The 2025 SEMA Show runs November 4-7 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, and beyond the acres of exhibitor booths and custom builds, this year’s event delivers experiences you won’t find anywhere else. From live vehicle builds by legendary craftsmen to death-defying stunts inside a century-old steel sphere, the show pushes boundaries in ways that extend far beyond traditional trade show programming.
Watch Automotive Art Take Shape Live
Among the rarest opportunities at SEMA is witnessing a master craftsman transform raw materials into finished automotive art.
Akira Nakai, the legendary figure behind Rauh-Welt Begriff (RWB), has previously conducted live builds at SEMA, creating his signature wide-body Porsche conversions directly on the show floor.
These sessions offer attendees a front-row view of Nakai’s hand-built techniques, using only his personal tools to reshape vehicles into unmistakable works of art.
The Road to SEMA Showcase in Central Hall at Booth #21651 presents another distinctive angle on the building process. Eleven automotive content creators drove their custom builds across epic distances to reach Las Vegas, with some traveling from as far as England.
The showcase features vehicles like a 1,100-horsepower LS twin-turbo drift limo, a Ferrari-powered Subaru wagon, and a 1,400-horsepower twin-turbo Coyote-engined 1970 Chevelle that its owner has worked on for 21 years.
International Automotive Discoveries
For the first time since 2019, SEMA expands back into the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino with the International Pavilion, a dedicated space connecting worldwide automotive brands with industry buyers and media.
This venue provides rare access to products not yet widely available in the U.S. market, from performance parts and specialized tools to emerging technologies from international manufacturers.
The pavilion hosts high-profile gatherings including the SEMA Kickoff Breakfast and NHRA Breakfast, creating premium visibility for global exhibitors during these VIP networking moments.
VRX Speed Fest
The SEMA Show partners with VRX Simulators to debut VRX Speed Fest, merging virtual racing with live, in-person competition.
Competitors qualified through a three-part online series on iRacing throughout October, with top performers earning their place at the SEMA Show to compete for a turnkey VRX simulator valued at $50,000.
Located in North Hall at Booth #12671, the activation features 20 state-of-the-industry racing simulators where fans can race and experience professional-level sim racing firsthand.
This represents a significant evolution for motorsports engagement, tapping into a global sim racing market projected to reach $1.5 billion in 2025 and $5 billion by 2033.
Globe of Death Daredevil Performance
SEMA Fest on Friday, November 7, features an exclusive stunt act unavailable anywhere else in Las Vegas: the Urias Family’s Original Globe of Death.
Daredevil motorcycle riders perform high-speed stunts inside a 16-foot-diameter steel sphere built in 1912 by family patriarch Jose Urias.
The globe has been passed down through four generations, with performers crisscrossing within inches of each other at death-defying speeds.
This century-old motorsports showmanship icon performs between musical sets from Queens of the Stone Age, The Black Crowes, and Neon Trees, creating a singular combination of rock concert and vintage stunt performance.
HorsePower Rodeo
Making its SEMA debut, HorsePower Rodeo brings unfiltered automotive action to the Diamond Lot outside West Hall.
Headlined by superstar automotive content creator Westen Champlin and professional smoke show driver Kyle Douglas, the activation features drag racers, drifters, classic muscle cars, and modern burnout machines performing daily demonstrations.
The event celebrates raw mechanical creativity with tire-shredding burnouts, high-speed drifts, and jaw-dropping stunts that showcase the unvarnished passion of car culture.
Partnering with HorsePower Rodeo is SPARQ, which welcomes attendees with 145,000 combined square feet of drifting course action featuring top professional drivers.
SPARQ Diagnostics and AI
At the FutureTech Studio in Central Hall at Booth #24401, SPARQ AI debuts a “Back to the Future-style exhibit” featuring a replica DeLorean time machine.
The demonstration showcases how artificial intelligence transforms the driving experience through SPARQ Diagnostics, a system that serves as a personalized AI mechanic.
The device allows drivers to communicate directly with their vehicles through voice, text, image, or sound inputs, providing diagnostic capabilities comparable to $10,000-plus commercial OBD-II scanners without ongoing subscription fees.
At $129, the device represents accessible technology that bridges the communication gap between drivers and their vehicles.
Larry Chen’s Photography Experience
As the first photographer ever selected as Featured SEMA Show Artist, Larry Chen brings his 20 years of automotive photography to life throughout the show.
His booth in Central Hall at Booth #23867 features daily giveaways of exclusive prints and a fully interactive photo booth powered by Canon cameras.
The wedding-style photo booth allows attendees to pose with friends and walk away with both digital and printed keepsakes, capturing their SEMA experience through the lens of one of the industry’s most celebrated visual storytellers.
Chen will also be signing copies of his debut book “Life at Shutter Speed,” a 400-page coffee table collection chronicling two decades of automotive culture.
Shopmonkey’s Multi-Bar Night Out and Monkey Golf
Shopmonkey at Booth #11739 in North Hall offers a unique blend of business and entertainment. The company hosts daily Happy Hour from 3-5 p.m., where attendees can connect with featured customer vehicle builders over cold beer.
The standout activation is Monkey Golf, featuring daily rotating challenges with exclusive swag and the chance to win prizes including a ride-along at the SEMA drift track with Corey Hosford.
On Wednesday, November 5, Shopmonkey hosts a multi-bar night out featuring stops at the minus5º Ice Bar and 1923 Prohibition Bar, creating a unique networking experience across multiple Las Vegas venues.
Pinewood Drag Races Charitable Competition
The TORA Reception on Wednesday, November 5, at 4:00 p.m. in West Hall at W326 features Pinewood Drag races benefiting SEMA Cares’ partnering children’s charities.
This beloved tradition allows industry professionals to sponsor and race miniature pinewood derby cars in downhill action, with sponsorship donations of $1,000 per company supporting the Austin Hatcher Foundation for pediatric cancer, Childhelp for child abuse prevention, and Victory Junction camp for children with serious medical conditions.
Winners receive trophy immortality with their company name engraved among past champions, creating Stanley Cup-style tradition where the trophy returns each year for title defense.
Hoonigan Burnyard
The Hoonigan Burnyard in Silver Lot #3 hosts famous Burnyard Shows at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. each day, featuring Formula Drift competitors, Australian-style burnout builds, and off-road rigs.
The activation debuts the next chapter in the Gymkhana legacy with the “Gymkhana 2025” reveal on Tuesday, November 4, at 12:00 p.m..
Hoonigan Co-Founder Brian Scotto will present the teaser film during Tuesday morning’s SEMA Show Kickoff Breakfast at 7:00 a.m. at the Paradise Event Center in the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino.
Celebrity signings include Lia Block on Tuesday, November 4, at 4:00 p.m., and Chip Foose on Friday, November 7, at 12:30 p.m..
SEMA Cruise
The SEMA Cruise on Friday, November 7, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. represents one of the show’s time-honored traditions.
More than 1,200 vehicles parade down Convention Center Drive from the Las Vegas Convention Center to the West Hall parking lot, giving attendees and enthusiasts an unrivaled opportunity to see groundbreaking SEMA Show builds in action.
The cruise requires no cost or RSVP, creating an accessible spectacle where the most creative and innovative vehicles on the planet roll off the show floor and onto Las Vegas streets.
Battle of the Builders
The SEMA Battle of the Builders Presented by Mothers Polish culminates with the Overall Winner Announcement on Friday, November 7, at 11:00 a.m. at the Battle of the Builders Stage in North Hall at Booth #10168.
What makes this competition especially unusual is that once the final four builds are selected from categories including Hot Rod & Hot Rod Truck, 4 Wheel Drive & Off-Road, Sport Compact/Import Performance/Luxury & Exotic, and BFGoodrich Young Guns, the builders themselves decide who among them deserves the top honor.
This peer-judged final round creates an atmosphere of mutual respect and recognition among the industry’s most skilled craftsmen.
After-Hours Networking
Beyond the show floor, SEMA Week delivers distinctive after-hours experiences.
The SEMA Businesswomen’s Network hosts the Gear-Up Girl Networking Event on Wednesday, November 5, at 4:30 p.m. in West Hall at W208 Pre-Function, reserved exclusively for women to share advice with female youth and industry newcomers.
The Hot Rod Industry Alliance Reception on Wednesday, November 5, at 5:15 p.m. at Westgate Hotel Ballroom A celebrates HRIA’s 40th Anniversary, honoring top builders and businesses during the awards ceremony.
The SEMA Industry Honors on Thursday, November 6, takes over the BleauLive Theater at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas for an unforgettable night celebrating Content Creator of the Year, Person of the Year, and other prestigious awards.
The cocktail reception begins at 6:00 p.m., followed by the awards ceremony at 7:00 p.m., then an exclusive afterparty with live music, hors d’oeuvres, and an open bar for $50 per person.
Official SEMA Week afterparties continue at Zouk Nightclub at Resorts World Las Vegas, featuring T-Pain on Thursday, November 6, James Hype on Friday, November 7, and a special guest on Saturday, November 8. SEMA Show badge and SEMA Fest ticket holders receive access to special, expedited entry lines.
More Information
AAPEX Events can be found here: AAPEX 2025
Complete details about SEMA Show events, schedules, and registration are available at https://www.semashow.com, with SEMA Fest information at https://www.semafest.com.
VRX Speed Fest updates and registration can be found at https://vrxesports.com.
Larry Chen’s booth information and book details are available through his social media channels and official SEMA Show communications.
For official after-hours events and networking opportunities, visit the SEMA Show events page at https://www.sema.org/news-media/enews/2025/42/official-sema-week-after-hours-events-and-parties/-25ss.
Zouk Nightclub tickets can be purchased at https://zouk.group/events.
The 2025 SEMA Show registration costs $100 per person with badge pickup on-site at the SEMA Show campus, with access included to both the SEMA Show and AAPEX.
These unique activations, live demonstrations, and networking opportunities transform SEMA from a traditional trade show into an immersive celebration of automotive culture, offering experiences that can’t be replicated anywhere else in the industry.
Article Last Updated: October 30, 2025.
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Michael Kahn is the publisher of The Weekly Driver, serving as writer, photographer, and content creator. With a keen eye for storytelling and a passion for adventure, he specializes in uncovering the stories and experiences of automobile enthusiasts. Michael’s work is inspired by his love for off-the-beaten-path road trips, global exploration, and the pursuit of exceptional culinary experiences, all captured through the lens of a world traveler and automotive enthusiast.