2024 SEMA Show: How Many People Attend SEMA?
The 2024 SEMA Show is scheduled for Nov. 5-8, 2024. Let’s dig into how big is the SEMA Show, and we’ll show you the scale and size.
The SEMA Show is one of the largest trade shows in the world, with about 160,000 industry attendees from around the world. They make the annual trip to Las Vegas during what is now called “SEMA Week.” Here’s a link for SEMA Show registration.
2023 was the first year of the new public-facing SEMA Fest, located at the corner of Sahara Avenue and Las Vegas Blvd. (the “Strip”). SEMA Fest 2024 is set for Friday, Nov. 8, 2024 and is open to the general public. SEMA Fest this year features the musical acts Cage the Elephant, Sublime, Fitz and the Tantrums and Petey. SEMA Fest replaced SEMA Ignited.
How many people attend SEMA?
![how big is the sema show 2023](https://hedges.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/sema-show-layout-2023-1500x450-1.png)
CLICK TO ENLARGE: How big is SEMA? With the addition of the new West Hall it’s a lot larger! The West hall has over 1 million sq ft of new available exhibit space.
The number of SEMA Show attendees expected for 2024 is about 160,000, with about eight out of 10 attendees coming from the US. The rest will be international attendees from over 140 countries. 70,000 attendees will be buyers and decision makers. About 3,000 attendees will be from the media or content creators for social media or websites. There will be over 2,200 exhibitors displaying at the show.
The SEMA Show is very large with over 2 million square feet of available exhibit space.
And, for fun, we compare the floorplan to the Empire State Building! Scroll down for our illustration.
What is SEMA?
The SEMA Show is the aftermarket industry’s annual trade show in Las Vegas, held at the massive Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). It’s hard to describe if you’ve never been there. The show is produced by the Specialty Equipment Market Association based in Diamond Bar, California.
![how big is SEMA](https://hedges.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/SEMAShow-vs-Empire-State1024x512.png)
The Upper South Hall (pictured) is 464,658 square feet. It stretches 1,690 feet end-to-end. SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association.
When people ask, “what is SEMA?” they may be referring to the show (the show is commonly just called “SEMA” in the industry), or they may be referring to the trade association itself.
It’s a four-day aftermarket industry trade show and event, plus Education Day held on the Monday before the show opens.
One of the interesting statistics is the length of one of the exhibit halls, the Upper South Hall where you find tools & equipment and collision, repair and refinishing products. We show it here with the Empire State Building and it’s longer than the building is tall. The Upper South Hall is 464,658 square feet and is approximately 1,690 feet end-to-end. That’s only one of several halls that contain the massive SEMA Show.
Scroll down to see the Empire State Building on top of the Central Hall, home of restoration, racing and performance products, as well as Hot Rod Alley. The spire of the Empire State Building sticks out past the back wall, but not by much!
The new West Hall
The West Hall, across Paradise Avenue from the original main exhibit halls, brought on over 1.4 million square feet of new available exhibit space to the SEMA Show. The 2024 show will be the fourth year that uses the West Hall.
How big is SEMA in Vegas?
![how big is the sema show vegas?](https://hedges.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/SEMAShow-vs-Empire-State-2-1024x512.png)
The Central Hall (pictured) stretches 1,235 feet end-to-end. All halls added together have 4.6 million square feet of exhibit space. There’s over 1 million square feet of new exhibit space across the street at the new West Hall.
The 2024 show once again included the fairly new West Hall expansion. It brought another 1.4 million square feet of available exhibit space. The other halls combine for over 2 million net square feet of available exhibit space.
There will be 1,500 feature vehicles on display and over 3,000 products featured in the SEMA Show New Products Showcase.
The historical size of the SEMA Show, by the numbers:
- 71,000 buyers and decision makers at the show.
- 3,000 media representatives representing online digital and print publications.
- 2,400 exhibits.
- Over 3,000 new products in the New Products Showcase.
- Attendees from 140 countries including Canada, Mexico, Australia and Brazil.
- 4.6 million square feet of interior exhibit space, 2.2 million square feet of outside space.
What does SEMA stand for?
SEMA stands for the Specialty Equipment Market Association. When first founded in 1963 it stood for Speed Equipment Manufacturers Association. It was changed in 1970 to have a better image and to include all companies in the specialty equipment industry.
How long is the 2024 SEMA Show?
The SEMA Show is a 4-day show, Tuesday through Friday. There is an education day with various seminars and meetings on Monday.
Is SEMA always in Las Vegas?
Yes, the SEMA Show will be in Las Vegas for the foreseeable future. It has been held in Las Vegas since 1977 and every future show that is scheduled is planned for Las Vegas. There are only two possible convention centers larger than the Las Vegas Convention Center that could hold the SEMA Show: McCormick Place in Chicago, and Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. There is no groundswell of support to move the SEMA Show to either of those locations.
Get more 2024 SEMA Show information
For up-to-date information on the 2024 SEMA Show, held Tuesday, November 5 through Friday, November 8, 2024, visit SEMAShow.com.
We hope to see you in Las Vegas in 2024. If you’re discussing the show on social media, use the hashtag #SEMA2024.
Confused about how to get into SEMA? Just follow that link.
SEMA Show coincides with AAPEX
And of course if you’re attending the 2024 AAPEX Show at the Sands Convention Center use the hashtag #AAPEX24 on social media. The AAPEX Show is Tuesday, November 5 through Thursday, November 4, 2024 and is co-owned by The AutoCare Association and AASA.
Source for Las Vegas Convention Center dimensions: Google Maps and Vegas Means Business.