AAPEX 2026 Opens Submissions for Speakers, Training Sessions
The Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo is accepting submissions for speakers and training sessions at its annual trade show taking place in Las Vegas, Nov. 3 through 5, according to a press release.
Select interactive training sessions will take place in Joe’s Garage, with additional training sessions also located around the show floor near Joe’s Garage. Sessions should be geared toward business management or technical training for independent auto repair shops and owners, with sales pitches and sessions that are promotional in nature not being considered.
AAPEX has outlined the following as selection criteria for session proposals:
- Relevance to the independent repair community
- Relevance to the independent repair community
- Quality of proposed content
- Achievable learning outcomes
- Trainer or presenter qualifications
- Applicability to a service shop’s daily work or career
Presenters whose sessions are selected will receive complimentary access to the show, $500 honorarium per session, $750 stipend for travel and expenses. The $500 honorarium is paid per session (not per speaker). The honorarium remains at a flat rate regardless of the number of speakers in any given session.
The deadline for submission is March 18, 2026. Prospective speakers can submit proposed sessions here. Each speaker may submit up to six different session proposals by the deadline. All proposals will be evaluated by a panel of independent repair shop owners and technicians. The selected sessions will be announced to applicants by mid-April.
“Last year, AAPEX hosted more than 100 training sessions and product demonstrations as part of our dedicated programming for service and repair professionals, including activations in Joe’s Garage,” said Liz Goad, vice president of Events with MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers, which co-produces AAPEX. “Access to training and exposure to new product innovations are consistently among the top reasons people say they attend AAPEX in our polling.”