SEMA is coming back to Las Vegas November 3–6, 2026, bringing thousands of custom cars, aftermarket manufacturers, builders and automotive industry professionals to the Las Vegas Convention Center. And if you’ve lived in Vegas long enough, you know the show doesn’t stay inside the Convention Center.
For about a week, you’ll see everything from six-figure custom builds being unloaded outside Strip hotels to lifted trucks and exotic cars cruising around town. The bars around the Convention Center fill up with industry people, companies throw parties all over the city, and some of the biggest business deals of the year happen over drinks long after the show floor closes.
The SEMA Show is the largest automotive aftermarket trade show in the world, and it’s where manufacturers introduce new products, builders show off their latest projects, and shops from around the country come to see what’s new. But there’s a hell of a lot more going on during SEMA week than what’s happening on the convention floor.
Here’s a look at what to expect from SEMA 2026, including the cars, special events, industry parties and Friday’s SEMA Fest concert.
SEMA Show 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center
SEMA takes over the entire Las Vegas Convention Center at 3150 Paradise Road, with roughly 1.1 million square feet of indoor exhibits and another million square feet of outdoor displays and activities.
Organizers say the 2026 show floor is already close to sold out. Last year’s event attracted 131,942 attendees, 2,283 exhibitors and visitors from 140 countries, giving you an idea of just how big this thing has become.
Show hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday.
Tuesday through Thursday are reserved for registered automotive industry professionals. Friday, November 6, is open to the public, giving car enthusiasts who aren’t in the industry a chance to check out the show.
If you’ve never been, don’t expect to walk through the entire thing in a couple of hours. SEMA is enormous, and even people who attend every year don’t come close to seeing everything.
A few things worth knowing before you go:
- Know which halls you want to hit. If you’re into trucks, off-road builds and overlanding, you’ll probably spend most of your time in West Hall and the outdoor display areas. Central and North Halls have plenty of hot rods, custom builds, restomods and imports. The expanded Powersports, SxS and Lifestyle section is also in West Hall this year.
- Check out the New Products Showcase. Last year, more than 1,300 new products were displayed across 15 categories. It’s one of the better places to see what manufacturers are coming out with before you spend hours walking individual booths.
- Wear comfortable shoes. Seriously. You can easily walk 10 miles in a day at SEMA, especially if you’re checking out the outdoor lots along with the main halls.
The Cars: Custom Builds, Hot Rods, Trucks and Everything in Between
One of the best parts of SEMA is seeing what builders have been working on all year. Some of these cars have been kept completely under wraps until the show, and you’ll find everything from old-school hot rods and completely rebuilt classics to ridiculous off-road trucks, exotic cars and custom builds that probably cost more than most people’s houses.
Major aftermarket brands spend serious money putting together vehicles specifically for their SEMA booths, and some of the smaller shops use the show to get their name in front of the industry.
Battle of the Builders
One of the biggest competitions of the week is SEMA’s Battle of the Builders, where some of the country’s top custom car builders compete for the overall title.
Categories include Hot Rod & Hot Rod Truck, 4 Wheel Drive & Off-Road, and Sport Compact/Import/Luxury & Exotic. There’s also the BFGoodrich Young Guns competition for builders 29 and younger.
Judges narrow each category down to ten finalists before the builders themselves help select the winners and overall champion.
Last year’s top honor went to Troy Trepanier for his 1936 Ford Roadster. For 2026, SEMA is also adding a new Bike Builder Shootout, giving custom motorcycle builders their own competition.
Custom Builds and Outdoor Displays
You don’t have to follow the competitions to see some incredible cars. Just walking through the manufacturer booths and outdoor lots is half the fun.
You’ll find everything from restored muscle cars and modern performance builds to massive lifted trucks, rock crawlers, overlanding rigs and side-by-sides loaded with aftermarket equipment.
If you’re more interested in off-road vehicles than show cars, make sure you leave plenty of time for West Hall and the outdoor exhibits.
Keys to Ride Giveaway
One lucky automotive shop will leave SEMA with a custom 2025 Ram 2500 outfitted with products from Lippert brands.
Six finalists have already been selected, with the winner scheduled to receive the keys Thursday, November 5, at 10 a.m. at Lippert’s booth #55103 in West Hall.
The SEMA Cruise: One of the Best Free Car Events in Vegas
If you’re a local and don’t have an industry badge, this is one event you should definitely check out.
The SEMA Cruise takes place Friday afternoon as the show wraps up and hundreds of the custom vehicles that have been on display all week start rolling out of the Convention Center.
And the best part? It’s free to watch.
Last year’s Cruise featured more than 1,200 vehicles making their way down Convention Center Drive between 4 and 7:30 p.m. It’s a chance to see many of these cars actually running rather than just sitting under convention hall lights.
The 2026 Cruise is confirmed for Friday, November 6, although the final route hasn’t been released yet. If you’re planning to watch, get there early because the sidewalks fill up quickly.
SEMA Week Parties and After-Hours Events
Anyone who’s attended SEMA knows that a lot of the action starts once the Convention Center closes.
Manufacturers host customer parties, industry associations hold receptions, and there are plenty of unofficial events around town. Some are private, some require a SEMA badge, and others are open to anyone who wants to show up.
We’ve put together a separate SEMA Show 2026 Party List with the receptions, happy hours, networking events and after-parties happening throughout the week.
Here are some of the bigger events on the calendar.
Monday, November 2: SEMA Kickoff Parties
SEMA officially starts Tuesday, but plenty of people get into town over the weekend, and Monday night has become the unofficial start of the party.
Downtown Las Vegas is hosting the Annual SEMA Kick-Off Party at the Plaza and Hogs & Heifers OUTPOST beginning at 6 p.m. Expect custom vehicles, motorcycles, plenty of drinking and the usual downtown craziness.
If you’re attending AAPEX, there’s also an Opening Reception at the Venetian Expo from 6 to 7:30 p.m. for registered badge holders.
Tuesday, November 3: Industry Receptions and Networking
Tuesday is one of the busiest nights for SEMA’s industry councils, with several receptions scheduled at the Convention Center and nearby hotels.
The Truck & Off-Road Alliance (TORA) Happy Hour begins at 4 p.m. in West Hall. Starting at 5 p.m., the Future Leaders Network, Professional Restylers Organization, Wheel, Tire, Suspension & Brake Council and the new Motorcycle & Powersports Council have their own receptions at the LVCC.
The Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO) Reception starts at 5:30 p.m. at the Westgate, with restoration industry awards and networking.
For something a little less formal, Detailers of Las Vegas is hosting its 8th Annual SEMA Kickoff Party from 6 to 11 p.m., with food, drinks and raffles.
Wednesday, November 4: Hot Rods, Off-Road and After-Parties
Wednesday brings another round of industry events, beginning with the PRO booth happy hour at 4 p.m., which includes the PRO Cup Challenge winners.
The SEMA Businesswomen’s Network and Truck & Off-Road Alliance receptions begin at 5 p.m., while the Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) Reception runs from 5:15 to 7:30 p.m. in Ballroom A at the Westgate.
Later that evening, SEMA’s official after-hours partner Jampack is hosting an open-bar networking event from 8 to 10 p.m.
Thursday, November 5: SEMA Industry Honors and After-Parties
Thursday is traditionally one of the bigger nights of SEMA week, with the annual SEMA Industry Honors moving to the BleauLive Theater at Fontainebleau Las Vegas for 2026.
Doors and bars open at 6 p.m., with the awards ceremony starting at 7:30 p.m. The event recognizes several of the industry’s top people, including Person of the Year and Content Creator of the Year.
Tickets are $50 and include an open bar, with live music and an after-party following the ceremony. By Las Vegas standards, that’s not a bad deal for a night out.
The collision repair crowd also has the SCRS Sky Villa Afterparty at the Westgate starting at 9 p.m. Tickets are limited, so this is one you’ll want to arrange ahead of time.
SEMA Fest 2026: The Offspring, Jimmy Eat World and 311
SEMA Fest returns Friday, November 6, bringing live music, drifting, motorcycles and exotic cars to the Bronze Lot next to the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Unlike the regular SEMA trade show, SEMA Fest is open to the public and all ages.
This year’s lineup features The Offspring, Jimmy Eat World, 311 and The Alive, with gates opening at 3 p.m.
SEMA Fest 2026 Concert Schedule
| Time | Performance |
|---|---|
| 3:00 p.m. | Gates open and exotic car displays |
| 4:00–4:40 p.m. | The Alive |
| 5:10–6:10 p.m. | 311 |
| 6:50–8:00 p.m. | Jimmy Eat World |
| 8:40–9:55 p.m. | The Offspring |
In addition to the concerts, the event features Optima Unleashed drifting demonstrations and the Globe of Death, where motorcycle riders perform inside a steel cage.
Supercar Saturdays Florida is also bringing a collection of exotic vehicles from Miami, including Ferraris, Lamborghinis, McLarens and Koenigseggs.
SEMA Fest Tickets and Admission
General admission tickets for the concert start at $80, while a combination ticket that includes access to the SEMA Show floor and SEMA Fest costs $170.
Both VIP ticket tiers are already sold out, and organizers say there won’t be ticket sales at the gate.
Tickets are available at SEMAFest.com.
One thing to keep in mind: Your regular SEMA Show badge does not include admission to SEMA Fest. You’ll need a separate concert ticket.
Getting to SEMA Fest
Don’t count on parking at the Convention Center. Your better options are rideshare, the Las Vegas Monorail or the Vegas Loop.
The Monorail runs until 3 a.m. Friday night, making it a convenient option if you’re staying on the Strip. The Vegas Loop is also free for travel between Convention Center stations.
A Few Tips for Surviving SEMA Week in Las Vegas
If you’re coming in from out of town, plan ahead. Hotels, restaurants and transportation around the Convention Center get busy, and it’s not unusual to see a lot of the nearby bars and steakhouses packed with SEMA attendees.
Make dinner reservations ahead of time. If you’re planning a business dinner anywhere near the Convention Center or the Strip, don’t assume you’ll be able to walk in with a group of eight people and get a table.
Sign up for the industry receptions. Some of the best networking events during SEMA are free, but many still require advance registration. Check the event requirements before showing up.
Avoid driving around the Convention Center if you can. Traffic along Paradise Road, Desert Inn and the surrounding streets can be a nightmare during the show, especially when everyone starts leaving around 5 p.m. If you’re staying on the Strip, the Monorail may save you a lot of aggravation.
Don’t try to do everything in one day. Between the massive show floor, outdoor exhibits and parties every night, SEMA can wear you out pretty quickly. Figure out which exhibits and events matter most before you arrive.
If you’re a Vegas local, Friday is your day. With public access to the show floor, the SEMA Cruise and SEMA Fest all happening on November 6, there’s plenty to do even if you don’t work in the automotive industry.
And if you’re coming for the parties, we’ve got those covered too.
Check out our complete SEMA Show 2026 Party List and After-Hours Events Guide for the latest receptions, industry happy hours, kickoff parties and other events taking place around Las Vegas during SEMA week.
