SEMA Fest 2026 opens its gates at 3 p.m. on Friday, November 6 in the Bronze Lot of the Las Vegas Convention Center, and The Offspring close it with a set scheduled from 8:40 to 9:55 p.m. Between those two times SEMA has scheduled three other bands, three rounds of drifting and three motorcycle stunt shows.
Friday is also the one day the SEMA Show floor admits the public, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A $170 ticket covers both the floor and the concert, and SEMA sells it in advance only.
Updated October 6, 2026.
Key Takeaways
- SEMA Fest is Friday, November 6 in the Bronze Lot, with gates at 3 p.m.
- Set times: The Alive at 4 p.m., 311 at 5:10 p.m., Jimmy Eat World at 6:50 p.m. and The Offspring at 8:40 p.m.
- Tickets: $130 for the show floor, $170 for the floor and concert, $80 for the concert alone. Both VIP options were listed as sold out on October 6.
- The show floor is 16 and over. The concert admits all ages.
- The SEMA Cruise sends show vehicles out of the convention center when the floor closes at 4 p.m., and watching it takes no ticket.
- After-hours events run Wednesday and Thursday nights for registered attendees, including the $50 SEMA Industry Honors at Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
SEMA Fest Set Times
SEMA published the running order on October 1. All times are Pacific.
| Time | Act |
|---|---|
| 3 p.m. | Gates open; Supercar Saturdays Florida display |
| 3:30 to 3:50 p.m. | Globe of Death |
| 4 to 4:40 p.m. | The Alive |
| 4:45 to 5 p.m. | Optima Unleashed drifting |
| 5:10 to 6:10 p.m. | 311 |
| 6:10 to 6:30 p.m. | Optima Unleashed drifting |
| 6:30 to 6:50 p.m. | Globe of Death |
| 6:50 to 8 p.m. | Jimmy Eat World |
| 8:05 to 8:20 p.m. | Optima Unleashed drifting |
| 8:20 to 8:35 p.m. | Globe of Death |
| 8:40 to 9:55 p.m. | The Offspring |
The Alive start at 4 p.m., the same minute the show floor closes, so anyone on the combined ticket who stays inside until the end will miss the opening of that set. The Bronze Lot is on the South Hall side of the campus.
The Bands
The Offspring formed in Garden Grove, California, in 1984 and have sold more than 45 million records. Jimmy Eat World reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks chart with “The Middle.” 311 have released 14 studio albums, and The Alive are a California rock band.
In 2025 the lineup was Queens of the Stone Age, The Black Crowes and Neon Trees.
Drifting, the Globe of Death and Supercars
Optima Unleashed runs three drifting sessions of 15 to 20 minutes each between the bands. The Globe of Death, a steel mesh sphere with motorcycles circling inside it, also runs three times. Supercar Saturdays Florida, which first came to SEMA Fest in 2025, brings a display of exotics that stays open from the time the gates do.
Tickets and Rules
| Ticket | Price | Status on October 6 |
|---|---|---|
| SEMA Show Friday (floor only) | $130 | On sale |
| SEMA Show Friday + Concert GA | $170 | On sale |
| SEMA Show Friday + Concert VIP | $210 | Sold out |
| SEMA Fest GA (concert only) | $80 | On sale |
| SEMA Fest VIP (concert only) | $120 | Sold out |
Prices went up on October 4. In June the concert-only ticket was advertised from $60 and the top bundle at $200. Tickets are sold through Tixr and semafest.com, and SEMA’s ticket page states “No day-of purchases.”
Pick up your own ticket. Each buyer collects in person at SEMA Show Registration in South Hall or West Hall between 7:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Friday, with government photo ID matching the name on the confirmation. All sales are final.
- Age: 16 and older for the show floor; all ages for the concert.
- VIP: a separate entrance, a viewing area, VIP bars and restrooms, and charging stations.
- Bags: small bags, purses and backpacks are allowed and searched. Large bags, rolling bags and luggage are turned away.
- Food and drink: sold inside, with gluten-free, vegan and dairy-free options. Outside food and beverages are prohibited.
- Parking: the SEMA Fest site states “No parking will be available at the Las Vegas Convention Center.” SEMA lists eight off-site lots, including Westgate, Renaissance and Fontainebleau.
- Getting there: the Las Vegas Monorail runs until 3 a.m. on Friday, and a 24-hour pass is $13.45 at SEMA’s rate.
Hall locations, automaker booths and the full transport table are in the SEMA 2026 guide.
What a Friday Ticket Opens on the Show Floor
The public walks the same floor the trade has had since Tuesday. These are the features SEMA lists, with their locations:
| Feature | Where | What happens there |
|---|---|---|
| Battle of the Builders | Central Hall, booth 24743 | Finalist vehicles on display; winners announced on its stage during the week |
| Toyo Tires Treadpass | Central Hall, booth 24499 | Curated display of builds |
| FutureTech Studio | Central Hall, booth 24401 | Electric and alternative-propulsion vehicles and a live stage |
| SEMA Live studio | Central Hall, booth 20341 | Livestream broadcast set, 31 hours across four days |
| New Products Showcase | South Hall Lower, booth 41271 | New parts from exhibitors, scannable with the show app |
| Collision Repair Stage | South Hall Upper | Free hands-on welding and virtual-reality demonstrations |
| SEMA Central | Grand Lobby | Featured builds and stage interviews |
| Art Walk | Grand Lobby, second level | Automotive artwork for sale |
| Rays Wheels display | Silver Lot, in front of South Hall | 30 years of the Volk Racing TE37 wheel |
| Feature vehicles | Silver, Diamond and Blue lots; hall lobbies | Builds parked outside the booths |
The 2026 builds list covers the vehicles announced so far, including the Roush-supercharged Ford F-150 that Turn 14 is revealing in Central Hall.
The SEMA Cruise
When the floor closes at 4 p.m. on Friday, the vehicles that spent the week in booths drive out of the halls in a line. SEMA’s public page lists the Cruise as free to attend, and standing along the route takes no show ticket.
In 2025 more than 1,200 vehicles took part between 4 and 7:30 p.m. and the route ran along Convention Center Drive. SEMA has confirmed the Cruise for 2026 and has yet to publish this year’s route.
After-Hours Events, Wednesday and Thursday
SEMA’s evening program is aimed at registered attendees.
| Event | When | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jampack After-Hours Networking | Wednesday, November 4, 8 to 10 p.m. | To be announced | Not published; open bar included |
| Jampack Dining Experience | Thursday, November 5, 6 to 8:30 p.m. | Resorts World Las Vegas | Not published |
| SEMA Industry Honors | Thursday, November 5, 6 p.m. cocktail hour | BleauLive Theater, Fontainebleau Las Vegas | $50 |
The $50 Industry Honors ticket includes hors d’oeuvres, an open bar, the awards ceremony and an after-party with live music.
Last year SEMA also named official after-parties at Zouk Nightclub in Resorts World, with T-Pain on Thursday and James Hype on Friday, from 10:30 p.m. to 4 a.m. Those were ticketed nightclub events, and SEMA announced them in mid-October.
What Ran Outdoors in 2025
SEMA’s features page says more information on 2026 features is coming. Last year’s outdoor attractions were:
- Hoonigan Burnyard in the Silver Lot, with shows at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily.
- Nitro Circus Moto Mayhem, with four Friday shows.
- HorsePower Rodeo in the Diamond Lot.
- Sparq Slide City, a 145,000-square-foot course in the Diamond Lot with drift ride-alongs.
- Optima Unleashed in the Bronze Lot, which is confirmed again for 2026.
Other Car Events in Las Vegas That Week
| Event | Dates | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Concours at Wynn Las Vegas | October 29 to November 1 | Wynn Las Vegas |
| NHRA Las Vegas Nationals | October 30 to November 1 | The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway |
| Open Wheel Showdown | November 5 to 7 | The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway |
| Las Vegas Grand Prix | November 19 to 21 | Las Vegas Strip Circuit |
The Open Wheel Showdown overlaps the show. It runs sprint cars, super modifieds and modifieds on the Bullring’s paved oval, and its winged sprint car race pays $50,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does SEMA Fest 2026 start?
Gates open at 3 p.m. on Friday, November 6, 2026. The Alive play the first set at 4 p.m. and The Offspring finish at 9:55 p.m.
Who is playing SEMA Fest 2026?
The Offspring headline at 8:40 p.m. Jimmy Eat World play at 6:50 p.m., 311 at 5:10 p.m. and The Alive at 4 p.m.
How much are SEMA Fest tickets?
General admission to the concert alone is $80. A ticket that also covers the SEMA Show floor on Friday is $170. Both VIP tickets, at $120 and $210, were listed as sold out on October 6.
Where is SEMA Fest held?
In the Bronze Lot at the Las Vegas Convention Center, on the South Hall side of the campus. The site says no parking is available at the convention center for the event, and SEMA lists eight off-site lots.
Can kids go to SEMA Fest?
The concert admits all ages. The SEMA Show floor on Friday is limited to ages 16 and older, so anyone under 16 can attend only the concert.
Is the SEMA Cruise free?
Yes. SEMA lists the Cruise as free to attend. Show vehicles leave the convention center when the floor closes at 4 p.m. on Friday, and in 2025 they ran along Convention Center Drive.
Can you buy SEMA tickets at the door?
SEMA’s ticket page states “No day-of purchases.” Tickets are sold in advance through Tixr and picked up in person on Friday morning with photo ID.
Are there SEMA after-parties open to the public?
In 2025 SEMA named ticketed after-parties at Zouk Nightclub on Thursday and Friday. For 2026 it has published two Jampack events and the $50 Industry Honors evening for registered attendees.
Source: SEMA Show
Michael Kahn
Michael Kahn is the writer, photographer, and publisher behind The Weekly Driver. He cares about how cars drive and what they're like to own. He covers automobile industry news, car shows and events, and new car reviews. The reviews come from behind the wheel: day trips that favor back routes, treating a good meal as half the reason to go. He directs and produces the visual media, matching each car to a setting and mood that fit it. When he's not reviewing new cars, Michael races paddleboards, camels, and ostriches, along with the occasional exotic car on the racetrack, and has driven in every state and country visited.
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