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Where Aftermarket Car Parts Buyers Meet Suppliers in 2027 and 2028

October 25, 2026

The main aftermarket car parts shows for 2027 are the Tokyo Auto Salon (15 to 17 January), EQUIP AUTO in Paris (12 to 16 October) and the SEMA Show in Las Vegas (2 to 5 November). The PRI Show and the Essen Motor Show have not published 2027 dates on their organiser pages, and Automechanika Frankfurt returns in September 2028. This guide lists each show with its organiser dates, says who it suits and gives a plan for using a visit when you buy custom machined parts.

Table: aftermarket car parts trade shows with organiser dates for 2027 and 2028

Every date below comes from the organiser’s own page, read in October 2026. Shows move, shrink and change venue, so treat the table as a starting point and confirm before you book flights. Where an organiser page lists no date, we write “not confirmed by the organiser as of October 2026” and leave it there.

The 2027 and 2028 calendar

Show Dates Place Status as of October 2026
Tokyo Auto Salon 15, 16 and 17 January 2027 Makuhari Messe, Chiba Dates on the organiser’s 2027 page. Trade day details not on that page
EQUIP AUTO Paris 12 to 16 October 2027 Paris Organiser targets 1,500 exhibitors and brands over about 100,000 square meters
SEMA Show 2 to 5 November 2027 Las Vegas in 2026 2027 dates on the organiser page, venue not named there
PRI Show 10 to 12 December 2026 Indianapolis 2027 dates not confirmed by the organiser as of October 2026
Essen Motor Show 28 November to 6 December 2026, preview day 27 November Messe Essen 2027 dates not confirmed by the organiser as of October 2026
Automechanika Shanghai 2 to 5 December 2026 National Exhibition and Convention Center, Shanghai 2027 dates not listed on the organiser page
Automechanika Frankfurt 5 to 9 September 2028 Frankfurt am Main Next edition after the 2026 show

The organiser’s pages show editions in 2025 and 2027, and the 2027 page also lists regional editions in Casablanca (21 to 24 January 2027) and Algiers (29 March to 1 April 2027). Those are outside the scope of this guide, which is about buyers of custom machined parts for road and track cars.

Which show suits which buyer

The shows are not interchangeable. Each draws a different crowd, and the right choice depends on where you sell.

SEMA Show, Las Vegas. The American aftermarket’s largest gathering for performance, custom and restoration brands. In 2026 the show is trade-only except on Friday 6 November, when it is open to the public. If you sell to US customers, this is where your competitors and your customers’ customers stand. The AAPEX parts show is a related trade event; its homepage quotes 45,000 attendees and more than 2,500 exhibitors, and gave no dates when we read it.

PRI Show, Indianapolis. The racing industry’s own trade show. The organiser describes attendees as industry professionals who come to find new products, network and attend technical seminars. It suits brands whose parts go on race cars: engine, driveline, suspension and fabrication.

Tokyo Auto Salon, Chiba. Japan’s tuning and custom car show, held at Makuhari Messe in halls 1 to 11 plus an outdoor area. It is the show to watch if your products compete in or sell into the Japanese tuning scene. The organiser’s 2027 page gives the dates and venue; it did not describe a separate trade day, so ask the organiser before you plan a business-only visit.

Essen Motor Show. A large car show in western Germany. The organiser’s 2026 release says halls 5, 6 and 7 are given to tuning and lifestyle and expects around 500 exhibitors. It is a place to see European tuning brands and how they finish their parts. It does not publish a trade-only day in the release we read.

EQUIP AUTO Paris and Automechanika. These are wider parts-trade shows. EQUIP AUTO groups its 2027 show into 19 activity sectors, including workshop equipment, diagnostics and tires, with customization and accessories as areas of focus. Automechanika Frankfurt’s organiser says the 8 to 12 September 2026 edition drew more than 112,000 trade visitors from 173 countries. These shows suit a brand that wants distributors and workshop channels, not only enthusiasts.

How a buyer of custom machined parts should use a show

A show cannot replace a written request. It can shorten the time you spend learning what a good part looks like. Use it for four jobs.

  1. See finishes in your hand. An anodized bracket looks different in a photo than on a table under show lights. Pick up parts from brands in your category and look at edges, thread finish and marking. Our guide on anodizing and finishes for billet parts lists what to look for.
  2. Learn the price of the category. Ask competitors’ sales staff what typical lead times and minimum orders are in the trade. You will not get their cost, but you will hear what customers expect.
  3. Meet people who make parts. Machine shops, billet shops and finishing companies exhibit or walk the aisles. Collect cards, not promises. Our guide on how to choose a CNC shop for car parts gives the questions to ask later in writing.
  4. Check how your idea looks next to others. If three stands already sell a similar bracket, you want a point of difference before you order tooling or fixtures.

Before you go

  • Write one page with your part, material, finish and expected quantity. A half-page is enough.
  • Bring a drawing or sketch with dimensions, but plan to send the final file by email.
  • Book meetings by email before the show. Stands are busy and the first day is the busiest.
  • Decide your questions in advance: lead time, minimum order, what the shop needs to quote, how samples work.

After the show

Send a written request within a week to the shops that seemed a fit. Say where you met, attach the drawing and state material, quantity and need-by date. The reply to that email is the first real data point. A stand conversation tells you about attitude. A written quote tells you about price and date. Our guide on what a good automotive RFQ looks like shows what to include so the reply is a number, not a question.

When a show is not worth the trip

A show costs travel, a hotel and several days. It is not worth it when:

  • You already know your part and have a drawing. Sending the drawing to three shops costs nothing and gives you quotes.
  • Your market is outside the show’s region. A European buyer of track-day parts may learn more at Essen than in Las Vegas.
  • You have no budget to follow up. A show visit without a sample order afterwards is only research.
  • The show date lands right when you need parts. A show week is a poor time to check a first-off sample.

If the trip does not fit, you can send the same request without it.

Dates move: how to check

Organisers update their pages as shows get closer. Do three things before you book.

  1. Open the organiser site, not a listing site. Aggregator pages can repeat dates from older years.
  2. Look for the exhibitor and visitor registration page. If registration has opened, the dates are more likely to hold.
  3. Check whether the day you want is a trade day or a public day. SEMA’s Friday in 2026 is public; Essen has a preview day before the public days.

Next step

If you plan to buy custom machined parts for a launch around a show date, write the request first. Send the request with drawing, material, quantity and need-by date, and we match it with up to 3 shops, with a reply within 24 business hours.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

When is the SEMA Show in 2027?

The SEMA Show organiser lists 2 to 5 November 2027. The 2026 show runs 3 to 6 November 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center and is trade-only except on the Friday, which is open to the public. The 2027 page did not name a venue when we read it in October 2026, so confirm the city on the organiser site.

Is the PRI Show held every year?

The PRI Show is listed for 10 to 12 December 2026 in Indianapolis. The organiser page did not list 2027 dates when we read it in October 2026, so the 2027 date is not confirmed by the organiser as of October 2026. The 2026 show is in December, so plan for a similar slot and check the organiser before you book travel.

Which show suits a brand that buys custom machined parts?

It depends on the market. SEMA and PRI cover US aftermarket and motorsport buyers. Tokyo Auto Salon covers the Japanese tuning scene. Essen Motor Show has three halls given to tuning and lifestyle. EQUIP AUTO and Automechanika cover the wider parts trade, with workshop and distribution stands next to parts brands.

Should I bring drawings to a trade show?

Bring the drawings you already have, but do not expect a firm quote at a stand. A stand can tell you what a company makes and how it works. A quote needs the drawing, material, quantity and date in writing afterwards. Send the request within a week so the conversation is still fresh.

Do I have to visit a show to find a supplier?

No. A show is one way to meet people and handle samples. You can also send a written request with a drawing to several shops and compare the replies. Many brands do both: they use a show to learn the market and a written request to buy.

Need a quote for this part?

Send the drawing or photos of the old part. We match you with up to 3 shops and reply within 24 business hours.

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