By SEMA News Editors
Think your 2026 SEMA Show build has what it takes to stand among the industry's best? Submit it for the 2026 SEMA Battle of the Builders Presented by Mothers Polish and put your craftsmanship, creativity and innovation in the spotlight at the SEMA Show. The competition is open for 2026, and builders across the automotive and motorcycle worlds are invited to enter. Builders may enter while working to secure a spot for their vehicle at the 2026 SEMA Show, but the vehicle must have a feature vehicle space or booth space secured by October 16, 2026, to continue in the Battle of the Builders competition. Enter at semabotb.com.
Now in its 13th year, the SEMA Battle of the Builders Presented by Mothers Polish has become a proving ground for custom vehicle builders exhibiting at the SEMA Show. For 2026, the competition is expanding beyond four wheels with the debut of the SEMA Battle of the Builders: Bike Builder Shootout, creating a new opportunity for custom motorcycle builders to earn industry recognition on the SEMA Show stage. Entries will be evaluated separately by motorcycle industry judges based on craftsmanship, design innovation and overall execution, with entries advancing through the competition until one builder is ultimately named the overall Bike Builder champion.
The Bike Builder Shootout joins the program's four core automotive competition classes: Hot Rod & Hot Rod Truck; 4 Wheel Drive & Off-Road; Sport Compact, Import Performance, Luxury & Exotic; and BFGoodrich Young Guns. As in years past, winners from these four classes will advance through the competition, with one ultimately named overall Battle of the Builders champion.
Supporting the Next Generation of Builders With the BFGoodrich Young Guns
Builders age 29 and younger can enter the BFGoodrich Young Guns category, which continues to provide emerging talent with increased visibility and opportunities to compete alongside some of the industry's most respected names.
If you have a 2026 SEMA Show build, you can enter the Battle of the Builders competition while working to secure its Show placement. The BOTB operations team will review applications and verify the vehicle's status for displaying at the 2026 SEMA Show. To continue in the competition, the vehicle's feature vehicle space or booth space must be secured by October 16, 2026.
If you have already secured a spot on the 2026 SEMA Show floor for your build, you can enter now at semabotb.com.
Enter the 2026 SEMA Battle of the Builders Presented by Mothers Polish today.
The 2026 SEMA Show is set for November 3-6, in Las Vegas. Interested exhibitors can buy a booth and learn more at semashow.com/exhibitor. Attendee and buyer registration is now open online. For more information, visit semashow.com, the Registration Resource Center, or the 2026 SEMA Show floorplan.
Tickets are also available for SEMA Fest, the celebration of car culture and music on Friday, November 6, 2026, on the SEMA Show campus. Secure tickets or learn more at semafest.com.
Note: Battle of the Builders entrants may enter while working to secure their vehicle's placement at the SEMA Show. However, the vehicle must have its feature vehicle space or booth space secured by October 16, 2026, to continue in the 2026 BOTB competition. Applying for the Battle of the Builders does not grant a vehicle a spot at the 2026 SEMA Show.
To apply for a feature vehicle space at the 2026 SEMA Show, a SEMA Show exhibiting company must sponsor the space. Once sponsorship has been secured, builders can apply for a feature vehicle space here. See the feature vehicle rules and regulations for additional information. Questions about applying for a feature vehicle space can be directed to Maurice O'Connell at mauriceo@sema.org.
