AUTOMOTIVE AFTERMARKET TO CELEBRATE ITS BRIGHTEST STARS AT 2026 SEMA INDUSTRY HONORS
-- Nov. 5 celebration at BleauLive Theater will honor the 2026 SEMA Hall of Fame class, Content Creator of the Year and Person of the Year --
DIAMOND BAR, Calif. (Oct. 19, 2026) – The automotive and powersports aftermarket will come together to recognize its innovators, leaders and visionaries during the 2026 SEMA Industry Honors, taking place Thursday, Nov. 5, at the BleauLive Theater inside the Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
Held during the 2026 SEMA Show, SEMA Industry Honors is the industry’s annual celebration of the people whose creativity, leadership and passion continue to move the automotive and powersports aftermarket forward. The evening will recognize the SEMA Hall of Fame Class of 2026, the SEMA Content Creator of the Year, the SEMA Person of the Year and the recipient of the Robert E. Petersen Lifetime Achievement Award.
“SEMA Industry Honors brings our community together around the people, ideas and achievements that are shaping the future of the aftermarket,” said SEMA Vice President of Events Tom Gattuso. “By celebrating industry legends alongside today’s most influential leaders and storytellers, the event connects the aftermarket’s proud history with its next chapter. It is an opportunity for everyone at the SEMA Show to recognize excellence, strengthen relationships and be inspired by the individuals moving our industry forward.”
The program will be emceed by Kevin Oeste, who will guide attendees through an evening of recognition, personal stories and celebration. Members of the SEMA community and other familiar faces from the automotive world will also take the stage throughout the program to help honor this year’s award recipients.
Celebrating the Industry’s Highest Achievements
The SEMA Hall of Fame is the association’s highest honor, recognizing individuals whose careers and contributions have helped shape and advance the automotive specialty-equipment industry. The 2026 SEMA Hall of Fame class includes Doug Dwyer, Jay Leno, Ellen McKoy and Dennis Overholser.
Members of SEMA’s Councils & Networks will participate in the Hall of Fame presentations, helping recognize the inductees’ contributions and lasting impact on the industry.
SEMA Industry Honors will also recognize outstanding achievements in leadership, automotive storytelling and lifetime contributions to the specialty automotive industry.
The SEMA Person of the Year award honors an individual whose leadership, service and contributions have significantly strengthened the industry and the SEMA community.
The SEMA Content Creator of the Year award recognizes an individual who uses compelling and innovative content to expand the reach of the automotive lifestyle, engages new audiences and inspires greater participation in the industry.
Presented by the Petersen Automotive Museum, the Robert E. Petersen Lifetime Achievement Award honors individuals whose careers and contributions have made a lasting impact on motorsports, particularly drag racing. Named for the museum’s late founder, Robert E. Petersen, the award is considered one of the specialty automotive industry’s highest honors.
“Guests can expect a high-energy evening that blends meaningful recognition with the camaraderie that makes the SEMA Show so special,” said SEMA Trade Show Director Andy Tompkins. “From connecting with colleagues during the reception to hearing the stories behind this year’s honorees, attendees will experience an entertaining and inspiring celebration of the people who make the automotive aftermarket extraordinary.”
The evening kicks off at 6 p.m. with a cocktail reception, followed by the Industry Honors awards program at 7:30 p.m. (Reception will include heavy appetizers; dinner will not be served.)
Tickets and Registration
SEMA Show exhibitors receive two tickets to SEMA Industry Honors and may purchase additional tickets for $50 each through Registration Customer Service. Show attendees may purchase tickets for $50 each when registering for the SEMA Show, or by logging into the Registration Resource Center. Each ticket includes admission to the cocktail reception and awards ceremony, hors d’oeuvres and an open bar. Space is limited, and exhibitors and attendees are encouraged to secure their tickets early. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.semashow.com/industry-honors.
Register Now for the 2026 SEMA Show
The 2026 SEMA Show will take place Nov. 3-6 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Attendee registration and qualification information are available here. Hotel reservations at guaranteed low rates are available exclusively through SEMA’s official hotel provider, onPeak.
Spaces are still available for companies interested in exhibiting and connecting with tens of thousands of qualified buyers. For more information, visit www.semashow.com/exhibitor.
Election Day
The 2026 SEMA Show opens on Election Day, Nov. 3. SEMA’s Drive the Vote campaign encourages attendees to make a plan to vote before traveling to Las Vegas. Visit www.sema.org/vote for more information.
ABOUT SEMA AND THE SEMA Show
The SEMA Show is a trade show produced by the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), a nonprofit trade association founded in 1963. Since the first SEMA Show debuted in 1967, the annual event has served as the leading venue bringing together manufacturers and buyers within the automotive specialty equipment industry. Products featured at the SEMA Show include those that enhance the styling, functionality, comfort, convenience and safety of cars, trucks, side-by-sides, and two-wheel vehicles. Additional details are available at www.semashow.com or www.sema.org, 909/396-0289.
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Images for this press release: Logo & Photo 1