How to get into SEMA, SEMA 2025 dates, and other questions answered
The 2025 SEMA Show is Tuesday, Nov. 4 to Friday, Nov. 7, 2025 in Las Vegas.
We can also answer your questions on how to get into the SEMA Show:
- You must work in the specialty equipment aftermarket. The show isn’t open to the general public.
- You must provide documentation of employment in the industry.
- You don’t have to be a member of SEMA.
Getting into the SEMA Show is a common topic each fall, around the first week of November. It’s not open to the general public. The SEMA Show is a trade-only show. It is only for attendees that work in the trade.
To get into SEMA, you must work in the specialty equipment industry and you need to provide documentation that proves you’re in the industry. This is required if you register online or in person at the SEMA Show.
You don’t need to be a member of the SEMA trade association to attend the SEMA Show.
Note: this website is not affiliated with SEMA or the 2025 SEMA Show, for additional questions you need to contact SEMA directly.
SEMA Show 2025 attendance
The 2025 SEMA Show is expected to bring in in 70,000 buyers to see about 2,250 exhibitors, according to official news reports.
Where is the 2025 SEMA Show this year?
Each year the SEMA Show is in Las Vegas at the Las Vegas Convention Center, where it has been held each year since 1977. The lone exception to that of course, was 2020, when it was cancelled due to COVID.
What are SEMA 2025 ticket prices? What do SEMA tickets cost?
These are common questions. SEMA ticket prices don’t exist, because there aren’t “tickets” to enter the show as a member of the industry. As a trade show, qualified attendees must register and pay the registration fee. Qualified registrants receive show credentials, not tickets.
Tickets are sold to the public for SEMA Fest (formerly SEMA Ignited), which is outdoors and open to the public. You may see SEMA Fest referred to online as “SEMA car show Las Vegas.” Scroll down for information on SEMA Fest 2025. There is a ticket called the “SEMA Show Friday Experience,” combined with SEMA Fest, that gives non-industry members entrance to the SEMA Show but it is only good on Friday, Nov. 7. This SEMA Show ticket must be purchased in advance and picked up on-site between 7:30 am and 2:00 pm.
Online registration for the 2025 SEMA Show for buyers is $50 from April 28, 2025 to June 27, 2025. It is $75 from June 28, 2025 through Sept. 26 and goes to $100 on Sept. 27, 2025 until registration closes on Friday, Nov. 7 at 2:00 pm. These registration fees are to get an attendee badge. A badge provides access to both AAPEX and the SEMA Show for the full duration of each show. The registration fee for financial advisors, non-exhibiting manufacturers, suppliers and vehicle manufacturers is $399.
The annual SEMA Industry Awards Banquet is $79 per person. The banquet is Thursday, Nov. 6 at 7:00 pm, with a reception at 6:00. It is held at the Westgate Paradise Event Center, next to the Las Vegas Convention Center. The banquet is where winners are announced for SEMA Person of the Year, Gen-III Innovator of the Year, Content Creator of the Year and the Chairman’s Service Award.
Is SEMA open to the public? Can anyone go to the SEMA Show?
These are common questions, is SEMA open to the public? Can anyone go? No it is not open to the public except for SEMA Show Friday Experience tickets. Otherwise, it is a trade show open only for qualified attendees who work in the specialty equipment industry.
SEMA Show registration
To register for the SEMA Show 2025 as a first-time attendee, you need to provide proof of employment in the aftermarket industry. The required documentation includes either two pay stubs showing your name, company name and date, or company-issued badge showing your name, title and company name. It also requires a copy of a current tax or business registration certificate, or business license or permit.
This documentation is required to prove your business or your employer is a current and actual automotive aftermarket business. That’s why proof starts with business registration, business certificate or tax ID. Next, you must prove you’re either the current business owner or you’re currently employed by that business.
If your business license shows you’re the business owner, great. That is an accepted method. If you’re employed by a business, you have to provide a business card or a paycheck stub, or a business photo ID, that includes your name and the name of the company. Note that everything has to match the name of the company you are registering under.
You also have to provide a current email address. SEMA prefers a company email address. Also note that all documents you provide must be in English.
Business cards aren’t an accepted form of ID any more.
If you have attended the show previously, you can simply register.
Attendee qualifications
One benefit of registering for the SEMA Show is that once you are registered, future years are much simpler. If you registered and got approved for a previous SEMA Show and you haven’t changed companies, or contact information such as your telephone number, address or email address, you might not need to show proof that you work in the automotive aftermarket industry again.
You don’t qualify to attend the SEMA Show if you’re unemployed, retired, a car club member or simply a car enthusiast. Companies such as accounting firms, freight providers, non-automotive graphics companies, exhibition industry service companies, insurance agents, law firms, modeling agents/agencies, packaging companies, printers, non-automotive software companies and travel agencies also don’t qualify to attend the show.
If you have questions you can contact the SEMA Show staff directly at (909) 396-0289.
SEMA Fest 2025 tickets
Anyone not qualified to attend the show is invited to buy tickets to SEMA Fest 2025. It’s a music and car culture show, open to the general public. SEMA Fest 2025 is Friday evening, November 7 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, outdoors in the Bronze parking lot. Attendees will see live musical performances.
For more information on registering for and attending this year’s SEMA Show visit SEMAShow.com. To purchase 2025 SEMA Fest tickets visit www.semafest.com.
What should I look forward to seeing at the 2025 SEMA Show?
The SEMA Show is the premier automotive aftermarket industry event. Many of the biggest names in the industry attend. There will be over 2,200 exhibitor booths, plus presentations and demonstrations, and many contacts to meet. To put it simply, if you are looking to grow your business within the automotive aftermarket industry, you should consider attending the 2025 SEMA Show. For a full floor plan of the 2025 show, please check out this link.
Sections organize the show. These include the new West Hall across Paradise Avenue from the main convention center, North Hall, the Central Hall, the South Hall Upper and the South Hall Lower. Below you will find some brief highlights as to what you can expect to find in each of these areas:
West Hall
- Trucks, SUVs and off-road
- Restyling and car care accessories
North Hall
- New Products Showcase
- Business Services
- Mobile Electronics & Technology
Central Hall
- Racing & Performance
- Hot Rod Alley
- Restoration Marketplace
- Powersports, ATVs & UTVs
South Hall Upper
- Tools & equipment
- Collision repair & refinishing
South Hall Lower
- Global Tire Expo
- Wheels & Accessories
Skybridge (between Central and South Halls)
- Various displays
- Media Center
2025 SEMA Show hours and dates
SEMA exhibit hours:
- Tuesday, November 4, 2025 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Wednesday, November 5, 2025 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Thursday, November 6, 2025 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Friday, November 7, 2025 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
SEMA on-site registration hours:
- Thursday, October 30, 8:00 am -5:00 pm for exhibitors only
- Friday, October 31, 8:00 am -5:00 pm for exhibitors only
- Saturday, November 1, 8:00 am -5:00 pm for exhibitors only
- Sunday, November 2, 8:00 am -5:00 pm
- Monday, November 3, 7:30 am – 5:00 pm
- Tuesday, November 4, 7:30 am – 5:00 pm
- Wednesday, November 5, 7:30 am – 5:00 pm
- Thursday, November 6, 7:30 am – 5:00 pm
- Friday, November 7, 7:30 am – 2:00 pm
Future dates for the SEMA Show
- SEMA Show 2026: November 3-6
- SEMA Show 2027: November 2-5
- SEMA Show 2028: October 31-November 3
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Where is the SEMA Show held?
A: The SEMA Show takes place annually at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. This premier event draws automotive professionals and enthusiasts from around the globe.
Q: Is the SEMA Show open to the public?
A: No, the SEMA Show is a trade-only event. It is open exclusively to qualified industry professionals, including buyers, exhibitors, and media representatives. The general public is not permitted entry, except on Friday, Nov. 7 with a SEMA Show Friday Experience ticket.
Q: When is the SEMA Show in 2025?
A: The SEMA Show 2025 is scheduled for November 4–7, 2025. Attendees can expect four days of exhibits, networking, and industry-leading innovation.
Q: How much are tickets for the SEMA Show 2025?
A: The registration fee for SEMA 2025 is $50 from April 28 to June 27; $75 from June 28 to Sept. 26; and $100 from Sept. 27, 2025 to Friday, Nov. 7 at 2:00 pm. The registration fee for financial advisors, non-exhibiting manufacturers, suppliers and vehicle manufacturers is $399.
Q: How can I attend the SEMA Show as an industry professional?
A: To attend the SEMA Show, you must register as a qualified industry professional and provide proof of employment in the aftermarket industry. The required documentation includes either two pay stubs showing your name, company name and date, or company-issued badge showing your name, title and company name. It also requires a copy of a current tax or business registration certificate, or business license or permit. Early registration is recommended for discounted pricing.
Hello,
I work for the Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco and I was wondering if I would be able to register and go to the show. We build our own vehicles in house and would like to see new products
Hi Richard, thanks for your SEMA Show question. You would need to contact SEMA Show management for that. Call them at (909) 396-0289.
I work for the auto industry can I bring a spouse and teen if they are not in the industry?
Hi Randy, thanks for stopping by. According to SEMAShow.com you’re able to bring a legal spouse, but you can’t register other guests. When you register you can add a spouse on the registration summary page by clicking on “ADD SPOUSE.” When you register, SEMA requires you to also upload documents to prove your marital status. Under these requirements your teen wouldn’t be allowed to attend. You can get more details by calling SEMA Show management at (909) 396-0289.
Hi there. I’ve registered but have not received a verification email. We’ve been attending for many years. Could someone contact me? A*****3@yahoo.com. Thanks in advance
Hi John, thanks for leaving a comment. You would need to contact SEMA Show management for that. Call them at (909) 396-0289. We have hidden your email address so you don’t start receiving spam emails.
Love the Sema show.
I’m bighue225 I’m a strong follower of sema and want to continue with Sema and I wanted to be a production member of the show’s
do you have to have a website to register
Hi, I’m trying to get tickets but no one has them if you can help that would be awesome thank you.
Hi Miguel, there are no “tickets” to the SEMA Show, you would need to register if you qualify to attend and pay a fee. You can go to this link to see if you qualify to attend the SEMA Show:
https://www.compusystems.com/servlet/AttendeeRegControlServlet
That page lists documents you need to provide with your registration.
I am a US Air Force Vehicle Maintenance Shop Superintendent, working on Multiple Specialized Equipment how do I register a few of my my Mechanics to attend this years Show?
Hi Jesse, thank you for your service.
You can go to this link to see if you or your mechanics qualify to attend the SEMA Show:
https://www.compusystems.com/servlet/AttendeeRegControlServlet
That page lists documents you need to provide with your registration.