Want to Maximize Your Show Investment? Here's Our Tried-and-Proven Guide for a Productive and Rewarding Show Experience

Leveraging the SEMA Show

By Michael Imlay

Anticipation is running high for the 2026 SEMA Show, November 3-6, at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). As of press time, more than 2,200 exhibiting brands were making final preparations for the industry’s largest annual trade event. That means there will be literally thousands of new and featured products for attendees to discover. But that’s not all: As veteran attendees will tell you, no two SEMA Shows are ever alike, and this year’s gathering will see some exciting changes since the aftermarket last convened at SEMA 2025.

First there’s the newly renovated convention center itself. Attendees will arrive at a modernized, state-of-the-art campus spanning millions of square feet of display and meeting space. More importantly, they’ll find an LVCC interior featuring improved lighting, access points, and easier navigation between halls. This is sure to enhance buyer and media connections with exhibitors and the Show’s many exciting features.

Among those features will be an expanded Powersports/SxS/Lifestyle section in the West Hall, along with outdoor powersports activations in the adjacent Diamond Lot. The hall is also home to truck, SUV, off-road and recreation-related exhibitors, underscoring their synergy with the rapidly growing powersports and adventure lifestyle markets.

There will be other surprises as well. This is a Show that continues to evolve, and with organizers and exhibitors entering the home stretch of their preparations, now is also the time for buying attendees to finalize their game plans. To assist, we present our annual SEMA magazine attendee checklist. Whether you’re a first-time or returning Showgoer, following the steps we lay out here will go a long way toward ensuring a profitable SEMA Show experience.

With organizers and exhibitors entering the home stretch of their preparations, now is also the time for buying attendees to finalize their Show plans…

From travel arrangements to mapping Show priorities, planning ahead goes a long way toward getting the most from your SEMA Week.

30 Days Out

1. Finalize Your Hotel and Travel

Don’t get sidetracked in the last-minute rush to Las Vegas and the convention center. Now is the ideal time to book and/or confirm your hotel and travel for the best possible room rates. In addition, you’ll also want to think carefully about how you’ll traverse Las Vegas, especially to and from the SEMA Show. Note that the city’s streets can get busy, and parking near the LVCC is virtually non-existent—making ridesharing, taxis, the Las Vegas monorail or the LV Loop from adjacent hotels your best commuting options. (See p. 40.)

2. Determine Your Show Goals

Brainstorming what you want to achieve at the Show is the key to a successful SEMA Week, not to mention a healthy return on your investment. Having a list of goals helps prioritize where to spend time each day. Ask yourself what’s most important to your business—finding new products, exploring the latest trends, taking in as many business meetings as possible, brushing up on industry education or a combination of all the above? Once you’ve settled on your goals, planning a manageable and efficient daily itinerary becomes that much easier.

Brainstorming what you want to achieve at the Show is the key to a successful SEMA Week, not to mention a healthy return on your investment…

3. Consult Official SEMA Planning Tools

Show organizers have developed a range of tools to assist in schedule planning and navigating your way to all the Show’s exhibitors, events and features. First, you’ll want to visit the official online floorplan and exhibitor directory at semashow.com/floorplan to search exhibitors by category, company, booth number or product category. In addition, semashow.com also features planning tools at semashow.com/plan where you can pre-select education sessions, events and exhibitor booths to build a Show itinerary and gain other insights to prepare for the big event.

Even better, you can “put the entire Show in your pocket” via the official SEMA Show app, which you can download free from your mobile device’s native app store. The app allows you to bookmark exhibitors, schedule appointments, make and retain notes and get turn-by-turn directions as you navigate the LVCC campus. Simply search “SEMA Show” in your app store to find and download it.

4. Draw Up Your Priorities List

We’ve already alluded to this above, but we can’t emphasize enough that deciding now who and what you’ll most want to see at the Show will pay dividends once you’re actually there. Start by creating an advance list of the exhibitors that particularly interest you, map out your route to see them and then add your “can’t-miss” Show features and events. Here are some top suggestions:

We can’t emphasize enough that deciding now who and what you’ll most want to see at the Show will pay dividends once you’re actually there…

The South Hall’s New Products Showcase is among the Show’s top destinations for attendees and media.

The New Products Showcase (located near the main registration area in the Lower South Hall) is an all-important first stop for most attendees. The Showcase presents the industry’s latest and greatest product offerings. Plus, with the Show app, you can scan and save information for the products that catch your eye and map a route to their respective exhibitors.

As previously mentioned, the West Hall’s revamped and expanded Powersports, SxS & Lifestyle section highlights a rapidly growing sector with ties to the truck, off-road, overlanding and recreational categories. Embracing UTVs, ATVs, motorcycles and more, this section encompasses performance, appearance and ancillary products, as well as a wide range of emerging opportunities.

The SEMA FutureTech Studio, located in the Central Hall, features industry innovations in alternative propulsion, advanced manufacturing and tooling, and other breakthrough technologies reshaping the aftermarket. The Studio’s education stage also presents thought-provoking discussions covering a variety of innovation-related topics.

Located this year in the LVCC Central Hall, the SEMA Battle of the Builders Presented by Mothers High Performance Car Care adds a motorcycle category for 2026.

SEMA Battle of the Builders Presented by Mothers High Performance Car Care, now located in Central Hall showcases the automotive industry’s most talented builders as they compete for one of the aftermarket’s highest honors. From groundbreaking custom vehicles to cutting-edge craftsmanship, the competition celebrates innovation, creativity, and passion that drives car culture forward. New for this year, the Motorcycle Builder Shootout shines a spotlight on elite custom bike builders, recognizing the artistry, engineering and individuality that define motorcycle culture.

Positioned this year in the front of the Central Hall Members Lounge upstairs, the SEMA Art Walk draws crowds of enthusiasts in search of automotive art for home and office. Be sure to stroll through and shop the many works created by celebrated industry artists.

Outdoor activations demonstrate the industry’s latest and greatest products in action—plus they’re a thrill to see.

Outdoor activations and feature vehicle displays are designed not only to thrill your senses but raise your awareness of the latest aftermarket products, trends and innovations. See industry applications up close on vehicle platforms and put through their paces in action-packed demonstrations.

SEMA Education sessions deliver new insights, understanding and skills across a range of business and technical topics. SEMA education sessions take place in North Hall conference rooms and are all free of charge, while satellite education hubs and stages are also conveniently located elsewhere in the LVCC to showcase learning opportunities across collision repair and the global tire community through partners SCRS, TIA and I-CAR. (See p. 170 for more information.)

Throughout Show Week

As you schedule each day’s activities, make sure to carve out “unstructured time” for “discovery tours” of the LVCC halls.

Once you arrive at the Show, it’s time to put all the above pre-planning into practice. Keep in mind your central mission: forging connections and maximizing your Show experience. Here are some tips:

1. Stick to a Daily Navigation Strategy

To effectively cover a Show as expansive as SEMA, you’ll want to think methodically. Bouncing back and forth across the sprawling LVCC campus is a haphazard approach and not very effective. Instead, leverage the Show’s categorized layout. Group each day’s meetings and other to-do’s by hall or Show sections to save time in foot travel. When you can, take advantage of the LVCC’s Vegas Loop, with three main stations on the Show campus, to save time covering ground between the West, Central, North and South Halls.

Using the LVCC’s Vegas Loop can save significant travel time between the Show’s West, Central, North and South Halls.

2. Leverage the SEMA Show App

Leading up to SEMA Week, the app has been a helpful planning tool, but now it becomes your true Show workhorse. As mentioned earlier, it’s ideal for scanning New Products Showcase items and locating their exhibitors on the Show floor. The app can also scan feature-vehicle signage to get a list of the build parts and the brands offering them. The app’s notes feature further helps you keep track of your booth visits and/or meetings and what was discussed for follow-up later.

3. Attend Networking and Special Events

From just before opening on Tuesday through its end on Friday, the SEMA Show delivers many fun events for learning, entertainment and networking. Taking advantage of these opportunities for casual exchanges with peers can advance your business connections, knowledge and success within the industry. The following are some especially popular suggestions:

The SEMA Show Kickoff Breakfast slated for Tuesday, November 3, at 7:00 a.m. (with program starting at 7:20 a.m.). Held each year prior to Show opening, this event features SEMA’s New Product Awards, interviews with well-known industry icons and plenty of peer camaraderie.

The SEMA Industry Honors, Thursday evening, November 5, at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, begins with a 6:00 p.m. reception before segueing into SEMA’s annual industry awards program in the BlueLive Theater at 7:00 p.m. (See “SEMA Into the Night” on p. 86 for details).

SEMA Council and Network events meanwhile run throughout SEMA Week. Presented by the association’s many dedicated industry groups, these receptions, mixers and special programs cater to specific industry sectors and their professional interests. Refer to the SEMA Show schedule (semashow.com) for further information.

The SEMA Cruise: Starting at 4:00 p.m., Friday, November 6, this annual event will see a seemingly endless stream of Show vehicles parade out of the LVCC, marking the trade event’s close. The Cruise has become a wildly popular tradition, with Showgoers and local crowds lining the parade route to cheer on all the rolling eye candy.

SEMA Fest caps off SEMA Week with the industry’s celebration of music and car culture featuring headline bands and high-energy automotive entertainment. With doors opening at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, November 6, it’s a fun atmosphere for unwinding and mingling with peers after a full week of business. (See “SEMA Into the Night” on p. 86 for further details).

4. Exchange Contact Information and Track Connections

Obviously, you’ll want to get contact info from every business connection you make—and, of course, exchange yours. But don’t simply trade business cards: Record notes for future reference whenever you can. Again, you can save exhibitors’ info in the SEMA Show app by “starring” them and entering your notes there. (Your data will remain accessible long after the Show ends.)

Additionally, many at the Show like to exchange LinkedIn and other business profiles. Whatever your preferences, make sure you use a method that keeps post-Show review and follow-up simple, complete and organized.

5. Keep Abreast of SEMA Show Highlights via SEMA Live

There’s a lot going on at the Show, and it’s impossible to be two places at once. But don’t despair if your busy schedule prevents you from attending a key event or two. There’s always SEMA Live, the Show’s official livestream coverage of each day’s highlight activities and personalities. Check the live-stream regularly to review any events you may have missed and/or discover any new exhibitions, demonstrations or features you may want to visit when your schedule permits. You can also share Show content with colleagues who are unable attend the trade gathering. SEMA Live is accessible via the Show’s Facebook or YouTube channels.

After the Show

The most successful SEMA Show attendees are those who nurture the relationships and knowledge they gained during SEMA Week. Follow-through is essential and begins as soon as you return to your office or shop. Fortunately, the process is simple…

The most successful SEMA Show attendees are those who nurture the relationships and knowledge they gained during SEMA Week. Follow-through is essential…

1. Review and Organize Your Contacts

Begin by reviewing all the contacts you made, whether you saved them in the SEMA Show app or gathered business cards. Make notes about each contact and why you consider the person a good lead. (You don’t want to forget your conversations as time passes.) Next, prioritize the contacts based on follow-up needs. Separate them into three categories: (a) immediate leads requiring follow-up within the next two weeks, (b) medium-term opportunities for reconnection over the next six months, and (c) long-term relationships to check in with over the next 12 months.

Determine who falls into each category according to your goals. Is the contact a potential new vendor with a hot product you liked? A price issue you need to resolve? Those are obviously immediate follow-ups. Other relationships might be ones you want to solidify over time but don’t want to forget as the year progresses. Plan accordingly.

2. Share Your Show Insights With Your Team

You may have attended the Show alone or with teammates. Either way, a team debriefing back at your business will ensure the momentum goes forward and action items get done. Discuss the products or trends discovered at the Show, along with the connections made with exhibitors and other leads. Share any new ideas learned through SEMA Education seminars and other Show events or features. This helps extend your Show investment across your entire business.

3. Cultivate Ongoing Relationships

As the months progress, the contact notes you made during and immediately after the Show will become especially important here. Confirm the agreements made with your contacts, whether they be pricing commitments, product or sample orders, or requests for further information. Regular check-ins will keep you top of mind and cement your relationships. This is the all-essential, proven strategy for capitalizing on your Show investment long after SEMA Week ends.