After VW stepped in to confirm it would save the annual Wörthersee GTI festival earlier this year and shift it to its headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany, the carmaker has confirmed the 2024 event will run from July 26 to July 28.
The legendary GTI Meeting started on the edge of Lake Wörthersee in Austria in 1982 and was held there on an annual basis. However, the municipality of Maria Wörth confirmed in February this year that it would no longer host the event because of its environmental impact.
Next year’s event is being promoted under the motto ‘Coming Home – Reloaded’ and will take place in the vicinity of the VfL Wolfsburg stadium in the city. The event won’t only play host to a series of vehicle presentations but also stage shows, club meets, other activities, and “surprises for GTI enthusiasts.”
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“The GTI isn’t the only icon – the GTI Meeting has also acquired cult status over the decades,” VW member of the Board of Management for Sales, Marketing and After Sales, Imelda Labbé said. “We feel it’s important to give the GTI community a new home at the heart of our brand here in Wolfsburg!” Volkswagen is giving fans plenty of time to make their plans by announcing the date early: The big GTI party will be held on the last weekend in July 2024.”
The inaugural GTI meet at Lake Wörthersee attracted just 100 participants but it quickly grew and at its peak, attracted some 200,000 enthusiasts. The Austrian town which became world-famous because of the event says it will redevelop the spaces used by the festival to create greener facilities that locals and visitors can enjoy. There’s little doubt that its decision to no longer host the event will have an economic impact, however.
