Best Car Shows to Catch in 2026

The new year is well underway, and there's a whole slate of car shows coming down the pipeline. Some big-name shows that fall early in the calendar — most notably the Detroit Auto Show and the Washington, DC Auto Show — are already behind us, but there's plenty on the way for car enthusiasts from coast to coast.

 

This guide to the must-see car shows of 2026 introduces the signature events that are yet to come this year, along with a lineup of premium shows for specialty audiences highlighting collector classics, custom builds, and supercharged rides that will blow you away.

 

Featured marquee events include:

 

• Chicago Auto Show
• New York International Auto Show
• SEMA Show in Las Vegas
• Retromobile New York
• Los Angeles Auto Show

 

We've also included an event roundup with a quick-reference chart to help you choose shows and plan your visits.

 

Chicago Auto Show

• Dates: February 7–16, 2026
• Location: McCormick Place, 2301 S. King Drive, Chicago, IL 60616
• Highlights: Camp Jeep track and Supercar Gallery

 

The Chicago Auto Show is back for its 118th edition in 2026, and this year's event looks poised to deliver fun for the whole family. The popular Camp Jeep track will return, giving you the chance to experience simulated off-road thrills on an indoor course that's wowed audiences since 2005. Then, visit the Supercar Gallery to see exotic high-performance models from glamorous manufacturers like:

 

• Aston Martin
• Bentley
• Lamborghini
• Lotus
• Maserati
• Rolls-Royce

 

Visitors can enjoy meet-and-greets with sports stars from Chicago's past, including Hall of Fame closer Lee Smith and longtime Bulls forward Toni Kukoc.

 

New York International Auto Show

• Dates: April 3–12, 2026
• Location: Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, 655 W. 34th Street, Manhattan, New York, NY 10001
• Highlights: 1 million square feet of exhibition space, 700+ incredible vehicles on display

 

The New York International Auto Show returns to the Javits Center in April, bringing more than 700 amazing vehicles to the facility's massive floor. After celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2025, the show returns in 2026 with a signature lineup of amazing concept cars, high-end luxury vehicles, and stunning prototypes.

 

As always, the show will have a strong focus on the cars of the future. Carmakers have long used the New York International Auto Show as a high-profile stage for the world premieres of their most important upcoming models. In recent years, these have featured cutting-edge EVs: the Multi-Brand EV Test Track wowed audiences in 2025, and looks poised to do the same this year. 

 

 

SEMA Show in Las Vegas

• Dates: November 3–6, 2026
• Location: Las Vegas Convention Center, 3150 Paradise Road, Las Vegas, NV 89109
• Highlights: Exclusive industry trade show featuring thousands of automotive innovations

 

While the SEMA Show is mainly a limited-access gala for industry professionals, it will open its doors to the general public on Friday, November 6, 2026. If you're in Las Vegas, you won't want to miss the opportunity to experience this one-of-a-kind event.

 

The SEMA Show is where industry innovators come to unveil their newest and most exciting products. It also attracts world-renowned automotive industry leaders, who offered 99+ free automotive education events at the 2025 edition of the show. 

 

Details for this year's event are still being finalized. You can sign up with SEMA to stay on top of all the latest updates, and to take advantage of early registration opportunities when they open in May.

 

Retromobile New York

• Dates: November 19–22, 2026
• Location: Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, 655 W. 34th Street, Manhattan, New York, NY 10001
• Highlights: 2026 marks the U.S. debut of the leading international classic car convention

 

For 50 years, Retromobile has been a fixture in the European auto show circuit. In 2026, this showcase of automotive history will stage its first-ever exhibition outside of Paris with the debut of Retromobile New York.

 

Slated for mid-November at the Javits Center in Manhattan, Retromobile New York will feature a stunning lineup of the world's rarest classic cars. Visitors can enjoy curated exhibitions, demos and workshops on car restoration, and beautifully restored vehicles spanning more than a century of vehicle production.

 

You can even buy a piece of automotive history: Retromobile New York will feature car auctions and vendor booths where you can buy rare parts, automotive artworks, and much more.

 

Los Angeles Auto Show

• Dates: November 20–29, 2026
• Location: Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015
• Highlights: Incredible test rides, A-list celebrity appearances

 

Branded as "L.A.'s Automotive Festival," the Los Angeles Auto Show is a marquee event in a city that has long been celebrated as the capital of American car culture. The 2026 edition of the show looks ready to continue a theme of recent years, which has looked beyond traditional vehicles to explore the future of urban mobility itself.

 

Of course, there will be no shortage of conventional cars at this year's event, including exhibitions of popular passenger vehicles, exotic supercars, and carefully restored classics. You'll also have the chance to participate in heart-pounding test rides, intense interactive exhibits, and the event's signature Underground, where creators use advanced multimedia technologies to showcase custom cars and fascinating innovations.

 

Bigtime celebrities always figure prominently into the Los Angeles Auto Show. While the 2026 lineup hasn't yet been confirmed, the 2025 show attracted music stars Tyga and YG, actors Mike Epps and Luis Da Silva Jr., L.A. sports icons Lavar Ball and Anze Kopitar, and many others. Expect more star-studded celebrity appearances this November!

 

 

Premium car shows for specialty audiences

While the flagship annual events mostly appeal to wide audiences, many auto enthusiasts keep an eye out for niche shows with unique specialties. Some examples you might want on your radar for 2026 include:

 

Detroit Autorama

The 73rd annual Detroit Autorama show will arrive at the Motor City's Huntington Place convention center on February 27. Running through March 1, Autorama Detroit will feature more than 800 custom hot-rods, trucks, and motorcycles.

You can also attend Autorama events in other cities throughout 2026, including Milwaukee (February 20–22), Chicago (March 6–8), Omaha (March 6–8), Cincinnati (March 13–15), Kansas City (March 20–22), Indianapolis (March 27–29), and Salt Lake City (March 27–29).

 

Pomona Swap Meet & Classic Car Show

Since 1975, the Pomona Swap Meet & Classic Car Show has been a staple of Southern California car culture. This famous one-day event runs seven times a year. Six dates remain in the 2026 schedule: March 1, April 19, June 28, August 16, October 11, and December 6.

 

At the show, vendors meet to swap car parts, tools, and auto restoration accessories. Enthusiasts also gather to show off — and even sell — their classic cars. If you're in the market for a collector car, this is an event you won't want to miss.

 

Woodward Dream Cruise

Since its launch in 1995, Woodward Dream Cruise has become a staple of the classic car scene. It has grown into the largest single-day car show in North America, drawing close to a million visitors and 40,000 classic cars from every corner of the planet.

 

This no-fee event is scheduled for August 15, 2026, when participating vehicles will cruise down Woodward Avenue in metro Detroit. The route spans nine communities and connects the Detroit suburbs of Ferndale and Pontiac, with the show's proceeds helping more than 50 local charities.

 

Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

If you're into collector cars, the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is arguably the best event you could possibly attend. This must-see show draws competitors from around the world as they vie to win prizes for their beautifully restored pieces of automotive history.

In 2026, the one-day event will be held on August 16 in Pebble Beach, California, as part of Pebble Beach Automotive Week. This year's show will be extra special, as the show is celebrating its 75th anniversary.

 

Cruisin' the Coast

The 2026 edition of Cruisin' the Coast will hit Mississippi's Gulf Coast from October 4–11. Marking its 30th anniversary in 2026, Cruisin' the Coast is a spirited celebration of hot rods, classic cars, and restored antique vehicles. It's also a lively block party with live bands, food stands, and swap meet vendors.

 

Crusin' the Coast's signature event is a 30-mile drive along beach-facing Gulf Coast highways, with scheduled stops in seven Mississippi cities. Nearly 10,000 vehicles participate in the one-of-a-kind event, which is one of the region's top seasonal tourism draws.

 

2026 car show roundup

With so many options on the annual car show calendar, it can be tricky to keep dates and details straight. This helpful table summarizes the 2026 car shows featured in this post, with at-a-glance info to help you choose events and plan your visit.

 

Top Car Shows of 2026
Event	Date(s)	Location	Best For/Known For
Chicago Auto Show	Feb. 7-16	McCormick Place Chicago, IL	Families and general audiences Largest auto show in North America
Detroit Autorama	Feb. 27-Mar. 1	Huntington Place Detroit, MI	Custom hot-rods
Pomona Swap Meet & Classic Car Show	Mar. 1 Apr. 19 Jun. 28 Aug. 16 Oct. 11 Dec. 6	Fairplex Pomona, CA	Classic car viewings and sales Vendors of rare and hard-to-find car parts and automotive accessories
New York International Auto Show	Apr. 3-12	Javits Center Manhattan, New York, NY	Families and general audiences World premiere of signature vehicles from leading automakers
Woodward Dream Cruise	Aug. 15	Woodward Avenue Detroit, MI	Classic cars Charity fundraising
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance	Aug. 16	Pebble Beach, CA	Classic car competition with entrants from around the world
Cruisin' the Coast	Oct. 4-11	Mississippi Gulf Coast	30-mile beachfront cruise Block party with live entertainment, food, and automotive vendors
SEMA Show	Nov. 3-6	Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas, NV	Auto industry trade show highlighting industry innovation
Retromobile New York	Nov. 19-22	Javits Center Manhattan, New York, NY	Classic cars U.S. debut of popular European event
Los Angeles Auto Show	Nov. 20-29	Los Angeles Convention Center Los Angeles, CA	California car culture Industry innovations and supercars Celebrity appearances