Following the loss of several mainland UK shows in recent years, Dubshed, having always been the Irish season opener, has now become that to many enthusiasts from Scotland, England and Wales. A lot of people are taking advantage of the short trip across the water to sample the thriving show scene in Northern Ireland. Many are entering their cars, while some simply fly over for the weekend to spectate.

This year, the Irish hardcore also had to brave not only the ever-changeable weather, but fuel protests, roadblocks and fuel shortages on the island, which added hours to some of their journeys.

Originally a VAG only event, literally Dubs in a shed, founded in 2010 by GTINI, the show now welcomes all makes. One indoor hall is dedicated to the UK & Irelands best German cars, and a second hall is for all other makes & models. There are also several hundred outdoor show cars exhibited across the weekend.

The traders put on an impressive display too, with local & national vendors drawing the crowds and showing off their products for the new season. Headline sponsors Storm Competitions had some dream metal on display, while a local garage equipment company brought a 2-post lift and put a Mk5 Golf on it! Irish YouTube favourites Drift Games were a big attraction in the all-makes hall, showing off their Liberty Walk kitted cars and unveiling some of their new builds on the first day of the show.

The sweet trophies were inspired by the shows VAG roots and the 50th anniversary of the GTI

Other attractions included live action drifting – with passenger rides, RC drift cars and planes, BMX battle and even racing lawnmowers! The GTINI crew try to offer something for everyone, allowing families to come along for the day, and hopefully encouraging the next generation of enthusiasts.

The show cars were a wide range of old-school to mark-new, from aircooled Beetles and buses, to Golfs and Jettas across the range from 1-8, Audi Quattros and 80’s coupes to modern Avants, and various Porsches from lightly modified, driver-focused examples to a standout green Singer-esque resto-mod GTR-style 993. Mk1s and Mk2s were well represented, as always, from OEM+ examples, a supercharged R32 swapped Mk1 to a couple of Mk2 vans! There were even a few Seats & Skodas rounding out the VAG group cars, among some BMWs and Mercedes in the German hall.

They say “it takes two” – and alongside two marriage proposals – various pairs of cars helped this years Dubshed “go right”, including husband and wife Martin Gibbons and Denise Bray’s couple of coupes. His, a white Japanese import Vento converted to a two-door, sitting over orange centred RSs. Hers, a brown Mk2 Jetta coupe on body coloured, stepped up RS’s. Aaron Philips twin Passats were another highlight, one a former Car of the Show; a black B5.5 saloon and the second his freshly finished former daily driver, a navy blue B5.5 estate. Both big powered turbo diesels, both with retrimmed Recaro interiors and showing off custom boot builds for their Airlift installs. Paul Glennon showed off two of his collection of Mk3 Golfs, one black with green accents, including Hella colour-magic taillights, on OZ Pegasus and a gold US import car, both more-doors and on air suspension.

Other builds catching attention were Paddy Lynch’s none too subtle Mk4 Anniversary with its huge spoiler, BBS E88s and showing off a colour change for 2026 and Marty Mimnagh’s static low Edition 35 with carbon touches and a highly detailed shaved bay, not easy to achieve on a more modern car!

Each had a numbered plaque, a nod to those used in the anniversary models

Stand outs from the all-types hall included the Drift Games Spirit Rei S13, a red R34 GTR, a Max Power style green Corsa B, Cossie-swapped Ford Popular, shortie Mini and a purple Reiger kitted Mercedes 190E.

To round off the show, prizes had to be awarded and it came time to unveil the unique trophies. Dubshed changes their trophies every year and for 2026 they were inspired by the shows VAG roots and the 50th anniversary of the GTI. The base was a honeycomb lattice from the Mk5 and newer GTI grilles, gearknob from the Mk3s and lasered logos under the grille laid out in the same pattern as the Mk1 seat fabric. Each had a numbered plaque, a nod to those used in the anniversary models.

For the first time ever, a non-German car took the top spot; a green rally inspired Mk2 Ford Escort, with a 2.0l redtop under the bonnet was announced as Car of the Show, to an audible gasp from the crowd! A red VR6 swapped Mk1 Golf narrowly took Runner-up. Some very dedicated Japanese, and other, car enthusiasts and a few ex-VW owners bringing the Euro-style attention to detail are starting to take the fight to the Dubs. Get yourself to NI next year to see how it turns out!