| AAPEX 2027 at a glance | |
|---|---|
| Show | AAPEX 2027 |
| Start date | Tuesday, November 2, 2027 |
| End date | Thursday, November 4, 2027 |
| Exhibit hall | November 2-4, 2027 |
| Venue | Not yet announced |
| City | Las Vegas, NV |
| Official website | aapexshow.com |
| Organizer | Auto Care Association and MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers |
A booth built by Methodex for Espen Technology at LightFair 2025.
Photo: Methodex
AAPEX 2027 key facts
| 2026 edition | November 3-5, 2026, exhibits 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Las Vegas, Venetian Expo (Halls A, B, C, D, and G and the Venetian Ballroom) and Caesars Forum, branded AAPEX Forum (Summit, Academy, Alliance, and Forum Ballrooms) |
| 2026 freight and deadlines | Freeman advance warehouse (6675 W Sunset Rd, Las Vegas) accepts freight from September 23, with an after-deadline charge for freight arriving after October 15; FreemanOnline discount deadline October 1 |
| 2026 installation and move-out | Venetian Expo and AAPEX Forum exhibits set and in place by 3 p.m. November 2; halls closed to exhibitors, installation and dismantle (I&D) companies, and booth personnel at 5 p.m. (Venetian Expo) and 4 p.m. (AAPEX Forum); no dismantling before 5 p.m. November 5; Halls A, B, C, and G materials out by noon November 7, 2026 |
| Show size | AAPEX 2024: 45,151 registered attendees (34,054 from the U.S. and 11,097 from 128 countries) |
| Space price (2026) | $34 per sq ft for qualifying members, $59 per sq ft for non-members; corner charges $5,800 per island, $2,800 per peninsula, $750 per linear corner |
| General service contractor (GSC) | Freeman (2026 show) |
| Island and peninsula height (2026 show rules) | 20×20 and up (peninsula: aisles on three sides; island: aisles on four sides): 20 ft on Venetian Expo Level 2, 12 ft on Level 1; only these booths can exceed 14 ft (12 ft on Level 1) |
| Peninsula setbacks (2026 show rules) | Back wall drops to 4 ft, 5 ft in from both side aisles; any sign or display from 4 to 18 ft must sit at least 5 ft back from the aisle or at least 10 ft from a neighboring booth |
| Linear booth height (2026 show rules) | 8 ft maximum for flags, banners, and structures. In booths 10 ft and 20 ft wide, any sign or display between 4 ft and 8 ft tall set back at least 5 ft from the aisle; booths 30 ft or wider can instead keep those elements at least 10 ft from a neighboring booth |
| Engineer drawings and approvals (2026 show rules) | Drawings signed or stamped by a structural engineer and signed by the exhibit builder, kept on site, for any exhibit over 14 ft; display rules: identification signs, canopies, and two-story exhibits to 20 ft with written approval at least 60 days before the show |
| Hanging sign rules (2026 show rules) | Peninsula and island only; 24 ft maximum; written approval at least 60 days before the event; drawings signed or stamped by a reviewing structural engineer. Signs at least 10 ft from the back wall (not required on islands); total sign length on each side no more than 50% of the matching booth dimension (2026 display rules) |
| Hanging signs on Level 1 (2026 regulations; Venetian) | Not permitted on Level 1 under the 2026 regulations; the Venetian also does not permit flown rigging in Hall G |
| Multi-level booths (2026 show rules) | Not permitted on Level 1. On Level 2, drawings signed or stamped by a structural engineer and by the builder kept on site, posted occupancy signs, and covered or upper deck areas of no more than 1,000 sq ft |
| Hall ceiling height (Venetian Expo and Caesars Forum; building figures) | Venetian Expo: Halls A-D 32 ft 5 in (Hall D per the Venetian General Contractor & Production Guide, 08/26); Hall G 13 ft 5 in (lower in low-hang areas); the AAPEX display rules use 12 ft for Level 1. Caesars Forum: Summit, Forum, Academy, and Alliance Ballrooms 30 ft |
| Vehicles on display (2026 show rules) | Peninsula and island booths only; Clark County Fire Marshal vehicle display permit, applied for at least 3 weeks before move-in; fuel no more than 1/4 tank or 5 gallons, whichever is less; batteries disconnected; 36 in clear access around each vehicle; at least 20 ft from exits |
| EAC policy (2026 show rules) | Allowed; signed contract with the exhibitor; installation complete before 5 p.m. November 2, although the AAPEX Forum closed to I&D companies at 4 p.m.; no dismantling or packing before 5 p.m. November 5 |
| Small-booth unloading (2026 show rules) | Booths of 400 sq ft or less with under 500 lb of freight can unload from a privately owned vehicle November 1-2, 2026, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., in the Level 1 Hall G area, at no charge; dollies, carts, and other rolling devices not permitted on the exhibit floor during exhibit hours without Event Management’s prior written consent |
| Flooring (2026) | Exhibit area not carpeted; every exhibit needs floor covering at the exhibitor’s expense, and the 2026 regulations call for complying carpet; aisles carpeted by Freeman |
| Venue exclusives (AAPEX Exhibitor Information; Venetian guide, undated) | Electrical, internet, booth cleaning, catering, and compressed air exclusive to the Venetian Expo; truss and motors provided by Encore |
The height, sign, and contractor rules come from the AAPEX 2026 exhibitor regulations and display rules. Ceiling heights are building measurements, not build limits. Confirm the rules in the AAPEX exhibitor manual before you design.
Last checked: October 2026
The AAPEX 2026 dates are November 3 to 5 at the Venetian Expo and at Caesars Forum, which the show brands as AAPEX Forum. AAPEX 2027 runs November 2 to 4. Floor level sets the height limit for an AAPEX trade show booth. Under the 2026 regulations, peninsulas and islands can reach 20 feet on Level 2 of the Venetian Expo and 12 feet on Level 1.
AAPEX height limits by level and booth type
Peninsulas and islands start at 20×20. The display rules allow identification signs, canopies, and two-story exhibits up to 20 feet with written approval at least 60 days before the show, and the 2026 regulations require drawings signed or stamped by a structural engineer and signed by the builder, kept on site, for any exhibit over 14 feet. A peninsula back wall must drop to 4 feet, 5 feet in from each side aisle, and any sign or display from 4 to 18 feet tall must sit at least 5 feet back from the aisle or at least 10 feet from a neighboring booth. Linear booths top out at 8 feet. In linear booths 10 or 20 feet wide, any sign or display from 4 to 8 feet tall must sit at least 5 feet back from the aisle. Cross-aisle displays are not permitted for inline or peninsula booths; they need two full islands of more than 2,000 square feet each.
The Venetian lists Hall G, on Level 1, at a 13-foot 5-inch ceiling, lower in low-hang areas, and the AAPEX display rules use a 12-foot figure for Level 1. Halls A to D, on Level 2, rise to 32 feet 5 inches, so an island designed for Level 2 needs a lower version for Hall G. Double-deck booths are not permitted on Level 1. On Level 2, upper decks need drawings signed or stamped by a structural engineer kept on site, and posted occupancy signs, and covered or upper deck areas are limited to 1,000 square feet.
Buyers include repair shops, retailers, and warehouse distributors, and the floor is grouped by product section, such as Tool & Equipment and Paint & Body. A booth with product walls organized by line and a table for distributor meetings suits those buyers.
Hanging signs and flooring
Hanging signs are allowed over peninsulas and islands only, up to 24 feet. Each sign needs written approval at least 60 days before the show and drawings signed or stamped by a structural engineer. A sign must sit at least 10 feet from the back wall, except on islands, and its total length on each side can be no more than 50% of the matching booth dimension. The latest 2026 exhibitor regulations do not permit hanging signs on Level 1, and the Venetian does not permit flown rigging in Hall G.
The aisles are carpeted, but the exhibit area is not. Every exhibit needs floor covering at the exhibitor’s expense, and the 2026 regulations call for complying carpet.
Vehicles in the booth
Vehicles can be shown in peninsula and island booths only. Each one needs a vehicle display permit from the Clark County Fire Marshal, applied for at least three weeks before move-in. The tank can hold no more than a quarter tank or 5 gallons of fuel, whichever is less, the battery must be disconnected, and the vehicle needs 36 inches of clear access around it and must sit at least 20 feet from any exit.
Contractors and deadlines
Freeman is the general service contractor (GSC) for the 2026 show. Its advance warehouse began receiving freight on September 23, 2026. The 2026 rules let booths of 400 square feet or less with under 500 pounds of freight unload from a privately owned vehicle at no charge on November 1 and 2. At the Venetian Expo, electrical, internet, and booth cleaning are exclusive to the venue, and truss and motors come from Encore. Dollies and carts are not allowed on the exhibit floor during exhibit hours without written consent from show management.
The 2026 regulations allow exhibitor-appointed contractors (EACs) for installation and dismantle (I&D). They require exhibits in both the Venetian Expo and the AAPEX Forum to be set and in place by 3 p.m. November 2. The halls then close to exhibitors, I&D companies, and booth personnel at 5 p.m. at the Venetian Expo and 4 p.m. at the AAPEX Forum.
Methodex designs, builds, and rents exhibits and installs them in Las Vegas, with a warehouse in North Las Vegas. Get an AAPEX booth estimate once you know your hall and level. For larger spaces, browse our 20×40 booth designs, and for the full budget, read what a Las Vegas booth costs.
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