SEMA Fest is the celebration of music and car culture returning by popular demand for 2026.
The 2026 SEMA Fest lineup will feature Queens of the Stone Age, The Black Crowes and Neon Trees as well as pulse pounding automotive features.
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PLEASE NOTE TICKETS ARE CURRENTLY AT THE LOWEST POSSIBLE PRICE. Buy now before prices go up.
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GA – General Admission $39 + tax and service fees (November 5)
While all those who enter the SEMA Show within the Las Vegas Convention Center must be at least 16 years Industry Night will be taking place outside the halls of the Convention Center so the event is open to all ages, but everyone must have a ticket.
Industry Night @ SEMA doors will open at 4:00pm on November 5 with music starting at 5:00pm.
As an industry trade association, SEMA has long offered educational and business- building resources to help members grow their businesses and advance their professional development. Although the annual SEMA Show's education tracks are perhaps the most visible examples of such programs (see p. 48), SEMA actually offers numerous other business- and career-focused networking and learning initiatives in a variety of venues beyond the Show.
"The SEMA Show is a culminating experience that brings the vast specialty automotive industry together, but throughout the course of the year, we reinforce our relationships with the industry through more regionalized events that allow our member communities to come together under the SEMA umbrella," said Zane Clark, SEMA vice president of membership, education, research and councils. "In hosting council and network events in places other than Las Vegas, we strengthen and personalize the relationships built at the Show."
Because the SEMA Show has built such a tremendous marketplace for business and has become synonymous with the industry, many professionals and businesses associate SEMA solely with the Show and are unaware of highly valuable programs and service the association offers throughout the year. Clark is out to change that misperception, and in his mind, it's about outreach and communication.
"There are diverse markets that we currently have relationships with, and which activate at the Show, but don't necessarily see SEMA as a resource that can provide support on a year-round basis," he explains. "So we need to do a better job to communicate our value proposition. We need to understand what each community needs, and build content that's valuable to these groups, and a great way to do that is through networking and education, which we are proficient at doing."
Such outreaches are in SEMA's DNA. As far back as the '90s, the association presented a program known as the SEMA Experience, which consisted of a series of events featuring seminars and panel discussions on industry-related topics as well as after-hours networking. Featured presentations, sponsored at various times by Chevrolet/Geo and Ford Motor Company, also centered on new-business opportunities for member companies to collaborate with the OEMs on their then-current accessory programs.
In addition, SEMA's industry communities, led by its councils and networks, have long provided niche-specific opportunities for education, networking, career and business advancement in Las Vegas, regionally and, increasingly, online. SEMA sees these initiatives as investments in the industry's future, and has continued to evolve the programs to meet the changing needs of SEMA members and the various markets they represent. The following is a brief look at some current and successful programs that SEMA members can tap into.
As a trade association, SEMA's communities encompass nine councils and networks, each representing an industry segment or demographic. Somewhat analogous to a task force, each council or network is comprised of volunteers—business professionals who draw on the collective knowledge of their respective members to tackle issues of common interest and concern, and create strategies and programs that meet their specific members' needs. Two recently successful educational events offered by the SEMA Businesswomen's Network (SBN) and the SEMA Future Leaders Network (FLN) stand out as prime examples of SEMA members expressed interest in professional-development programs.
SBN has been advancing women's professional careers through networking, mentoring and education for three decades. From Gear-Up Girl gatherings, awards recognition and member spotlights to special events, SBN-powered sessions at the SEMA Show and All-Female Builds, the accomplishments rack up. But SBN's roots trace to the mid-'80s—a time when men had the inside track on opportunities to build personal and professional connections. As few such opportunities existed for women, a small coterie of female leaders helped establish the Professional Women's League, which evolved into SBN in 1993. The group now boasts membership of more than 500 women.
Despite some headway, women still face workplace challenges in what remains a predominately male industry. To help women progress in their careers and hone leadership skills, SBN debuted its Women's Leadership Forum in 2022. With the express goal of bringing industry women together in an intimate and relaxed environment, the forum enables participants to focus on personal development, mentoring and leadership through a series of high-powered keynotes, panel discussions, breakout sessions and informal networking activities.
Held in March in Austin, Texas, the theme of this year's forum was "EVOLVE: Advancing the Future of Women in Leadership." Among the topics: "The New Leadership Challenge: Advancing Women's Leadership," "Walking the Glass Floor: Seven Essential Qualities of Women who Lead" and "Women in Leadership: Lifting up the Next Generation of Women in Leadership." Two networking events—a cocktail reception and a dinner—gave participants and speakers a welcome opportunity to wind down and get acquainted.
"It was a great event," declared SEMA Council Director Nicole Bradle. "We experienced 46% growth this year. It's huge to grow that much in one year. The forum offers a safe space for women to come together. When you do that in a welcoming environment where women let down their walls and build relationships with other women, it's very rewarding to see."
SBN Chair Sara Morosan agreed. "We pushed really hard to publicize and increase awareness of the forum, so we were excited to see more women attend." To carry their message forward, SBN utilized last year's Show as a platform to present a four-hour-long women's symposium, she added.
"We held the symposium at the Show to encourage women to attend this year's leadership forum," said Morosan. "The program offered highlights to show how women in the aftermarket can advance their careers. That's what SBN and the Women's Leadership Forum are all about."
For Kelli Gallagher, president of Dee Zee, the leadership forum has been a rewarding experience. Having attended the event since 2022, it presented the chance not only for her own personal enrichment, but to bring other female employees along as well. The women, five of whom attended in 2023 and seven this year, represented a cross section of Dee Zee's workforce, from the production floor to quality-control and human resources.
"Dee Zee has been a member of SEMA for more than 40 years, but I had not gotten deeply involved. I felt it was time," said Gallagher. "I chose SBN as the area to dive in and get involved.
"The Women's Leadership Forum offered a good opportunity to take my female leaders out of the day-to-day environment and give them the educational aspect to enhance their leadership skills and an opportunity to meet other women in the industry. It's been a good experience and something my team has benefited from. I look forward to the event continuing."
For SBN members, there's good news. Next year's forum will head to the East Coast, with future events slated for a more central locale and California. "We're excited to move the forum to different locations," said Morosan. "We want women in other parts of the country to enjoy the same opportunities."
In 1989, the industry recognized the need to nurture aspiring young professionals to help perpetuate the growth and success of the aftermarket industry. And thus, the Young Executives Network (YEN) was born.
In the ensuing years, YEN provided members with networking opportunities with colleagues and influential industry leaders to listen, learn and develop skills to pursue a higher level of professionalism.
In 2022, YEN was rebranded the Future Leaders Network. The new name more accurately reflects the group's membership. The nearly 1,200 members—39 years of age or younger—hold positions throughout the industry, from entry-level staff and trade workers to managers, executives and business owners.
Committed to helping aspiring leaders sharpen their professional and personal skill sets, FLN teamed with world-renowned Dale Carnegie Training to present a leadership training course. The Professional Development Program (PDP) debuted in 2022.
The two-day event is open exclusively to FLN members employed by a SEMA-member company. Attendance is capped at 25 participants. This year's program was held at the SEMA Garage in Detroit in mid-May.
Under the guidance of an experienced Dale Carnegie trainer, attendees were coached on how to enhance communication skills, express confidence in business settings and engage with others by building rapport. The sessions also touched on how to tackle workplace challenges and use new skills to achieve measurable results.
From FLN Chair Matt Beenen's perspective, the PDP's value centers on three factors: location, participants and training. "Having it at the Detroit Garage did a really good job of answering the question, what does SEMA do," said Beenen, the founder of BuiltRight Industries. "It was a great way for people to see and understand that SEMA does a lot more than put on a trade show.
"The exposure to 25 people who share the same passion and want to invest in personal and professional growth adds to the experiences and immediately creates a bond that is stronger than typical business relationships," he added. "The third thing is the quality of the training. It's exceptional. Brett Campbell has been our instructor every year. He not only connects with our group, but is a core piece of the program."
Leanna Moore attended the event in 2023. "The PDP is an amazing program. From the moment we arrived at the SEMA Garage, we were immersed. It was amazing to tour the Garage and see how SEMA helps members. It was a great experience, not only for learning how to become better leaders and coworkers, but also for building bonds with other people."
Moore's investment in herself paid off. Two months after attending the PDP, she was promoted from Wheel Pros' benefit manager to payroll and benefits manager for the Hoonigan organization. "My boss knew I was looking to better myself and they came to me with a position I was looking for. Now I run two departments. If anybody has the opportunity to attend, they absolutely should. It's well worth the effort."
In summing up the PDP experience, SEMA Council Director Denise Waddingham explained, "One of the biggest takeaways is the attendees' personal growth. They not only learn a lot of skills about personal communication and professional growth, they also build a network with cohorts and still have those connections.
"For some people," she added, "this might have been their first experience with a SEMA resource or benefit aside from the Show. Now they could see what [more] we have to offer them, especially hosting it at a SEMA location like the Garage, where they could actually see some of the benefits. It also allows them to get more involved on subcommittees or task forces and in interactions with the association itself."
Based on the program's success, FLN's proposal to expand the PDP in 2025 received thumbs up from the SEMA Board of Directors. The week-long program will still be facilitated by Dale Carnegie, but the format will change.
The PDP will feature two segments. First, a two-day program focused on individual communication, followed by three days for the second PDP on team leadership. Attendance will be limited to 30 FLN members, with further details to be announced.
Alongside the SBN and FLN, SEMA's other councils have created successful programs to help members enhance professional and business growth.
Launched in 1997 to strengthen strategic relationships, the Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC) Media Trade Conference facilitates direct interaction between media professionals and member manufacturers. Meeting face-to-face in a "speed-dating-type format" with journalists, bloggers and qualified content creators over a three-day period, manufacturers share their latest innovations, new-product information and other newsworthy content. This successful formula has helped supply the media with streaming content (print, online, video and even social media) to build brand and consumer awareness and drive sales of performance products.
Similarly, SEMA's Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) is dedicated to ensuring the future of its market segment and to advancing awareness of the hobby. Within this context, the HRIA Education Days initiative has become a critical and popular component of the NSRA Street Rod Nationals, which draws thousands of enthusiasts to its annual car show in Louisville, Kentucky.
During the two-day HRIA program, member manufacturers present sessions aimed at educating enthusiasts and hot-rod builders about their product lines, providing tips and tactics for hot-rod projects, and facilitating mutually beneficial interface between HRIA members and hobbyists.
Now in its third year, SEMA's Emerging Trends & Technology Network (ETTN)/Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Career Fair is a collaborative venture between the SEMA network and the SAE. Most recently convened this spring at the SEMA Garages in Detroit and Diamond Bar, California, the two events drew 316 university and college students keen on kick-starting their automotive careers.
The students, members of Formula and Baja SAE competition teams, were afforded a chance to present their competition builds to industry pros who provided feedback and guidance. They also interacted with business leaders to explore potential internships and employment opportunities.
"The event's success highlighted the passion and value that these students have for the automotive aftermarket," noted SEMA Council Director Nicole Bradle. "It was inspiring to see the connections being made and the excitement that spurred from each conversation."
Ultimately, delivering programs, activities and information in response to the emerging needs of its members is a core element of SEMA's mission. By creating environments that foster learning cultures through seminars, presentations and special events, SEMA has cemented its reputation for providing world-class educational opportunities not only during Show Week, but beyond.
"The point I'd like to underscore is that SEMA is not sitting passively waiting for members and industry professionals to discover everything we have to offer. Rather, we're determined to reach out to them, discern their business and career development needs, and respond with high-quality, relevant programs that they can easily access from wherever they are," concluded Clark.
With exhibiting brands on pace to top 2,400—and hundreds of them participating as first-timers—enthusiasm continues to build for the 2024 SEMA Show, slated for November 5-8, at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). In all, this year's Show will encompass millions of square feet of exhibitor and vehicle displays, new-product introductions, live-action demonstrations, educational events and seminars, and special sections highlighting the latest trends and innovations reshaping the specialty automotive market.
"The SEMA Show is the ultimate gathering for our industry," states SEMA Vice President of Events Tom Gattuso. "For attendees, it is the best place to discover new products and trends, make new business connections, strengthen existing ones, and take their professional careers and businesses from good to great."
While the Show is fast approaching, there is still time to register at semashow.com/register. Attendees can also maximize their Show investment by taking advantage of housing and travel discounts found at the SEMA Show website.
Of course, what an attendee gets out of the Show depends on what you put into it. To truly boost your ROI, you'll want to arrive with a game plan for leveraging the many Show features tailored for attendee success. And that begins with grasping the Show's unique advantages to you and your business.
"The Show presents a once-a-year opportunity to immerse yourself in the industry and see what's happening in the marketplace," explains SEMA Trade Show Director Andy Tompkins.
"With thousands of new products being introduced at the Show, you can see where innovation is headed, spot trends and understand what's coming next. But more than that, you can connect face-to-face with the vendors you're currently doing business with, new vendors that you could be doing business with, and other like-minded business professionals in your field. It's the ideal place to tap into different markets, exchange ideas, cross-pollinate concepts, and really move your operation forward."
"The SEMA Show is unique because we've got industry manufacturers, distributors and end users all in one place at one time," underscores Gattuso. "Business happens at a dynamic, quick pace, so it puts you on the cutting edge. The Show is literally about what you're going to be selling to your customers in the months to come."
To facilitate potential connections, save time on the Show floor, and map your daily itinerary, the official SEMA Show mobile app is the ideal pre-planning tool. Downloadable from your native app store, it features an exhibitor directory, the Show's roster of New Products Showcase entries, and listings for feature vehicles, events, outdoor activations and educational seminars, along with a host of other features, including LVCC maps and directions for navigating the Show.
In addition, the SEMA Show website features a My Show Planner tool. After providing it with some basic profile information, the planner will help you customize your Show experience according to your specific interests. Attendees can peruse exhibitors and select those they wish to visit, as well as education programs and other Show features and events they want to attend. The planner also syncs to the mobile app and many calendar apps.
Both these tools allow attendees to arrive in Las Vegas with a ready list of the exhibitors and activities they most want to engage with and a logistical plan for getting to them. In addition, attendees should take into account that there's extremely limited parking space at the LVCC, so public transit like the Las Vegas Monorail or buses, taxis, and rideshare apps like Uber or Lyft are the best options for getting to and from the Show. (The SEMA Show website includes comprehensive information about all these options.)
Finally, every pre-Show plan should include a scheduled visit to the New Products Showcase, which most veteran attendees will tell you is their number-one destination and often their first stop upon arrival at the LVCC. The Showcase contains hundreds of new and featured products from every Show category, along with scannable QR codes for every product. These codes enable attendees to capture vital information about each item and its maker in the SEMA Show app, and then map a route to the corresponding exhibitor(s).
"WITH THOUSANDS OF NEW PRODUCTS BEING INTRODUCED AT THE SHOW, YOU CAN SEE WHERE INNOVATION IS HEADED, SPOT TRENDS AND UNDERSTAND WHAT'S COMING NEXT…"
In other words, "if you leverage it right, the Show is a highly efficient way to build your business," observes Gattuso. "With one plane ticket or car trip, one hotel room, and a single week's work, you can talk with as many as 2,400 companies in one venue. That's a lot of conversations with key decision makers and influencers who can shape your business's future sales and revenues."
In addition to seeing the latest trends and technology on the Show floor, the 2024 SEMA Show will feature the world's largest display of new automotive aftermarket products at the New Products Showcase, the latest builds, new areas dedicated to the future of EV and propulsion and other innovations, and world-class education tracks and seminars that give attendees a best-in-class professional development experience.
Unique events and activations such as a new industry party, the SEMA Show Kickoff Breakfast, vehicle demonstrations, and SEMA Fest, a celebration of music and car culture, will provide ample opportunities for the industry to unite. As if all that's not incentive enough, the following are some of the top reasons to attend the Show.
2,400+ Exhibitors: With so many brands projected to exhibit, this is where the industry and media gather to see the products and concepts that companies will be delivering to the marketplace in 2025. The event's multifaceted nature generates unmatched ROI while meeting your company's business goals.
Millions of Square Feet Under Roof: The size and scope of the SEMA Show provide your best opportunity to discover new product, increase your awareness of industry trends and innovation, and grow your business in the coming year—and beyond.
12 Product Communities: You'll find a dozen distinct product sections conveniently gathered in one place, bringing ease and efficiency to your search for the brands and innovations most relevant to you and your business. There's a place for everyone at the SEMA Show.
1,400+ Vehicles on Display: The Show's wide variety of vehicle displays help familiarize you with the countless new concepts, ideas and products being presented by exhibiting brands—while leading you directly to the booths where you'll find those products on the Show floor.
SEMA Education: The Show offers the largest, most robust, customizable industry education platform for empowering your business, pursuing your own professional development, and training/developing your team.
140,000 Attendees, Including 70,000 Buyers and Decision-Makers: The global industry gathers to engage with the entire automotive aftermarket in one location, strengthen and nurture business relationships, generate leads, and forge the business connections to be successful. Your competition will be here, shouldn't you be too?
2,500+ Media and Content Creators: This massive presence of global media reps whets enthusiast and consumer appetites for the trends and products coming their way—and you can witness first hand what's wowing the crowds and the news being made. This presents a tremendous strategic advantage for your business.
140+ Countries/Territories Represented: If you're looking to expand markets beyond the United States, there's no better venue than the SEMA Show.
At its core, SEMA Week is all about relationships— building new connections and reinvigorating existing ones. Although meeting with exhibitors on the Show floor will often be an attendee's main focus, the SEMA Show also offers numerous other high-quality networking events and opportunities. First, there's the Show's annual Tuesday-morning Kickoff Breakfast, featuring New Products, Manufacturer and Channel Partner of the Year Awards.
"ATTENDING THE SEMA SHOW IS AN INVESTMENT IN YOUR BUSINESS, BUT IT SHOULD ALSO BE AN INVESTMENT IN YOURSELF AND YOUR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH…"
This year, the Show will also introduce its first-ever industry party Tuesday evening, featuring music, entertainment and industry camaraderie. Throughout Show Week, there are also a variety of SEMA council and network mixers highlighting different industry categories where attendees can relax, forge new relationships and trade insights.
Of course, the Show's highpoint gathering is the Thursday-night Industry Awards Banquet at the Westgate Resort, which is immediately preceded by a cocktail reception. Highly anticipated each year, the event includes networking, entertainment, a glimpse of industry trends, dinner and awards, and other surprises.
"One of the great things about our industry's people is the camaraderie they experience in hanging out together—you see it at races and every type of automotive event," observes Gattuso. "The SEMA Show is no exception. We're creating a platform where everyone can come together, enjoy each other's company, do business, build and preserve our industry's future, and be excited by it all."
"We've also seen that those who come to our Show are unique in their networking expectations," adds Tompkins. "They're looking to continuously network and build community throughout the Show in non-traditional ways. So we build our Show floor, events and outdoor areas to accommodate that. Even our mobile app connects attendees and exhibitors in a manner that facilitates follow-up."
"WITH ONE PLANE TICKET OR CAR TRIP, ONE HOTEL ROOM, AND A SINGLE WEEK'S WORK, YOU CAN TALK WITH AS MANY AS 2,400 COMPANIES IN ONE VENUE…"
The SEMA Show is often described as an immersive experience—a venue where attendees can escape their businesses for a few days to experience new products, trends and innovations first hand. In fact, the entire Show environment is specifically designed to stimulate the senses, promote extensive industry interactions, and impart learning. Of course, the Show floor teems with product demonstrations. Meanwhile, approximately 1,400+ display vehicles can be found throughout the LVCC halls and in specially designated outdoor locations. More than simply "show cars," the builds illustrate real-life applications of specialty performance and appearance parts and accessories. Feature vehicles also carry QR codes that can be scanned with the Show's mobile app for detailed information about the products used in the build and where their manufacturers reside on the Show floor.
Popular outdoor attractions also include Optima Village, the Toyo Treadpass, the Overlanding Experience and the Shell Performance zone, among others. But it's the outdoors vehicular action that takes the immersive nature of the Show to a whole other dimension. Through activations ranging from ride-and-drives to drifting and other performance demonstrations, attendees get to see industry products put through their paces.
"Even the SEMA Cruise that closes the Show on Friday has become a time-honored experience," says Gattuso. "The SEMA Show is constantly in motion and these and other activations represent great educational experiences where you can observe trends and products in action." Really that phrase "constantly in motion" is an apt description of the entire SEMA Show.
No two Shows are the same, and SEMA continues to evolve the signature trade event to meet the changing needs of the specialty automotive community. "We're staying on top of the many trends in our workforce," Gattuso explains. "Its average age is getting younger, and right now Millennials outnumber any other group. Like other generations, they want to see and touch new product, but they're also into experiential marketing and events, and our Show is reflecting that shift."
"WE'RE CREATING A PLATFORM WHERE EVERYONE CAN COME TOGETHER, ENJOY EACH OTHER'S COMPANY, DO BUSINESS, BUILD AND PRESERVE OUR INDUSTRY'S FUTURE, AND BE EXCITED BY IT ALL."
"We're staying on top of the many trends in our workforce," Gattuso explains. "Its average age is getting younger, and right now Millennials outnumber any other group. Like other generations, they want to see and touch new product, but they're also into experiential marketing and events, and our Show is reflecting that shift."
Take for example the Show's education program, which has grown to encompass a powerfully diverse range of speakers and topics, with learning opportunities spread throughout the LVCC (see p. 48).
"Attending the SEMA Show is an investment in your business, but it should also be an investment in yourself and your personal and professional growth," Gattuso says. "So we've prioritized some great learning tracks to help you enhance your abilities and talents. We also encourage business owners to leverage our curriculum to help train and transform their staffs."
Tompkins adds that SEMA Education offers a range of skills-advancing seminars, with topics running the gamut from digital marketing to future automotive technologies. "We've also partnered with I-CAR, SCRS and other industry and business leaders to help attendees understand and fill any gaps in their trade and leadership skills and expand their knowledge of emerging trends and best practices."
Tompkins further emphasized that attending the Show is more than an investment in an attendee's future—it's also an investment in their industry since the SEMA Show helps fund the association's many initiatives and programs throughout the year. These include industry and consumer advocacy, business services to SEMA members, educational initiatives, and public and government affairs programs to protect aftermarket and enthusiast-consumer choice. "Uniting around the SEMA Show platform has a lot of short-term benefits, but it also has the longterm effect of showcasing what's important to us as a collective industry and helping support SEMA's year-round efforts to promote the automotive lifestyle," he explains.
Summing up the SEMA Show, Gattuso says: "A key thing to understand is that our exhibitors are working on new products and innovation all year long, but they often prefer to debut them at the SEMA Show. It may be something on a worldclass vehicle build, or an innovation they're showcasing in their booth, but it's what keeps buyers, media and others returning each year in huge numbers. And as an attendee, you're getting in at ground zero of it all."
"I think the continued success of this Show speaks volumes for the resilience of our industry— especially coming out of COVID—and its constant ability to innovate and improve products to keep the automotive aftermarket and lifestyle healthy for decades to come."
Automotive industry legend Lee Iacocca once said, "The only way to make money as a car company is to come up with something so different that people can't look at what you're doing and say 'me too'… You've got to be different. You've got to be adaptive."
Certainly not everyone attending the SEMA Show is designing the next industry-shifting car, but industry experts would agree that specialty-equipment professionals and businesses need to stay adaptive and knowledgeable about emerging trends, new technology-based skills, and the latest ways to make the work culture thrive. This November 5-8, SEMA Education at the 2024 SEMA Show aims to assist individuals from all sectors of the automotive industry in achieving these goals.
Every year attendees ranging from C-suite executives to fleet mechanics sign up for multiple panel discussions and courses offered at the Show to enhance their learning opportunities beyond the Show's exhibits and events. Folks who plan on getting the most out of their Show experience will want to keep an eye out for the full education schedule, soon to be released.
According to SEMA Vice President of Membership, Education, Research and Councils Zane Clark, "This year's robust education offerings are specially designed to amplify the attendee's Show experience."
Clark characterizes the Show education program as a "convergence of various avenues for learning." Attendees witness the industry's latest products, services and trends on the Show floor, then leverage that exposure to deepen their knowledge and insights in the Show's seminars. These educational sessions also facilitate connections with fellow business owners, employees and potential future partners.
"When you go through these learning experiences with people that are like-minded or have similar challenges, you get the knowledge that's provided to you," he notes. "But you also have the opportunity to expand your network and have conversations with people that are going through similar challenges that your business may be going through, or that you may be going through personally."
Gary Vigil, SEMA senior manager of professional development, says that SEMA Education seeks to "attract individuals reflecting all our different market segments, job responsibilities and organizational levels." To build this diverse learning plan, SEMA calls upon its various councils and networks. This year, eight of these organizations will be powering nine panels and lectures featuring industry legends and decision-makers. "We have some big names planning on participating in these lectures," says Vigil. Although not available at press time, attendees can keep up-to-date with all the coming presenter announcements on the SEMA Show website. What can be shared here are the program titles and the material they will be touching on:
● SEMA Women's Leadership Symposium: Connecting Women, Empowering Futures, Powered by SEMA Businesswomen's Network (SBN)— Building on their work of empowering female leaders in the industry, SBN's forum will give women a space to collaborate and catalyze change in their respective fields and communities. This five-hour event includes skill-building workshops, fireside chats, the Circle of Women networking luncheon, and a C-suite-level insights panel offering firsthand knowledge on leadership development for women in leading roles. This includes the first-ever "Shining the Spotlight on Women" program honoring women who strive and succeed at the cutting edge of the automotive industry's many disciplines, such as engineering, design, leadership and innovation.
● Empower Yourself: Harnessing the Potential of AI for Women in the Automotive and Specialty- Equipment Market, Powered by SEMA Business Network (SBN)—SBN recognizes that AI is gaining prominence in every sector, and the specialtyequipment industry is no exception. This seminar will introduce how AI is applied in the industry on a beginner level. Using real-world case studies, attendees will also learn AI's various capabilities and how to utilize them to increase output for their businesses.
● Truck and Off-Road Builders Panel, Powered by SEMA Truck & Off-Road Alliance (TORA)—Truck and off-road vehicle accessories hold a prominent position in the market due to the escalating popularity and influence of the off-road and overlanding scenes. Attendees can expect expert insights from this panel of shop owners and managers, who will discuss current trends and the future direction of the truck and off-road sector.
● Hot-Rod Builders Panel, Powered by SEMA Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA)—This is an excellent opportunity to meet with experienced vehicle builders and craftsmen in a more casual setting. Showgoers can use this time to engage with panelists and gain relevant insights into navigating the business of building hot rods.
● Education of Restoration, Powered by SEMA Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO)—Armed with increasing disposable income and leisure time, Gen X'ers and Millennials are making a larger impact than ever on the restoration market. Restoration businesses will find great value in ARMO's panel discussion on key methods to attract these younger demographics to their products and services.
● Wheels Up at 10: Vehicle Applications, Powered by SEMA Wheel, Tire, Suspension and Brake Council (WTSBC)—This free one-hour seminar touches on tangible skills such as: how to find tire load at a given air pressure and how tire-rim widths are calculated; lowering a vehicle; alignment; the camber plates needed based on the amount lowered; brake upgrades; and the overall effect on performance.
● Attracting and Retaining Young Talent in the Automotive Industry, Powered by Future Leaders Network (FLN)—FLN recognizes what young recruits can bring to the table for any growing business. This timely panel discussion will address ways to attract fresh young talent and, more importantly, how to retain young employees as valuable assets to your organization.
● Five Successful Strategies Restylers Use to Grow Business, Powered by Professional Restylers Organization (PRO)—In this seminar, panelists will explore the top five strategies crucial for running a successful operation within the automotive restyling sector. Per Clark, "If you're in or operate a small business, you'll find plenty here to help your business succeed, prosper and get to the next level." Whether one aims to enhance vehicle aesthetics, performance or functionality, these tips will provide the knowledge and tools needed to thrive in the dynamic world of automotive restyling.
● ETTN Lunch and Learn: Practical Use of Alternative, Synthetic and Hydrogen Fuels, Powered by Emerging Trends & Technology network (ETTN)—A Lunch and Learn session that features a panel of experts in the industry sharing their knowledge topics related to the use of alternative fuels in internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Following the panel discussions, attendees will have the chance to ask the panel questions on the topics previously discussed.
In addition to tapping SEMA's own councils and networks, SEMA Education has also partnered with organizations whose missions include professional education, such as the Society of Collision Repair Specialist (SCRS) and Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR). Their Show seminars will impart a broad range of industry-specific knowledge, including techniques in MIG welding and electric-vehicle (EV) technology repair (I-CAR), as well as AI and best practices in the collision-repair sector (SCRS). The Tire Industry Association (TIA) will also offer six seminars on various tire-related topics that anyone in the sector will find useful.
Legacy EV, a well-known vehicle electrification/conversion company, is meanwhile set to host two of the most intensive sessions in the entire Show education program. "Their EV 101 program last year was such a success," says Vigil, "that this year we're going out of the gate with courses on two days to offer attendees a chance to attend either session. However, each session is limited to the first 20 registrants."
Electric Vehicles 101 will focus on the fundamentals of EV powertrains and some of the safety practices that come with working with this technology. The class is broken into two sessions—morning and afternoon. The first session is a more lecture-style focus on how these vehicles are powered and how their components function. Attendees will then be able to apply the knowledge from the morning session to diagnosing and solving EV performance issues in the afternoon. Once completed, attendees will receive an EV 101 certification from Legacy EV.
The longest session in the education lineup is Legacy EV's High Voltage Safety Training. Working on electric vehicles carries a large amount of risk because of the high voltage a mechanic could accidentally encounter. To keep shop owners and workers safe, Legacy EV is offering an eight-hour class overviewing essential safety precautions for working on an electric vehicle.
According to Vigil, the curriculum is so in-depth that people signing up for the class will be issued some "pre-work before they even get to the Show." This provides the attendees with certain baseline of knowledge before diving into the workshop. Topics such as proper PPE, electrocution prevention, aiding high-voltage shock victims and much more will be touched upon in this course. This high-value session has drawn much interest from attendees. (Don't be surprised if it fills up quickly in the coming weeks.)
The Dale Carnegie program is well known for its leadership development courses, and this year instructors are offering a tailor-made course for SEMA Show attendees. According to Vigil, "In previous years, Dale Carnegie offered up to six different sessions to choose from, each session presented for a separate fee. This year, the program will comprise one six-hour class encompassing three sessions." The skill-building class blends three interactive workshops with a range of presentations to hone a professional's abilities to lead with assurance, empower their teams and achieve tangible results.
Participants will also develop the confidence, communication prowess and strategic mindset necessary to excel in leadership roles within the automotive sector. Whether aiming to lead a dealership, manage a manufacturing plant, or spearhead marketing initiatives, this program is designed to equip individuals with the tools and strategies needed to thrive in the fast-paced world of automotive leadership.
Summing up SEMA Show education for 2024, Clark says, "It's this kind of immersive learning experience that you can't get anywhere else. No other trade show can compare to the type of learning dynamic SEMA Show attendees can experience. From marketing, leadership, sales, research and trend information, to social media-I think the Show program this year is going to be one for the books."
For further details and descriptions regarding the 2024 education schedule watch for updates on the official SEMA Show website, semashow.com. There, you'll also be able to customize, plan and print out your own itinerary via the My Show Planner feature. The planner helps you create an efficient SEMA Show experience tailored to your specific business goals while getting the most out of this year's event.
Effective one business day following Exhibitor’s selection of booth space through Sunday, August 2, 2026, Show Management shall retain 50% of rental cost of each space canceled. Beginning Monday, August 3, 2026, Show Management shall retain 100% of rental cost of each space canceled.
