During the golden era of American auto shows, the LA Auto Show meant dozens of world debuts and automotive swag of epic proportions, not to mention fancy brochures. It was the venue for the whole spectrum of available cars, whether economy or luxury.
That golden era of the American auto show is long gone.
But world debuts and swag are mainly the concern of automotive reporters and influencers. While auto shows remain the venue for debuts, the internet has provided car companies with a full spectrum of other venues, many that are often more cost effective or reach a more targeted audience.
As for fancy brochures, not even dealers carry them anymore. Websites can match or exceed anything out of a brochure.
For those more interested in comparison shopping, seeing what's currently available, or who may be lifestyle tech enthusiasts, the Los Angeles Auto Show remains an enjoyable, family-friendly event.
If you're thinking about going to the upcoming show at the Los Angeles Convention Center (November 20–29, 2026), evaluating the recent changes and trade-offs can help you decide.
WHAT'S GONE VS. WHAT'S NEW
| What Has Declined |
| Fewer Legacy Premium Brands: Heavy hitters like BMW, Audi, Mercedes, and Lexus have drastically scaled back or skipped recent floors. |
| Fewer Global Concept Car Debuts: While auto shows in Europe and Asia remain popular for global concept car debuts, it's a different story for North American shows. Mainstream manufacturers now prefer private, digital, or specialized events to reveal top-secret models. One huge exception: Fullgood Motor from China has chosen the LA Auto Show as the venue to introduce two of its concept products to North America. |
| Fewer Free "Swag" Giveaways: As mentioned, the era of walking away with bags full of premium posters and heavy merch has long gone. You can thank the digital revolution for that. Most everything you need to know is available online. |
| What Has Expanded |
| Interactive Ride-and-Drives: Massive indoor and outdoor test tracks for electric vehicles, hybrids, and off-road experiences. |
| LA Car Culture & Custom Builds: Expanded lower-level "Underground" displays featuring West Coast Customs, retro restorations, hypercars, and custom builds. |
| Fandom, Entertainment, & Lifestyle: Pop-culture activities, including gaming tours, celebrity collections, and live DJs. |
Who is this show for?
·The Practical Comparison Shopper: If you're actively in the market for a new daily driver (especially a hybrid, SUV, or EV), the LA Auto Show is extraordinarily convenient. You can cross-shop dozens of mainstream brands (like Ford, Hyundai, Toyota, Kia, Jeep) under one roof and sit inside the vehicles back-to-back without dealership pressure.
·EV Curious Drivers: "Electric Avenue" and the manufacturer EV tracks are some of the best-organized parts of the show, letting you experience the instant torque of cars like Lucid, Rivian, and Hyundai with relatively short lines on weekdays.
·Families & Casual Attendees: On Reddit, casual attendees generally agree that the show serves as a fun, entertaining tradition to walk around with friends, enjoy food trucks, see unique movie or custom cars, and check out virtual driving simulators.
Who May Want to Skip the Show
·The Hardcore Luxury Enthusiast: If you are going with the expectation of seeing the latest premier European sports cars, hypercars, or bespoke luxury concept vehicles dominating the main halls, you will likely find the floor a bit too pedestrian and overly focused on electric commuter vehicles.
·The Budget-Conscious Leisure Seeker: General admission is reasonably priced (around $25), but parking at or immediately around the LA Convention Center easily jumps to $40-45 (see Where, Oh Where to Park at the LA Auto Show?). If you factor in convention food, a family outing can become an expensive walking tour.
Tips if you decide to go
·Go on a Weekday: If your schedule allows, avoiding the Friday-after-Thanksgiving and weekend rushes means minimal lines to sit in the cars and much shorter wait times for the test drive tracks.
·Consider the Metro: Skip the parking fee and the inevitable traffic gridlock around DTLA by taking the Metro A or E Line directly to the Pico Station, which drops you a single block away from the convention doors (see Secrets of the Big Show in the Big Apple). - Roy Nakano
LA Auto Show At-A-Glance
Here's all the essentials about the 2026 LA Auto Show at a glance:
WHAT
Exhibitions: The LAAS boasts 24 automotive brands exhibiting their latest vehicles from November 20 to November 29, 2026.
Participating Brands
·Main Halls & Exhibits: Acura, Alfa Romeo, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Ford, Genesis, GMC, Honda, Hyundai, Jeep, Kia, Lucid, Nissan, Porsche (Porsche DTLA), Ram, Rivian, Subaru, Tesla, Toyota, and Volkswagen.
·Special Debut To Watch Out For: China's FullGood Motor is making its U.S. brand debut at the event. This is the company that sells certain retro-styled vehicles with fully modern amenities.
In conjunction with stamping partner Jiangsu Juncheng Vehicle Industry Company, FullGood is also involved with the sale of certain vintage vehicles like the first-generation Ford Bronco, 1967 Ford Mustang, first-generation Datsun 240Z, and the original Toyota AE86.
Ride and Drives: There are 16 brands offering free test drives and ride experiences at the 2026 LA Auto Show, according to the official LA Auto Show announcement. Participating test drive and ride brands include: Alfa Romeo, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Ford, Jeep, Kia, Lucid, Nissan, Ram, Rivian, Subaru, Tesla, Toyota, and Volkswagen.
Note: Some specific brands like Cadillac and Faraday Future participating on weekends only, or limiting participation to indoor/outdoor courses like Camp Jeep and Ford Bronco Built Wild (see laautoshow.com/automotive-brands)
WHEN
November 20-29, 2026
Show Hours: See laautoshow.com/show-hours
WHERE
LA Convention Center
1201 S Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, 90015
Where to Eat – You can eat at the show or around the show (see Where to Eat at the LA Auto Show).)
Where to Park – You can pay an arm and a leg at the LA Convention Center parking structure, or you can read about the alternatives in Where, Oh Where to Park at the LA Auto Show
TICKETS
Special ticket types, packages, and promotional opportunities for the 2026 LA Auto Show (running November 20–29, 2026, at the Los Angeles Convention Center) include:
·Any Day Ticket: Provides one-time general admission flexibility to visit on any single day of your choice during the show.
·Weekend 8AM Priority Entry: Allows early access to the main exhibition halls one hour before the general public (starting at 8:00 AM) on Saturdays and Sundays.
·VIP Guided Tours: Features a tour led by an automotive expert on select weekdays, Saturdays, and Sundays (priced at $95 for adults and $45 for children).
·Family Four-Packs: Special bundled value packages available for Thanksgiving week (Wednesday and Thursday, November 25–26) priced at $66.
·Free Admission for Children: Children under 6 years of age receive free entry.
Exclusive Discounts & Partner Offers
·Costco Offer: A 2-pack of adult "Any Day" eTickets is available through Costco.
·Girl Scout Exclusive Offer: A special promotional package via the Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles includes Any Day tickets and entry into a digital scavenger hunt to unlock a show patch and a drawing for a 2027 prize pack.
·Online Advance Pricing: Buying tickets early online (prior to November 20, 2026) locks in lower advance rates before prices go up. You can purchase official passes via the LA Auto Show Tickets Portal.
DEEPER DIVE
For more information, go to the LA Auto Show website.
The author is the editor of LA Car/LACar.com.
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