Let the Challenge Begin. A call for tractors, engines and battery

The sirens of Agritechnica are already at work. In Hannover, the Tractor of the Year 2026 will also take the stage, preceded by “Let the Challenge Begin.” We’re in Rome, where around 80 industry professionals have gathered, including journalists, influencers, OEMs, and the sponsor, well known as BKT.

Let the challenge begin. Who’s who

The kick-off event, aptly named “Let the Challenge Begin,” organized in partnership with BKT, returned to the Italian capital for the second time in the award’s history, offering a unique virtual showcase of all candidate tractors selected for the final phase of the competition. As per the official rules, manufacturers had the opportunity to present their contenders to the international jury—an expert panel made up of 26 journalists from 25 different European countries, each representing a leading agricultural publication.

This year, the TOTY family welcomed a new wave of digital talent with the introduction of young content creators acting as TOTY Ambassadors. Carefully selected for their ability to communicate technical and agronomic content in an engaging and effective way via social media, these creators are set to become a growing voice in the future of agricultural communication.

More in detail

19 tractors from 15 major brands are lined up at the starting gate: Case IH, Fendt, JCB, Claas, McCormick, Valtra, New Holland, Zetor, Landini, Kioti, Antonio Carraro, BCS, Goldoni, Solis, and TAFE.

The award categories for 2026 are confirmed:

TOTY HighPower – for tractors above 300 hp;

TOTY MidPower – for models ranging from 150 to 280 hp;

TOTY Utility – for conventional multitasking tractors between 70 and 140 hp, equipped with a maximum 4-cylinder engine and an operating weight up to 10,000 kg;

TOTY Specialized – dedicated to tractors designed for orchards, vineyards, hills, and mountain farming with power over 40 hp.

Five tractors competing in these four categories will be shortlisted for the TOTY Sustainable Award, that celebrates the efforts to reduce the environmental impact of modern farming. Also back for its second year is TOTYBOT, the category dedicated to autonomous tractors—cabless, either in prototype or commercial stage, with traditional, hybrid, or electric propulsion, and equipped with a three-point hitch for standard implements.

TOTY’s chairman and BKT Europe

“With Let the Challenge Begin, we celebrate not only the excellence of agricultural tractors but also the spirit of innovation and collaboration that drives our industry. We are excited to welcome manufacturers, journalists, and young influencers to kick off a new and exciting edition of TotY,” said Fabio Zammaretti, Chairman of Tractor of the Year.

“We are glad to support once again an initiative like the Tractor of the Year that focuses on innovation and performance, two values strongly in line with our desire to offer increasingly advanced solutions to OEMs and industry operators. Events like this represent an important opportunity for dialogue and discussion with leading European manufacturers, and fuel our ongoing commitment to an increasingly efficient future,” added Lucia Salmaso, Managing Director, BKT Europe.