Through the month of July, the Specialty Equipment Market Association has been sending updates on the status of the 2020 SEMA Show, maintaining that the show would go on. But with the event only four months away, SEMA has been forced to pull the plug amid concerns over events facilities and services, marking the first cancellation in the show’s 53-year history.

Every year, the SEMA Show brings over 150,000 attendees to Las Vegas Nevada for a three-day festival of everything automotive. The latest models, aftermarket parts and build trends can be seen at the SEMA Show long before they’re seen on the streets, and the party sprawls out through the Las Vegas Convention Center and every available adjacent lot. The show was coming off a record year in 2019 with an estimated attendance of 162,000, but due to the persisting global health situation, SEMA has been forced to cancel the 2020 event.

“With strong support from the industry, it was a difficult decision to make,” said Tom Gattuso, SEMA vice president of events. “And while we had a plan in place and were ready to provide the industry with a safe event where they could do business, we felt we needed to be able to give exhibitors and attendees assurance that the event could be held in November. Recent reopen guidelines in Nevada were not providing us with the assurance that Las Vegas would be able to host the event at that time. "

The news comes just a few weeks after we were sent a survey from SEMA fielding opinions on an in-person event as well as a virtual show for 2020. Citing interest in a virtual format, SEMA says it’s an option for this year, but more research needs to be done.

“While we are disappointed circumstances prevent us from hosting the Show in November, we look forward to getting everyone together in 2021 for another outstanding event,” says Chris Kersting, SEMA president and CEO.