The 2023 Speciality Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Tuesday, October 31 through Friday, November 3 is forecast to be one of its biggest stagings in its 56-year history.

"The SEMA Show is a must-attend event for anyone who wants to set the pace in the automotive aftermarket. The scope of exhibitors, new product launches, high-quality programmes, and opportunities at this year's show will have attendees well-positioned for success in the coming year," said SEMA vice-president of events Tom Gattuso.

SEMA, the industry show that focuses on the automotive aftermarket, will take over the four massive halls and exterior for a total of more than one million square feet of the Las Vegas Convention Centre. The show has been in recovery mode since its first-ever cancellation in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2021, SEMA was held under quarantine conditions, but has seen a significant growth since normalcy returned in 2022. Last year, 1,900 exhibitors and nearly 65,000 attendees returned to the four-day event considered an automotive mecca by many.

At the end of the 2022 event, James Lawrence, SEMA board chairman, laid out a five-year plan to make the show an even larger spectacle going forward. Exhibitors have increased in numbers to 2,200 this year. Of more importance is the fact that 23 per cent of them will be at SEMA for the first time, meaning more innovative aftermarket products to hit the shelves.

Patrons will be able to experience the usual cavalcade of SEMA Show events, from the new car parts, products and services on display, to live product demonstrations, event launches, eye-catching SEMA build vehicles, to countless industry celebrities and leaders.

New for 2023 is SEMA Fest, an after party. In the past SEMA would end with a convoy down the Las Vegas strip, this evolved into SEMA Ignited, which was a more interactive experience outside the confines of the convention centre to cap off the event. SEMA Ignited has now evolved into SEMA Fest, a two-day festival on the closing Friday and following Saturday. This is open to the public and features a blend of automotive, action sports and music lifestyle.

"SEMA Fest will take place at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds and be open to everyone, bringing together automotive enthusiasts with the aftermarket industry in a high-octaneand immersive festival-like celebration of car culture," Lawrence told the media via a press release.

Along with SEMA Fest is SEMA Auction, another event Lawrence plans to use to transform the show into SEMA Week by adding even more value events to attendees and the general public.