{"id":604,"date":"2026-09-18T11:06:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-18T11:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/auto-repair-software\/?p=604"},"modified":"2026-09-21T02:37:36","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T02:37:36","slug":"sema-2026-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/auto-repair-software\/guide\/sema-2026-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Your guide to SEMA 2026\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether it\u2019s your first time attending or you\u2019re a returning face, here\u2019s what you need to know about SEMA 2026. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key information<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">SEMA 2026 runs <strong>November 3\u20136<\/strong> at the <strong>Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC)<\/strong>. It\u2019s a trade-only event. But it is open to the public on <strong>Friday, November 6<\/strong>. The show hours are from 9 am to 5 pm for the first three days and from 9 am to 4 pm on Friday.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is the SEMA Show?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Specialty Equipment Market Association holds the largest automotive trade show in the country every year. SEMA is where the industry goes to see new products and custom vehicle builds, connect with shop owners, technicians, distributors, and builders, and hear directly from industry experts. This year\u2019s numbers are massive, with more than 160,000 attendees, 70,000+ buyers from 140+ countries, 2,000+ exhibiting brands, and 1,000+ vehicle builds.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why Attend SEMA 2026?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">SEMA brings the automotive industry together each November, and this year it brings a newly renovated venue and a larger show overall. A few features that make it worth being a part of SEMA 2026:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>New Products Showcase<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is where more than 3,000 products are displayed before they hit retail stores or e-commerce sites. It\u2019s widely considered one of the top destinations for buyers and media at the show.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>FutureTech Studio<\/strong> &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Central Hall, this feature covers the latest in EV, automation, smart manufacturing, and propulsion technology, alongside short learning sessions from industry leaders.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Mobile Electronics<\/strong> &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Over 100 brands, including Blaupunkt, Cobra Electronics, Stinger, Rockford Fosgate, and Kicker, will showcase advanced audio, dash cam, infotainment, and driver-assist technology.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>SEMA Battle of the Builders<\/strong> &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This vehicle-build competition makes a comeback, with custom car and truck builders competing on craftsmanship and innovation. What\u2019s new this year is a Bike Builder Shootout for custom motorcycles, taking place on the opening day, November 3.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Major Exhibitors &amp; OEM Presence<\/strong> &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Major Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), such as Toyota, Ford, Honda, Nissan, Mitsubishi, and Stellantis, will return to SEMA to showcase their custom-built concepts and performance parts catalogs. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>RAYS Wheels<\/strong> &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">RAYS Wheels will take over Silver Lot 3 for the first time this year, featuring exclusive collector merchandise alongside its new and current wheel lineups.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>SEMA Fest 2026<\/strong> &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">SEMA Fest brings live music and automotive culture together on Friday, November 6, with performances from Jimmy Eat World, The Offspring, 311, and The Alive. Tickets are available through the official SEMA Show website or Tixr, across five tiers including Show+Concert GA and Show+Concert VIP.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Networking\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For most attendees, SEMA is where they source products. But it\u2019s also where dealerships, fleets, service providers, and technology companies can find their potential partners. As vehicle ownership becomes more connected, SEMA has become a place for companies rethinking how they can serve drivers and customers across the ownership journey.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two events have been announced so far: an after-hours networking event on November 4 and a dining experience on November 5.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Seminars and Workshops<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This year\u2019s show includes eight educational tracks plus partner programs, many of which are free with your registration. This is a good opportunity to hear directly from industry experts on where the market is heading.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to Register<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Registration depends on how you\u2019re attending:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Attendee:<\/strong> If you\u2019re an attendee, you require a unique business-domain email address and proof of employment. Registering before September 25 costs $75 (covers an attendee and their spouse); after that date it\u2019s $100. Non-Exhibiting Manufacturers have to pay $399.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Exhibitor:<\/strong> Booth space costs $24.95 per square foot for SEMA\/TIA members and $39.95 per square foot for non-members. The number of free badges your company gets depends entirely on the square footage of your booth space. \u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Know the Floor<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Las Vegas Convention Center is enormous, so knowing where to go saves real time:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td>Hall&nbsp;<\/td><td>Focus Areas&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>West Hall&nbsp;<\/td><td>Powersports\/SxS &amp; lifestyle; restyling &amp; car care accessories; trucks, SUVs, off-road&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>North Hall&nbsp;<\/td><td>First-time &amp; featured exhibitors; business services; mobile electronics &amp; technology&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Central Hall&nbsp;<\/td><td>Racing &amp; performance; hot rod alley; restoration marketplace; FutureTech Studio&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>South Hall Upper&nbsp;<\/td><td>Collision repair &amp; refinish; tools &amp; equipment&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>South Hall Lower&nbsp;<\/td><td>Global Tire Expo; wheels &amp; accessories; New Products Showcase&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For a detailed floor plan, you can visit: <a href=\"https:\/\/sema26.mapyourshow.com\/8_0\/floorplan\/index.cfm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sema26.mapyourshow.com<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Before You Go: Prep Checklist<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Book your hotel and flights early.<\/strong> Las Vegas fills up fast during SEMA week, and rates tend to climb quickly. SEMA\u2019s official housing provider, onPeak, offers discounted rates for showgoers.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Plan your transportation.<\/strong> Las Vegas Convention Center parking will be affected by construction during SEMA Show week, so SEMA recommends using the free hotel shuttles (running to and from 45+ hotels) or the Las Vegas Monorail, which offers discounted, extended-hours service for showgoers. If you\u2019re driving or staying somewhere without shuttle access, you can check parking options near Las Vegas via <a href=\"http:\/\/way.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Way.com<\/a> ahead of time. \u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Pre-schedule meetings<\/strong> with the exhibitors, partners, or contacts you want to see. Walking the floor without a plan wastes time at an event this size.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<section class=\"wrt-faq wp-block-wrt-faq\">\n\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wrt-faq__intro\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"wrt-faq__heading\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t<ul class=\"wrt-faq__list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"wrt-faq__item\">\n\t\t\t\t<details class=\"wrt-faq__disclosure\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"wrt-faq__question\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"wrt-faq__question-text\">What does SEMA stand for?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wrt-faq__glyph\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wrt-faq__answer\"><p>SEMA stands for Specialty Equipment Market Association. It is the trade association behind the SEMA Show, the largest annual automotive specialty equipment and aftermarket trade event in the U.S.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"wrt-faq__item\">\n\t\t\t\t<details class=\"wrt-faq__disclosure\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"wrt-faq__question\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"wrt-faq__question-text\">When is SEMA 2026?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wrt-faq__glyph\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wrt-faq__answer\"><p>November 3\u20136, 2026.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"wrt-faq__item\">\n\t\t\t\t<details class=\"wrt-faq__disclosure\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"wrt-faq__question\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"wrt-faq__question-text\">Where is SEMA 2026 held?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wrt-faq__glyph\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wrt-faq__answer\"><p>The Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) in Las Vegas, Nevada.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"wrt-faq__item\">\n\t\t\t\t<details class=\"wrt-faq__disclosure\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"wrt-faq__question\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"wrt-faq__question-text\">Is SEMA open to the public?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wrt-faq__glyph\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wrt-faq__answer\"><p>It\u2019s trade-only for most of the week. The public can only attend on Friday, November 6, for the SEMA Fest.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"wrt-faq__item\">\n\t\t\t\t<details class=\"wrt-faq__disclosure\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<summary class=\"wrt-faq__question\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"wrt-faq__question-text\">How much are the SEMA tickets?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wrt-faq__glyph\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wrt-faq__answer\"><p>If you\u2019re an attendee, registration is $75 before September 25 and $100 after, while Non-Exhibiting Manufacturers have to pay $399. The exhibitor costs depend on booth size and membership status.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\n\t<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Your practical guide to SEMA 2026: key dates, registration details, floor navigation, and how to make the most of Las Vegas\u2019s biggest automotive event. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":605,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_wrt_schema_jsonld":"","_wrt_schema_jsonld_mode":"append","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-604","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry-insights"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/auto-repair-software\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/604","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/auto-repair-software\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/auto-repair-software\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/auto-repair-software\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/auto-repair-software\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=604"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/auto-repair-software\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/604\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":612,"href":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/auto-repair-software\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/604\/revisions\/612"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/auto-repair-software\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/605"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/auto-repair-software\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=604"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/auto-repair-software\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=604"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.way.com\/auto-repair-software\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=604"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}