SEMA Show 2026 runs November 3 to 6 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, and it is a trade-only show for the first three days. The general public gets in on one day only, Friday, November 6, with a SEMA Show Friday ticket bought ahead through SEMA Fest. That Friday also brings the SEMA Fest concert outside the halls. Here is what the official 2026 pages say, what each ticket actually covers, and how a builder can get the most out of a long day on the floor.
One warning before you plan around anything you read online: search results for SEMA mix years, and some pages still show 2025 dates. Everything below comes from the official 2026 SEMA Show and SEMA Fest sites. If a detail was not posted for 2026 when we wrote this, we left it out and told you where to check. And if you are here for the glass and interior side of the hobby, our flush-mount DOT glass collection is the fastest way to see what Fesler makes.
When and where is SEMA Show 2026?
The show is at the Las Vegas Convention Center, 3150 Paradise Road, Las Vegas. Friday closes an hour earlier than the trade days, which matters if you are counting on a full afternoon in the halls.
| Tuesday, November 3 | 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., trade only |
|---|---|
| Wednesday, November 4 | 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., trade only |
| Thursday, November 5 | 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., trade only |
| Friday, November 6 | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., trade plus the public with a SEMA Show Friday ticket |
| Minimum age | 16 and older for the exhibit halls, with no exception for infants |
| Next year | SEMA lists 2027 dates as November 2 to 5 |
Can the public attend SEMA Show 2026?
Yes, on Friday only. SEMA describes the show as trade-only and open to the general public on Friday, November 6. The public pass is called SEMA Show Friday, and the official FAQ is clear that it can only be bought at semafest.com.
The Friday ticket gets you onto the show floor from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The SEMA Fest ticket page describes it as access to more than 2,400 vendors and more than 1,000 one-of-a-kind vehicle builds. SEMA's show features page says more 2026 details are coming soon, so check it before you go for anything happening outside the halls that day.
If you own or work for a shop, you may not need the public day at all. Trade attendees register for a badge by verifying their company is active in the automotive aftermarket and that they are an owner or employee. SEMA's 2026 badge rate after September 25 is $100. A trade badge gets you into the halls, but it does not include the SEMA Fest concert.
What does each SEMA Fest 2026 ticket include?
SEMA Fest is the Friday concert in the Bronze Lot at the convention center. The 2026 lineup is The Offspring, Jimmy Eat World, 311 and The Alive. The ticket names are similar, so read this part twice before you buy.
| SEMA Show Friday | Show floor only, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. No concert. Must be 16 or older. |
|---|---|
| SEMA Show Friday with Concert GA | Show floor plus general admission concert viewing. Must be 16 or older. |
| SEMA Show Friday with Concert VIP | Show floor plus the VIP concert area, VIP bars and washrooms, separate entrance and charging stations. Must be 16 or older. |
| SEMA Fest GA or VIP (concert only) | Concert only, no exhibit halls. Both were listed as sold out when we checked. |
The concert itself is open to all ages. The show floor is not. Anyone under 16 can only attend the concert, and the concert-only tickets were sold out when we checked. We did not list prices here because the official pages we checked did not show 2026 prices consistently. Check semafest.com for the current price before you buy. All sales are final, and the SEMA Fest site says no refunds will be issued.
How do you pick up a SEMA Show Friday ticket?
The pickup rules are strict. Here they are from the official SEMA Fest page:
- Pickup is Friday, November 6 only, from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., at SEMA Show Registration in South Hall and West Hall.
- Each person picks up their own ticket. You cannot send someone in your place.
- Bring a valid government-issued photo ID, and the name has to match your confirmation.
- No day-of purchases. If you did not buy ahead, you are not getting in.
Show up early. The floor opens at 9 and the halls are big, so a line at registration eats into the only day you have.
Parking, bags and getting there
There is no parking at the Las Vegas Convention Center for SEMA Fest. SEMA recommends public transportation or rideshare, and points to the monorail as an option. Small bags, purses and backpacks are allowed and subject to search. Large bags, rolling bags and luggage are not. Outside food and drinks are not allowed, and weapons of any kind are prohibited.
A few habits that help: wear shoes you have already broken in, charge your phone the night before, and carry a small notebook or use your phone's notes app for booth numbers. You will forget which aisle that dash was in by lunch.
What should builders watch for at SEMA Show 2026?
A thousand-plus builds in one place is the best chance all year to see how other shops solve the same problems you are solving. Do not just take photos of the cars that stop you. Look at how they were built. A few things worth slowing down for if you build pro-touring trucks and muscle cars:
Glass and body lines
Look at the windshield and back glass on the cars that read as clean from 30 feet away. A lot of that comes from the glass sitting close to the body with no chrome trim ring or rubber gasket breaking the line. Get close and look at the gap around the edge, how the glass meets the roof and cowl, and whether the car still has its factory trim. Our flush-mount glass guide covers what changes when you go trimless. Fesler flush-mount glass is made in North America with our partner Pilkington USA, and last year's SEMA 2025 watchlist shows how we spot it on the floor.
Interiors
Open-door cars at SEMA are a free education in interior work. Look at door panel fit at the top edge and around the handle, how the dash and console flow into each other, seat shape and stitching, and how speakers and switches are hidden. Notice which builds still look comfortable to sit in for a long drive. If you are planning yours, the Fesler interior collection shows the hand-laid fiberglass door panels, dashes, consoles and kick panels we make in America.
Stance, wheels and brakes
Crouch down and look at the gap between tire and fender, how far the wheel sits in or out of the opening, and how much brake fills the wheel. Then look under the car if the display lets you. A great stance that rubs on every bump is not the goal for a car you plan to drive.
Engine swaps
Modern engine swaps are everywhere at SEMA. Pay attention to the small stuff: how the wiring is routed, where the fuel lines run, how the accessory drive clears the frame and hood, and how the builder hid modern parts in an old engine bay. If you are still deciding which way to go, our LS swap or keep it original guide walks through the trade-offs.
Battle of the Builders
SEMA Battle of the Builders is back for 2026. The official page lists Hot Rod and Hot Rod Truck, Sport Compact and Import Performance, Off-Road, and BFGoodrich Young Guns, plus a new motorcycle category called the Bike Builder Shootout. Winners are announced live through the week at the Battle of the Builders Stage, so check semashow.com for times before you go. If you want to understand the line between build styles, our pro touring vs restomod guide is a good primer.
How to talk to vendors at SEMA
Friday is the last day of a long week for the people in the booths, so make your questions count. A few ways to get a useful answer:
- Know your vehicle cold. Year, body style, cab, engine and what is already done. "1970 Chevelle hardtop, LS swapped, original glass" gets you a real answer.
- Bring photos of your car on your phone, including the area the part goes on.
- Ask about fitment and what else you need to buy to make it work, not just the price.
- Get a card, and write the booth number on it. SEMA says its show app can scan feature vehicles to learn more about them and give directions.
- If the booth is slammed, ask when a better time to come back is, then come back.
Will Fesler be at SEMA 2026?
Fesler builds and Fesler glass have been at SEMA before, but this year we are keeping it close to home. Our next show is Dino's Git Down, November 13 and 14 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. It is free to attend. Friday runs 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is Chevrolet and GMC trucks only. Saturday runs 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is open to any GM car or truck.
We will have the matte red Fesler OBS and a couple of other shop builds there, plus the crew who builds them. Sign up on the Fesler events page and we will email you the booth location the week of the show. If something you see in Vegas has you rethinking your own build, that is a good conversation to have in person.
Frequently asked questions
When is SEMA Show 2026?
SEMA Show 2026 runs Tuesday, November 3 through Friday, November 6, 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday.
Can the general public go to SEMA Show 2026?
Only on Friday, November 6. The show is trade-only Tuesday through Thursday. The public can buy a SEMA Show Friday ticket, sold only through semafest.com, and must be 16 or older to enter the show floor.
Does a SEMA Fest concert ticket get me into the SEMA Show?
No. The concert-only tickets do not include the exhibit halls, and a trade badge does not include the concert. To get both, you need one of the SEMA Show Friday tickets bundled with concert GA or VIP.
Can I buy a SEMA Show Friday ticket at the door?
No. The official SEMA Fest site says no day-of purchases are permitted. Buy ahead, then pick up your own ticket on Friday, November 6 between 7:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. at SEMA Show Registration in South Hall or West Hall with a government-issued photo ID.
Is there parking at the Las Vegas Convention Center during SEMA Fest?
No. The official SEMA Fest FAQ says parking will not be available at the convention center. Show management recommends public transportation or rideshare, and the monorail is listed as an option.
Will Fesler be at SEMA 2026?
Fesler's one confirmed event for the rest of 2026 is Dino's Git Down on November 13 and 14 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Check the Fesler events page for the latest.
Going to Vegas or not, you can browse every kit in the Fesler flush-mount DOT glass collection or call us at 480-748-2000 to talk through your car or truck.
Sources: SEMA Show official site (2026 dates, hours, trade registration, badge rates, age rule, app, show features and Battle of the Builders pages); SEMA Show FAQ (public ticket purchase and pickup); SEMA Fest official site (2026 date, location, lineup, ticket tiers, ages, pickup, parking, bag and refund rules).
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