AAPEX 2026 adds celebrity appearances to Las Vegas show

AAPEX will bring athletes and entertainment figures to its 2026 aftermarket trade show in Las Vegas, adding daily autograph and photo opportunities to an event built around business networking and training. Organizers say the move is meant to boost attendance and create a more engaging experience for exhibitors and buyers.

Why it matters: - AAPEX is trying to make its Las Vegas trade show more attractive without losing its core business focus. - Celebrity appearances could help draw more attendees, increase foot traffic and add energy to an event centered on the automotive aftermarket. - Organizers are also using the move to reinforce AAPEX as a place where industry professionals can both do business and have a more memorable show experience.

What happened: - AAPEX announced that multiple celebrities will make guest appearances at AAPEX 2026 in Las Vegas this November. - The guests will take part in photo opportunities and sign autographs for attendees during the show. - At least one celebrity will appear each full day of the show, with as many as four appearing on Thursday, the final day. - A schedule of celebrity activities will be posted on the AAPEX website closer to the event this fall. - The announcement follows an earlier reveal that Coach Mike Krzyzewski will headline the AAPEX 2026 Keynote Breakfast.

The details: - The announced celebrity list includes Mia Hamm, Grant Hill, Jimmie Johnson, Randy Johnson and Barry Sanders. - Hamm is a two-time World Cup champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist, and ESPN has called her the greatest female athlete of the past four decades. - Hill spent 19 years in the NBA, was a seven-time All-Star and two-time NCAA champion, and now serves as Vice Chairman of the Atlanta Hawks and Managing Director of the USA Basketball Men’s National Team. - Johnson is a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, a NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee and a former Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year in INDYCAR. - Randy Johnson is a National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, a five-time Cy Young Award winner and a 10-time All-Star. - Barry Sanders won the Heisman Trophy in 1988, played for the Detroit Lions, holds 10 NFL records and now works in charities and business ventures, including Barry Sanders Auto Group and El Car Wash. - AAPEX says the show will feature daily prizes, including a new Ford F-150, museum-style car displays and signage inspired by U.S. highway signs. - The event theme for 2026 is “Where the industry gets real.” - Registration is open for automotive aftermarket professionals. - The fee is $75 through Sept. 25 and $100 after that. - Vocational students and members of the media may qualify for a complimentary pass. - AAPEX says the show unites the $2.3 trillion global automotive aftermarket industry that supports the world’s 1.6 billion vehicles. - The annual event draws thousands of exhibitors and tens of thousands of attendees from around the world. - AAPEX has more than 60 years of history and is co-produced by MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers and the Auto Care Association.

Between the lines: - AAPEX is leaning harder into entertainment as a way to differentiate a trade show that already markets itself around business results. - The celebrity strategy fits the organizers’ message that AAPEX is for competitors who want to win, whether in sports, business or the aftermarket. - The additions also build on other show changes, including the AAPEX Forum, which is designed to segment exhibitors more efficiently and help buyers schedule more meetings. - The trade show’s broader pitch is that better programming, better navigation and more recognizable talent can make the event more valuable to attendees.

What's next: - AAPEX will publish the celebrity appearance schedule closer to the show this fall. - Registration remains open, and the price will rise after Sept. 25. - More show details are expected as November approaches.

The bottom line: - AAPEX 2026 is doubling down on business-first trade show features while adding high-profile celebrity draws to make the Las Vegas event stand out.