| SEMA Show 2027 at a glance | |
|---|---|
| Show | SEMA Show 2027 |
| Start date | Tuesday, November 2, 2027 |
| End date | Friday, November 5, 2027 |
| Venue | Las Vegas Convention Center (2026 venue) |
| City | Las Vegas, NV |
| Official website | semashow.com |
| Organizer | Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) |
A booth built by Methodex for Espen Technology at ACT Expo 2025.
Photo: Methodex
SEMA Show 2027 key facts
| 2026 edition | November 3-6, 2026, Las Vegas, at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) |
| 2026 design and contractor deadlines | Hanging sign design notifications, multi-level booth drawings, and design notifications for exhibits of 400 sq ft and up due September 4; Freeman discount deadline October 1; EAC applications, EAC proof of insurance, and target move-in change requests due October 2 |
| 2026 freight, move-in, and move-out | Advance warehouse last day without penalty October 22; move-in October 29 to November 2 (targeted days first, all exhibitors November 2); displays in place by 3 p.m. November 2; move-out November 6-7, with November 8 (8 a.m. to noon) by appointment only |
| Held | Annually |
| Show size | SEMA Show 2025: more than 153,000 attendees from 140 countries and regions, and 2,300 exhibiting brands (SEMA, November 2025) |
| General service contractor (GSC) | Freeman (2026 show) |
| Height limit by booth type (2026 show rule) | Linear 8 ft 3 in; perimeter 12 ft; peninsula and island 16 ft (hanging lights and lighting-only truss may go higher if no graphics, advertising, or promotional signage is above 16 ft) |
| Hanging sign rules (2026 show rules) | Linear booths: no hanging signs. Peninsulas and islands of 20×20 or larger: sign up to 8 ft tall, finished on all sides. Freeman hangs all signs |
| Perimeter booth signs (2026 Display Regulations and exhibitor FAQ) | The Display Regulations allow a flat sign up to 12 ft from floor to top, at least 5 ft from the aisle, but the exhibitor FAQ allows signs only over booths of 20×20 or larger; confirm with SEMA |
| Vehicles in the booth (2026 show rules) | Up to 80 percent of the booth; set back 10 in from the aisle; fuel no more than 1/4 tank or 5 gallons, whichever is less; battery cables disconnected and taped (or a cutoff switch kept off and out of public reach); alarms off; once placed, not started or moved without Show Management approval |
| Floor covering (2026 show rules) | Required in every booth, except in areas that already have carpet, such as the Westgate |
| Multi-level booths (2026 show rules) | An occupied upper deck needs a plan wet-stamped by a Nevada-registered engineer; plans used at earlier shows must be resubmitted each year; the EAC must submit the booth plans to SEMA Show Operations by October 2 |
| Hall ceiling height (LVCC, 2026 show venue; building figures) | LVCC: West Hall 42 ft; North Hall 33-35 ft; Central Hall 25-35 ft; South Hall 25-30 ft |
| EAC policy (2026 show rules) | Allowed; EACs need the LVCC annual EAC permit and comprehensive general liability insurance of at least $2,000,000 combined single limit |
The height limits, sign rules, and vehicle rules come from the SEMA Show 2026 display regulations. Ceiling heights are building measurements, not build limits. Confirm the rules in the SEMA Show exhibitor manual before you design.
Last checked: October 2026
The SEMA Show 2026 dates are November 3 to 6 at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). EAC applications are due October 2. SEMA Show 2027 runs November 2 to 5. For a SEMA trade show booth, height is the rule that shapes the design most. The 2026 rules cap peninsulas and islands at 16 feet, well below LVCC hall ceilings of 25 to 42 feet.
SEMA trade show display height limits by booth type
The 2026 limits are 8 feet 3 inches for a linear booth, 12 feet for a perimeter booth, and 16 feet for a peninsula or island. Hanging lights and truss used only for lighting can go above the 16-foot cap, provided there are no graphics, advertising, or promotional signage above 16 feet.
In linear and perimeter booths, a line-of-sight rule keeps anything within 5 feet of the aisle and within 10 feet of a neighboring booth at 4 feet or lower.
The 16-foot cap applies in any LVCC hall, including West Hall with its 42-foot ceiling.
Hanging signs and vehicles
Under the 2026 rules, a hanging sign over a peninsula or island of 20×20 or larger can be up to 8 feet tall and must be finished on all sides. Linear booths can’t fly a sign. For perimeter booths, the Display Regulations allow a flat sign up to 12 feet from the floor to its top and at least 5 feet from the aisle, while the exhibitor FAQ says a booth must be 20×20 or larger; confirm with SEMA Show Management before you design one. Freeman, SEMA’s general service contractor (GSC) for 2026, hangs every sign.
Vehicles can fill up to 80 percent of the booth and must be set back 10 inches from the aisle. Fuel is limited to a quarter tank or 5 gallons, whichever is less. Battery cables must be disconnected and taped (or a cutoff switch kept off and out of public reach), alarms must be off, and once placed, a display vehicle can’t be started or moved without Show Management’s approval.
Setting up and shipping your booth to SEMA in Las Vegas
SEMA’s 2026 rules allow exhibitor-appointed contractors (EACs) for installation and dismantle (I&D). An EAC needs the LVCC’s annual permit and comprehensive general liability insurance of at least $2,000,000 combined single limit, and must name SEMA and Freeman, among others, as additional insureds.
Your full-time employees can also install the booth if the job needs no saws, pipe wrenches, or power tools except electric drills and screwdrivers, and no one works on a ladder over 30 inches. The rules also bar workers hired from a non-union agency or company.
Advance warehouse freight must arrive by October 22, 2026, to avoid a penalty, and displays must be in place by 3 p.m. November 2.
Multi-level drawings are due September 4, an occupied upper deck needs a plan wet-stamped by a Nevada-registered engineer, and plans used at earlier shows must be resubmitted each year. If you use an EAC, it must submit these plans to SEMA Show Operations by October 2, 2026. Every booth needs its own carpet or floor covering, except in areas that already have carpet, such as the Westgate.
Our 20×20 Las Vegas island guide covers island planning. For vehicles and other heavy exhibits, see our explainer on drayage costs.
Once you have your booth number, get a free booth quote for the SEMA Show.