.
Saturday, August 15, 2026:
9:00 AM – 9:00 PM: Official Woodward Dream Cruise Merchandise stands fully open at West 12 Mile Road and Woodward Avenue. Additional information is available at www.berkleymich.org/cruisefest.
City of Birmingham (The Cruising Halfway Point)
Saturday, August 15, 2026:
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM: The Birmingham Cruise Classic Car Show, located at South Old Woodward Avenue and Maple Road, extending to Lincoln Street.
All Day Features: This pristine layout includes an extraordinary classic car display, high-end interactive sponsor installations, premium retail booths, and local food vendors. Birmingham offers an immaculate urban environment to walk freely among rare vintage vehicles while enjoying upscale dining and shopping. Learn more at www.AllinBirmingham.com/CruiseEvent.
City of Ferndale
Friday, August 14, 2026 (Nine Mile Road & Woodward Avenue):
1:00 PM – 7:00 PM: The Ferndale Emergency Vehicle Show, showcasing pristine vintage police cruisers, fire trucks, and historic service vehicles.
5:00 PM: The Official Woodward Dream Cruise Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on the main stage.
5:30 PM: The Lights & Sirens Cruise (processing from East Nine Mile Road north to 11 Mile Road and returning).
12:00 PM – 7:00 PM: The Kids Car Club Zone, featuring interactive child-friendly activities.
12:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Live Quarter Midget Racing demonstrations.
1:00 PM – 9:30 PM: Live music on the Rock’n Live Entertainment Stage.
Saturday, August 15, 2026 (Nine Mile Road & Woodward Avenue):
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM: The Famous Mustang Alley – A massive, dedicated showcase featuring rare Shelby variants, limited-production SVT models, and immaculate classic Ford Mustangs spanning generations.
10:00 AM – 7:00 PM: Kids Car Club Zone remains open.
11:00 AM – 9:30 PM: Live music presentations on the Rock’n Live Entertainment Stage. Discover full details at www.FerndaleDreamCruise.com.
City of Royal Oak
Friday, August 14, 2026:
12:00 PM – 7:00 PM: The Performance Park Classic Car Show, assembling an incredible display of custom hot rods and investment-grade restorations.
All Day: Official merchandise stands and bespoke automotive art booths open across the downtown core.
Saturday, August 15, 2026:
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM: The Cruise In Shoes 5K Run kicks off at Royal Oak Shrine High School.
8:00 AM – 8:00 PM: Performance Park Classic Car Show public hours.
9:00 AM – 9:00 PM: Official Woodward Dream Cruise merchandise stands, automotive marketplace vendors, and a premium food court operate all day.
City of Pleasant Ridge
Saturday, August 15, 2026:
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM: The Featured Ford Bronco Show at Woodward Avenue and Oakland Park Boulevard, showcasing highly collectible classic first-generation Broncos alongside modern custom variants.
All Day: Official event memorabilia stands fully active at the intersection of Woodward Avenue and Oakland Park Boulevard.
City of Pontiac (The Official Finish Line)
Friday, August 14 & Saturday, August 15, 2026:
Pontiac Classic Car Show: Featuring a vast display of historic muscle cars, custom restomods, and rare vintage Detroit steel.
M1 Concourse Activity: Special high-performance track displays and vehicle gatherings on the property.
All Day Experience: Live stage entertainment, classic food courts, and official merchandise tents operating across the historic downtown area. Learn more at www.pontiac.mi.us.
ABOUT THE M1 CONCOURSE & CAR CLUB
The prestigious M1 Concourse is set to host an exhilarating schedule featuring live entertainment, historic car displays, and unique driving experiences for serious collectors on the Champion Motor Speedway. This state-of-the-art facility celebrates the spirit of the Woodward Dream Cruise with an uncompromising focus on collector car preservation and performance engineering.
The 2026 event holds tremendous significance across the automotive community. Celebrations will honor milestone anniversaries of classic high-performance platforms, including rare, early V8 iterations of the legendary Chevrolet Corvette, alongside historic drag-racing provenance surrounding legendary MOPAR and Ramchargers packages that dominated American asphalt decades ago.
For the elite enthusiast, the M1 Concourse stands as a premier destination during the cruise, perfectly bridging the rich manufacturing history of the Motor City with the modern performance collector market.
Read About Detroit’s Woodward Cruise on Facebook…
