AS SEEN IN OUR DRIVE-FEBRUARY 2026 ISSUE – Buy Now!

Where the Aftermarket Writes Its Next Chapter

EVERY NOVEMBER, THE LAS VEGAS CONVENTION CENTER TRANSFORMS INTO THE EPICENTER OF AUTOMOTIVE PASSION, AND THE 2025 SEMA SHOW, HELD NOVEMBER 4-7, DELIVERED ANOTHER MASTERCLASS IN EXCESS AND EXCELLENCE. What began in 1967 as a modest gathering of 98 exhibitors and 100 buyers in Los Angeles has exploded into the planet’s largest automotive trade event: 2,400 exhibitors, 160,000 attendees, and more than 3,000 new products unveiled across 1.2 million square feet of showroom. From its roots as the Speed Equipment Manufacturers Association pushing performance parts during the muscle-car heyday, SEMA has evolved into the ultimate showcase of personalization, innovation, and unbridled creativity.

This year’s displays were nothing short of breathtaking. West Hall’s Trucks, SUVs & Off Road section overflowed with everything from slammed square-body C10s on 26-inch billets to portal-axle Gladiators ready for Moab. Nearby, lifted Rams on 40s rubbed fenders with lowrider Impalas, while carbon-clad widebody Chargers and Coyote-swapped Broncos flexed modern muscle. Classic Mustangs sat beside 1,000-horsepower restomods, and overland Tacomas packed with rooftop tents shared space with street-machine F-150s. What sets SEMA apart from any consumer auto show is access. Here, editors and builders walk shoulder-toshoulder with engineers from Fox, Ridetech, MagnaFlow, and Toyo Tires, discussing everything from new long-travel kits to car audio solutions. One-onone conversations in quiet corners of booths often yield the first look at products that won’t hit shelves for another year, insights that simply don’t happen anywhere else.

The energy is relentless: outdoor burnout sessions echoing through the halls, the scent of fresh rubber and race fuel, and the constant buzz of “Did you see that?” moments. From the Global Tire Expo’s latest compounds to Wheels & Accessories unveiling forged masterpieces, every aisle offered inspiration. As the lights dimmed on Friday, trailers lined the streets and builders began the long haul home, already sketching ideas for 2026.

SEMA isn’t just a trade show; it’s the heartbeat of the custom industry, where heritage meets horsepower and tomorrow’s trends are born today. If you build it, dream it, or drive it, this is where it all comes alive.