The Biggest Trade Show in the Country Just Added a Dedicated Powersports Section. Are You Going to SEMA 2026?

If you have heard of SEMA but always thought of it as a car show, this episode is going to change that.SEMA — the Specialty Equipment Market Association, just announced a dedicated Powersports section at their 2026 show this November in Las Vegas. We are talking about 153,000 total attendees, 70,000 professional buyers and decision makers, and 2,600 accredited media and content creators. And now powersports has its own dedicated home inside of it.I sat down with Tom Gattuso, VP of Events at SEMA, and Mike Ausec, SEMA's Industry Sales Director for Powersports and Lifestyle, to break down what this means for dealers, OEMs, and the industry as a whole.What we cover:Why SEMA describes the show as an "industry homecoming" and what that means for powersportsThe ORBA acquisition: why SEMA is now fighting for land access and motorized recreation rights at the state and federal level — and what that means for a dealer in Florida, Arizona, or MontanaWhy powersports was always in SEMA's DNA but is only now getting its own dedicated platformThe West Hall location and why placing powersports next to trucks and off-road is a strategic decision — not just a real estate oneOutdoor demos adjacent to the West Hall and what it means to actually experience product instead of just seeing it on carpetWhat product categories are already confirmed: OEM representation, hard parts aftermarket, gear and apparel, lifestyle, EV, overlandingWhy 60% of SEMA attendees are at the owner or GM level — and why that makes the show worth the tripThe New Product Showcase: 1,700 to 2,000 products in one place, open at 7:30 AM before the floor opensHow 60% of people who visit the New Product Showcase discover a company they had never heard of beforeToyota's Scion side-by-side concept reveal at SEMA that generated 1.4 billion impressions in 24 hoursThe education component: 90-plus sessions including powersports, off-road, overlanding, social media, and dealer growthSEMA Fest: music and motorsports event for consumers that opens on May 4th alongside buyer registrationWhy the future of trade shows is shifting toward Gen Z and millennial buyers and how SEMA is building for that nowWhat dealer registration looks like, what hotel options are available, and what opens on May 4thWhy you do not need to be a SEMA member to attend — and what membership actually gets you if you do joinMike's honest take: powersports has needed a platform for the last 10 years and SEMA has the infrastructure to deliver itWatch on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@dealershipfixit?si=xGw636a89UUDAK20⁠SEMA Powersports: ⁠https://www.semashow.com/powersports⁠Connect with Tom Gattuso: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomgattuso/⁠Connect with Mike Ausec: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeausec/⁠Connect with Jacob: ⁠https://linkedin.com/in/jacob-b-berry⁠Follow the Fixit Online: ⁠https://linktr.ee/dealershipfixit⁠MotoHunt for Dealers: ⁠https://dealers.motohunt.com⁠