Every November, one of the world’s great cities becomes the automotive capital of the planet. Car enthusiasts, industry leaders, families, and first-time visitors gather at one massive venue for an unforgettable automotive experience. Over ten days, attendees can explore vehicle debuts, test drives, cutting-edge technology showcases, and exciting attractions. In 2026, the event takes place from November 20 to November 29. Early indications suggest this will be one of the most ambitious editions in the show’s long history. If you are planning to attend, this guide covers everything you need to know before you walk through the doors.
Dates, Venue and Opening Hours
The Los Angeles Auto Show 2026 opens to the public on Friday, November 20, and runs through Sunday, November 29. That is ten full days of programming at the Los Angeles Convention Center, located at 1201 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015.
The venue is one of the largest and most capable convention spaces in the United States. It spans 760,000 square feet of exhibit space across multiple halls. Additionally, 2026 marks the full integration of the newly renovated West Hall. It adds 140,000 square feet of flexible, column-free exhibition space. The expansion creates more room for immersive brand experiences and autonomous shuttle demonstrations across the convention campus. It also includes dedicated EV charging infrastructure to support live vehicle displays.
Public hours run daily from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Seniors and students receive discounted admission during dedicated discount hours on Mondays and Tuesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with valid ID required at the door.
The Thanksgiving holiday falls within the show dates, making it a beloved seasonal tradition for Southern California families. Planning your visit around the mid-week holiday period tends to mean lighter crowds and more time with the vehicles you actually want to see.
Before the Public Arrives: AutoMobility LA
Before the show opens to the general public, the industry gets its own day. AutoMobility LA 2026, themed “Driven by Connection,” takes place on Thursday, November 19. It is a one-day, media and industry-only event where car manufacturers make their biggest announcements and debut new models to journalists, analysts, fleet operators, and policymakers.
The AutoMobility LA Main Stage, presented by Cox Automotive, hosts the event’s most influential conversations. Brand executives, technology leaders, and automotive journalists take the stage to discuss where the industry is heading and what their companies are building to get there.
Therefore, if you follow automotive news closely, keep an eye on coverage from November 19. That is when the headlines tend to break, and the announcements made there will shape everything you see on the show floor when the public doors open the following day.
Ticket Prices and How to Buy
Based on 2025 pricing patterns, which serve as the clearest guide to what to expect in 2026, ticket options are structured across several tiers to make the show accessible to a wide range of visitors.
Opening Day tickets are valid on Friday, November 20, and are usually the most affordable option. Adult Opening Day tickets cost around $18. Seniors and children can purchase Opening Day tickets for around $8. Any Day General Admission tickets, which are valid for any single day of the show, are priced at around $25 for adults and $12 for seniors and children.
Weekend entry has a new dimension for 2026. The show is implementing a reservation-based entry system for Saturdays and Sundays, a response to record attendance in recent years and ongoing downtown traffic management priorities. Walk-up weekend tickets will still be available, but reserving in advance is strongly recommended to avoid delays at the entrance.
Tickets are purchased through the official website at laautoshow.com. Buying online in advance is the smartest move for any day of the show. It is cheaper, faster, and removes any uncertainty about availability on peak days. The show also periodically releases promotional deals through its social channels, so following the official accounts in the weeks before the event can unlock additional savings.
What You Will Find on the Show Floor
The exhibit zones at this show are organized around mobility function rather than brand alphabetics, making it easy to navigate by the type of vehicle or experience you are most interested in exploring.
Automotive Brand Halls
The main halls bring together the full range of domestic and international automakers. Visitors can explore immersive brand displays from leading automakers. They can sit inside new vehicle models and speak directly with product specialists. The event also allows guests to compare different vehicles side by side, offering an experience that is difficult to match at a dealership. Around 1,000 vehicles are typically showcased throughout the full run of the show. These displays include family SUVs, high-performance sports cars, luxury models, and next-generation electric vehicles.
The Underground
The Underground is one of the most popular and distinctive sections of the show. It is a dedicated space for car culture, custom builds, and performance vehicles that captures the spirit of Los Angeles’s deep connection to automotive identity. For enthusiasts who love the craft and personality of vehicle customization, this is a must-see zone.
Hall of SPARQ
The Hall of SPARQ showcases performance-focused vehicles and exotic models. It is where some of the most visually dramatic displays of the show are concentrated, drawing crowds throughout the day for its energy and spectacle.
Test Drives and Rides: The Underground Experience
One of the most valuable things you can do at the show is get behind the wheel. The Underground Test Drives and Rides program gives visitors hands-on experience with selected vehicles. In past editions, brands including Honda, Kia, Rivian, Lucid, and Nissan have offered test drive slots. These fill up quickly, so reserving your slot as soon as registration opens is essential.
ZEVAS EV Resource
Electric vehicles are a dominant theme throughout the show. The ZEVAS EV Resource is a dedicated zone designed to educate visitors on electric vehicle ownership. It covers charging infrastructure, range, incentives, and how to make the transition from a combustion vehicle to an EV as smoothly as possible. For anyone considering their first electric purchase, this is an invaluable starting point.
Showcase Hall and Special Exhibits
The Showcase Hall highlights innovative mobility solutions from companies at the cutting edge of transportation technology. Special Exhibits bring concept vehicles, advanced prototypes, and technology demonstrations into a space designed for closer inspection and discovery. These areas often feature the most forward-thinking ideas at the entire show.
All Roads Stage and All Roads Stories
The All Roads Stage celebrates Los Angeles’s unique car culture through live performances, engaging stories, and meaningful conversations. It highlights how vehicles are deeply connected to the city’s broader urban life and identity. Throughout the show, the All Roads Stories video series showcases the people, art, and communities that shape this culture. Together, these features reveal why Los Angeles’s relationship with cars is unlike anywhere else in the world.
What to Expect in 2026: Vehicles and Announcements
Electric vehicles will once again dominate the conversation on the show floor. The global shift toward electrification shows no sign of slowing, and automakers are racing to showcase their latest battery-powered offerings. Expect major brands to bring flagship EVs, SUV concepts, and next-generation charging technology.
The show also traditionally presents the Green Car of the Year award. It recognizes the most environmentally responsible production vehicle of the year. The announcement typically attracts significant attention to the EV and hybrid segment. It also reflects the show’s long-standing commitment to making sustainable mobility a central theme.
World premiere debuts are another defining feature of the event. In past years, brands including Kia, Hyundai, Toyota, Volkswagen, Ford, Subaru, Porsche, and many others have used the Los Angeles show as the stage for their most significant global announcements. The 2026 edition will continue this tradition.
Additionally, celebrity appearances and special events are woven throughout the ten-day run. These appearances draw crowds and add a distinctly Los Angeles energy to what might otherwise be a purely automotive experience.
Practical Visitor Tips
A show of this scale rewards visitors who plan ahead. Here are the most useful steps to take before you arrive:
- Buy tickets online at laautoshow.com to secure the best price and avoid entrance queues.
- Download the official LA Auto Show app before your visit. It allows you to build a custom route through the halls based on the brands and experiences you most want to see.
- Reserve test drive slots as early as possible. These book up quickly, especially for high-demand EV models.
- If you are visiting on a weekend, use the new reservation system to confirm your entry time and minimize wait times at the door.
- Arrive before 10:30 a.m. or after 3:00 p.m. to avoid the busiest entry periods on weekdays.
- Use Metro Rail from Pico Station, which connects directly to the Los Angeles Convention Center via a climate-controlled skybridge. The fare is $2.00 and saves you the $28 per day self-parking cost.
- Wear comfortable shoes. The show spans multiple halls across a very large venue, and a full visit involves significant walking on concrete floors.
- Check the All Roads Stage schedule and AutoMobility LA press coverage before your visit so you know which vehicles and announcements are already confirmed for the floor.
Conclusion
The Los Angeles Auto Show 2026 runs from November 20 to November 29 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, offering ten days of vehicle debuts, test drives, technology showcases, and LA car culture for over 900,000 expected visitors. The newly expanded West Hall adds 140,000 square feet of space to an already enormous venue, making this the most expansive edition in recent years. AutoMobility LA on November 19 sets the stage with industry and press-only vehicle debuts and thought leadership sessions.
Ticket prices start at around $18 for opening day admission, with a new reservation system for weekends giving attendees more control over their visit. Dedicated zones including the Underground, Hall of SPARQ, ZEVAS EV Resource, and the Showcase Hall ensure that every type of automotive interest is catered to. With electric vehicles, world premieres, and hands-on test drives at the center of the experience, this is the most important automotive event in California and one of the finest in the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
When exactly does the 2026 show run and where is it held?
The show runs from Friday, November 20, through Sunday, November 29, 2026, at the Los Angeles Convention Center, located at 1201 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015. Public hours are daily from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., with discounted senior and student hours on Mondays and Tuesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
How much do tickets cost and where can I buy them?
Based on 2025 pricing, opening day adult tickets are approximately $18, while Any Day General Admission tickets are around $25 for adults and $12 for seniors and children. Tickets are available at laautoshow.com. Buying online in advance is recommended for the best price and to avoid queues, especially for weekend visits under the new reservation system.
What is AutoMobility LA and who can attend?
AutoMobility LA is the show’s press and industry day, held on November 19, 2026. It is restricted to journalists, brand representatives, fleet operators, analysts, and other industry professionals. It features vehicle world premieres, brand announcements, and a thought leadership stage program. Public visitors cannot attend AutoMobility LA but will see the vehicles debuted there on the main show floor from November 20.
What zones and experiences are available to general visitors?
Visitors have access to Automotive Brand Halls with around 1,000 vehicles, The Underground car culture zone, the Hall of SPARQ for performance vehicles, the ZEVAS EV Resource for electric vehicle education, Test Drives and Rides, the Showcase Hall, Special Exhibits with concept cars and tech demonstrations, and the All Roads Stage featuring live programming and LA car culture content.
What is the best way to get to the Los Angeles Convention Center?
The most convenient and cost-effective option is Metro Rail. Pico Station on the Metro Expo and Blue Lines connects directly to the convention center via a climate-controlled skybridge. The fare is $2.00 with free transfers within two hours. For those driving, self-parking at the convention center is available at approximately $28 per day, with pre-booked valet available at around $38.
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Thomas Walker is an accomplished writer with expertise in the basics of car accessories. With a keen eye for detail, Thomas has established himself as an authority on the subject, with a passion for all things automotive. Based in Jasper, Thomas is dedicated to providing readers with the information they need to make informed decisions when it comes to their car accessories.
