AAPEX Opens Registration for 2026 Expo
The Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) announced that attendee registration for AAPEX 2026 is open. AAPEX is an annual business-to-business tradeshow that brings the $2.3 trillion global automotive aftermarket together – including suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and independent repair shops, among others.
AAPEX 2026 will be held at the Venetian Expo and AAPEX Forum in Las Vegas from November 3-5. The show is co-produced by two of the most prominent associations in the automotive aftermarket – the Auto Care Association and MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers.
The show theme this year is "where the industry gets real." That theme recognizes that while the show strives to foster a novel and entertaining atmosphere, the thousands of exhibitors and tens of thousands of attendees make the global trek to AAPEX from more than 120 countries for one primary reason: to get business done.
"AAPEX is a defining event for the automotive aftermarket because it’s a venue for business networking that drives tangible outcomes," said Auto Care Association Vice President of Trade Shows and Community Engagement Mark Bogdansky. "That’s our North Star for organizing the show every year: make it easy for attendees and buyers to find what they need and meet their business goals."
Previous attendees say AAPEX largely delivers on that promise, according to a poll of 906 attendees at the conclusion of last year’s show. For example, most respondents said they were successful in achieving their goals:
- 86% said they met their objectives for discovering new products and innovations
- 81% said they met their objectives for finding and evaluating new suppliers, which new research shows is a crucial objective amid supply chain uncertainty
- 92% said they met their objectives for maintaining existing relationships
AAPEX 2026 is poised to bring another stellar lineup this year, including the following:
- The new AAPEX Forum will host the opening reception and general sessions
- 550,000 square feet of exhibit space covering 1,400+ product categories
- Easy-to-navigate show floor with 2,500+ exhibitors across 5,500 booths
- World-class educational sessions addressing real-world challenges
- Redesigned mini stages hosting spirited debates, face-to-face demos, and free sessions
- Student programs and the 2nd annual student competition for aspiring auto technicians
- Hands-on training led by subject matter experts, in Joe’s Garage and surrounding conference rooms, covering requested topics, such as shop management, workforce development, diagnostics, ADAS, and EV service, among others
- Multiple high-profile celebrities will allegedly make surprise appearances throughout the show
The show will also welcome an entirely new section in iFlex at AAPEX for the first time. This section is dedicated to quick lube operators from the International Fast Lube Expo (iFlex), which AAPEX and the Preventive Automotive Maintenance Association (PAMA) jointly announced earlier this year.
"The iFlex at AAPEX exhibit area reflects how our industry continues to evolve to meet changing vehicle technologies and a growing need for preventative maintenance," said MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers Vice President of Events Liz Goad. "With more vehicles on the road than ever before, the automotive aftermarket, represented by the people and companies at AAPEX, plays an essential role in keeping them safe, reliable, and on the road."